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Gardner Fire Chief Recovering From Fall That Fractured Spine

WORCESTER (CBS) - He's been a firefighter for 42 years but Gardner Fire Chief Richard Ares has never been this badly hurt. It's all the result of a bad fall while he was helping fight a fire at a home in Templeton last week.

"When I fell backwards with a hose line, I hit a porch railing which gave way and I fell down eight feet onto my back on the driveway," Chief Ares said.

He had fractured his spine in three places and had a concussion.

"I was unconscious for a few seconds but when I came to, everybody was gathered around me so I knew something bad had happened," he said.

Richard Ares
Gardner Fire Chief Richard Ares with sons Erik and Jim (WBZ-TV)

The mayday call went out and the chief's son, Jim, heard it, because he was fighting the same fire with an engine company from Hubbardston.

"Heard the mayday which obviously you never want to hear, and then to come outside and find out it was him, it was stressful to say the least," Jim Ares said. "Rushed over to him and made sure he was OK, saw he was awake and holding my hand real tight so it was a good feeling."

"His was one of the first faces I saw, so that was comforting to me," Chief Ares said.

The chief was airlifted to UMass Memorial Medical Center. He is now recovering.

Templeton Fire
Gardner Fire Chief Richard Ares was injured battling a fire in Templeton (Viewer photo)

His second son, Erik, is also a firefighter in nearby Sterling.

"Received word a mayday had been called, so we were trying to figure out who it was, and then soon after found out it was my father," Erik Ares said.

But now three days later, the firefighting family can breathe a sigh of relief. The chief they call dad will be OK.

"The danger is always there," Chief Ares said. "It's just something you have to accept if you're going to do the job."

Chief Ares hopes to be released from the hospital very soon. Then, it will be an extended period of recovery at home. After that, he will back on the job he loves.

"I'm so appreciative of the support," he says. "I've heard from so many people."

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