News Article - Barry Lee Andis
September 6, 2006
Washington Times-Herald
Injured firefighter recovering at home
By Sally Petty, Staff Writer
A Washington city firefighter who was injured in a fire at E. Nat’l. Highway
and S.E. First Street on Tuesday morning has returned home after successful
surgery at a Louisville, Ky., hospital.
Barry Andis was crawling through thick smoke running his hand along a wall
to stay oriented when he accidentally put his hand through a window he could
not see. According to his wife, Billie, he cut an artery and a nerve in his
lower arm and had to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
He is now wearing a cast on his arm and returns to the doctor Monday for an
evaluation, she said. He will then face physical therapy and months of
recovery.
“The doctor is pleased,” she said. “(And) the people at the emergency room
took good care of him.”
Andis could be off work for as long as four months, said Fire Chief Dave
Chapman. But he doesn’t think that will keep Andis down.
“Knowing Barry, he’s going to get cabin fever pretty quick,” said Chapman,
adding that Andis will probably continue to visit the fire house. “He’s not
one to sit around and be around the house.”
Andis’ shift hasn’t worked again yet, Chapman continued, but they will miss
Andis, especially when it sets in that he’s absent. But they’ll pull
through, he said.
“Working short handed as we are, it’ll be tough, but we’ll work around it.
We’ve had guys off for long periods before,” he said.