Firefighter injured in firetruck wreck returns to work

In May, a Wiggins firefighter was injured in an accident while driving a fire engine. At the time, the firefighter wanted to remain anonymous as she began her recovery, but now, she’s back at work and ready to share her story.

When Kaille Randolph became a firefighter eight years ago, she knew the dangers that came with the job; however, she never expected to find herself trapped under a turned over fire truck.

“Terrifying,” Kaille Randolph said, explaining what that night was like. “My first thought was ‘get this truck off me'”. I really don’t remember a whole lot because I hit my head really hard.”

Randolph suffered a concussion, multiple lacerations, several broken bones in her foot, and second-degree burns on her legs.

“I remember waking up in the hospital and thinking it was a dream… and then when I woke up I was like ‘Gosh, that wasn’t a dream.’ It was a big shock.” Randolph said.

72 days later, Randolph is back at work. Her absence was felt throughout the fire station, but Assistant Fire Chief Brooks Smith was confident she would return.

“Without a doubt I knew she was coming back,” Smith said. “From that night I knew she would be back. That’s just… that’s Kaille.”

Randolph said she first realized she wanted to be a firefighter when she stopped to help someone who had been struck by another car. She isn’t willing to let her own car accident take away her passion.

“I still have fears, yes. I’m still fighting through them, but I have to overcome those weaknesses to become stronger,” Randolph said. “It’s still something that I love to do. Yeah, it’s a challenge that I have to overcome, but when you love something… you keep pushing and you keep going.”

Kaille Randolph is on light work for the time being, but it’s clear she’s excited to be back serving her community any way she can.