Jacksonville firefighters take precautions after shooting

JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville firefighters are taking extra precautions after a firefighter was injured when shots were fired at firefighters fueling up a fire truck.

Fire Chief Marty Senterfitt told The Times-Union that trucks and other equipment will be kept indoors at city fire stations when firefighters are not responding to calls.

He also said firefighters are being reminded to wait for police to arrive at any violent crime scene considered unsafe for fire or rescue crews.

"We are making sure we're keeping the apparatus put away so people can't drive by and shoot windows out of them," Senterfitt said. "We're also talking to our crews about scene safety."

Firefighter Michael Reid, 45, was treated at the scene Tuesday outside Fire Station 28.

Senterfitt said that in spite of initial reports that Reid was struck by a bullet that ricocheted, Reid actually was cut by debris kicked up by a bullet fired near him.

Investigators say Reid was among six firefighters in uniform apparently targeted in the drive-by shooting, but there was no indication that the shooting was connected to recent police shooting incidents in New York and Missouri.

According to police, five or six shots were fired from the vehicle, which drove off. Sheriff's Office Director Tom Hackney said Wednesday the vehicle was an older-model large white car, possibly similar to an old police car.

Police are taking extra measures to protect firefighters, said Hackney, who declined to elaborate.