Firefighter injured in house fire

TOWN OF MARILLA, N.Y. (WIVB) - One firefighter was injured in Marilla Wednesday morning battling a house fire.

Marilla Town Supervisor, George Gertz, was injured this morning while searching for victims inside a burning home on Eldrige Road. As the Asst. Chief of the Marilla Fire Department, Gertz was the first on the scene.

He entered the home after hearing reports people may be trapped inside. Firefighters say there was some sort of small explosion or back draft and Gertz suffered burns to his face and hands. He was rushed to ECMC where he is expected to survive.

Firefighters determined no one was home at the time of the fire. They attempted CPR on a dog, but it did not survive.