To Ken Patterson, firefighting and football go hand in hand: Teamwork is the
key to success, and that’s why he loves them both. Patterson, 48, one of the two
West Haverstraw firefighters who were injured in the Jan. 16 natural gas
explosion, has been home for several days since he was discharged from Helen
Hayes Hospital, where he received physical therapy to help him start getting
back in shape.
Patterson said he suffered six broken ribs as well as
burns to his head, face and hand. He’s taking pain medication for his neck and
back. He would know more about his conditions and treatments after he consults
with his doctor in Westchester Medical Center next week, Patterson said
Friday.
Patterson and his fellow firefighter Jerry Knapp, along
with two employees from Orange and Rockland Utilities, were injured when the
explosion leveled a townhouse at 52 Zarriello Lane in the Village Fairgrounds II
development. Workers for FGC Communications in Cortlandt ruptured a natural gas
line as they installed fiber-optic cable for Verizon FiOS. Investigations into
possible criminal wrongdoing that led to the explosion are being conducted by
the town and county police as well as the Rockland County district
attorney.
Knapp was released from the hospital on the day of the
incident, but Patterson, whose condition was listed as serious at one point, had
stayed in the Westchester hospital’s trauma intensive care unit for one week
before being transferred to Helen Hayes Hospital.
The explosion was Patterson’s second close call in
about a year. Patterson had to be rescued from a fire in an illegally converted
building in the village of Haverstraw on Jan. 14, 2011.
These experiences, however, haven’t diminished
Patterson’s love of volunteer firefighting.
When he and Knapp were thanked by Fairgrounds II
residents at their meeting Thursday night, Patterson emphasized that they were
simply doing their part as all other emergency responders were doing their
part.
“Don’t just thank me and Jerry, thank all of them …
It’s a team effort. That’s how it works. It’s not about me. It’s not about
Jerry. It’s about everybody,” Patterson told the audience at the meeting.
Patterson also told residents not to hesitate to call
911 because volunteer firefighters are there for them.
“I’m glad everybody is safe,” Patterson said. “And I’m
glad I’m still here … It’s going to be a while before I get back to doing what
I do, but I love doing it. Trust me when I’m telling you … I’ll do it all over
again, so don’t think I’m going to stop now.”
Patterson said he wanted to thank everybody who were
involved in saving his life, including West Haverstraw Fire Chief George Zayas,
fellow firefighters Jeff Daniels and Jose Mulero, other members of the fire
department, EMS, paramedics, and all the staff at Westchester Medical Center and
Helen Hayes.
Patterson, a big Giants fan, said his plan for Sunday
would be to watch the Super Bowl in the firehouse on Railroad Avenue. His family
— his wife, Shari; their daughters, Blythe, Brittany and Kaitlyn; and his
granddaughter, Julia — would also be there to spend time with their extended
family — members of the Volunteer Hose Co. No. 2.
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