Badly Burned Crash Victim Treated By Vacationing Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighter

KINGMAN, AZ — An Arizona man who sustained serious burn injuries during a collision near Kingman last weekend was treated by an off-duty Tri-Valley firefighter who says he was simply in the right place at the right time. Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighter-Paramedic JJ Duffy was on vacation with his girlfriend driving to Sedona when he saw the ominous dark smoke along the side of the desert road. The couple called 911, and as Duffy got closer he saw the multi-car collision.

“We could see people standing near one of the vehicles on the right shoulder which was fully involved and spreading to surrounding vegetation … then noticed someone on the ground,” Duffy told Patch via email. “Made my way over to get people away from the vegetation and the vehicle when I saw how badly burned one of them was.”

Duffy sprang into action and used a state trooper’s first aid bag to start treatment on the man. Duffy said Kingman firefighters arrived and took over the scene.

Duffy said the experience and attention that followed his actions has been humbling.

"Any other firefighter would have reacted the same," Duffy said. "We are always firefighters whether on duty or off, in uniform or out of it. We all get into this profession to help people."

Duffy spoke highly of the first responders who handled the collision.

“The Kingman Fire Department has some great firefighters in their organization,” Duffy said. “They provided this patient with aggressive and high quality patient care that was top notch.”

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Photos courtesy JJ Duffy