Monterey firefighter released from hospital after tree fell on him and broke two vertebrae

MONTEREY, CA (KION-TV)—UPDATE MARCH 13, 2023 AT 2:47 PM– A Monterey firefighter was released from the hospital after being crushed by a tree while evacuating Pacific Grove residents on Thursday.

Monterey Firefighters Association-IAFF Local 3707 member Anthony Silva is expected to recover and was released from the hospital on Sunday. He has an uncertain road to recovery after breaking two vertebrae, Monterey Fire said.

“Firefighters arriving at the scene, realizing the imminent danger the tree posed, acted without hesitation to save the resident,” Monterey Fire said in a statement. “After Engineer Silva was injured, the crews that arrived on the scene responded simultaneously to the evacuation of Engineer Silva with chainsaws. Anthony has been taken to the Natividad Medical Center.”

Fire engineer Silva began his community service as a Pacific Grove volunteer in 1986 and became a professional firefighter in 2000. Since then, he has worked with residents and visitors to Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, La Mesa, and Monterey Regional Airport.

Monterey Fire Department

The Monterey Fire Department said Silva was in high spirits despite the setback.

Monterey firefighter expected to recover after tree fell on him

A Monterey firefighter is expected to recover after being crushed by a tree Thursday night.

Monterey Fire Chief Panholzer told KION that a firefighter was trying to save a woman after a tree split in half and fell on her home.

As the fireman was helping the woman, the other half of the same tree fell and caught the fireman.

Crews immediately began to cut down branches to free him.

A firefighter is being treated at the Natividad Medical Center.