ST. HELENA >> On Tuesday evening, Cal Fire released the name of the firefighter injured during the Hardester’s Market fire on Monday, with an update on the first responder’s status.
Justin Costa remains hospitalized at UC Davis Burn Center in Sacramento and is in “fair condition.” State officials added that he is “alert and talking, surrounded by his family and fellow firefighters.”
The fireman was assigned to the Cal Fire Middletown Fire Station #31 and is also a paid call firefighter with the South Lake County Fire Protection District.
He was battling the structure fire on 21088 Calistoga Rd. around 2:30 p.m. when the injury occurred. Costa was brought to safety by California Highway Patrol officer Efrain Cortez, who was inside ordering food when he witnessed the firefighter “partially engulfed in flames.” Once brought to safety he was airlifted to UC Davis. Costa sustained third-degree burns, while Cortez suffered first-degree burns and smoke inhalation and later treated at a nearby hospital.
Cal Fire said a Serious Accident Review Team (SART) had been dispatched to investigate the incident.
A total of 65 firefighters from around the area, including all Lake County fire districts, Williams Fire, Colusa Fire, West Sacramento Fire and other state organizations helped contain Monday’s tragic loss. The fire, which was reported at 2:17 p.m., was battled by fire crews for more than five hours straight before containment.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said in a statement.
