Bothell firefighter completes facial surgery after accident

At 3:30 p.m. Dec. 29, Bothell Fire Lt. Gary Wick completed his facial surgery after surgeons installed six plates to connect his facial bones together. The surgery was completed much faster than expected. Recovery time has not yet been determined, but doctors are optimistic that Lt. Wick will recover quickly.

December 27, 2008 4:16 pm
Bothell Fire Department Chief Warren Burns addresses the media Tuesday morning on the health of injured firefighter Lt. Gary Wick.
Bothell Fire Department Chief Warren Burns addresses the media Tuesday morning on the health of injured firefighter Lt. Gary Wick.

At 3:30 p.m. Dec. 29, Bothell Fire Lt. Gary Wick completed his facial surgery after surgeons installed six plates to connect his facial bones together. The surgery was completed much faster than expected. Recovery time has not yet been determined, but doctors are optimistic that Lt. Wick will recover quickly.

On Dec. 26, Lt. Wick sustained serious injuries to his face and neck when an awning collapsed on him. He was rescued quickly and transported to Harborview Medical Center.

He has been serving the citizens of Bothell for more than 20 years.

At approximately 4:45 p.m. Dec. 26, Lt. Wick was injured while he was responding to a medical call at Green Acres Mobile Home Park, 23825 15th Ave. S.E. The firefighter was bringing a stretcher to transport the patient when the awning collapsed on him. The patient was still inside the residence and was not injured in the collapse. The patient was transported by paramedics to Evergreen Hospital.

Many people are experiencing heavy snow accumulation. Watch for early warning signs of overloaded roofs due to excessive snow and ice:

· Severe roof leaks, indicating torn roof membranes.

· Ripples or bends in metal supports.

· Loud popping noises emanating from the building structure.

· Water ponds in areas where it never accumulated before.

· Obvious deformities in the roof.

For tips on how to handle overloaded roofs, visit www.ci.bothell.wa.us.

Due to forecasted warming temperatures, here are tips to prevent and

minimize potential urban flooding:

· Keep storm drains clear of leaves and debris in neighborhoods.

· Have pre-made sandbags available in case of an unexpected urban

flood.

· Property and business owners should check storm drains

frequently to remove leaves and debris around the grates.

· For weather updates, visit www.weather.gov/seattle.

Other weather-related information:

· All city roads are currently open at this time.

· City facilities are open regular hours unless otherwise noted with the exception of Jan. 1.

· Call the city of Bothell Emergency Update Hotline at (425) 487-5132; for life safety issues, call 9-1-1.

· Watch BCTV Channel 21 (available to Comcast customers within

city limits).

· Visit www.ci.bothell.wa.us for the snow-plow priority-routes map

and emergency preparedness information.