The Oak Bluffs firefighter union and and the Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association are raising money to support two local firefighters who were injured in a Falmouth house fire last month. 

Jeffry Wagget, a fire lieutenant with Falmouth fire and rescue department and per diem paramedic with the Oak Bluffs fire department, was hurt at the Dec. 17 fire on Rivers Edge Road in Falmouth. Timothy Bailey, another Falmouth fire lieutenant, was severely hurt in the fire and is recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Mr. Bailey’s injuries were traumatic and he will need multiple surgeries; Mr. Wagget’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. 

The Oak Bluffs Firefighter Paramedics IAFF Local 5137 and the Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association have started a fundraiser to help offset the firefighters’ medical costs and other expenses while they are out of work.

“[Mr. Wagget] lives in Falmouth but has been working with OB for a very long time now,” said Oak Bluffs fire chief Nelson Wirtz. “He is able to come over and work with us when we can’t necessarily fill our need with our full timers… he is incredibly skilled and valued in this position.”

The Falmouth fire department was called to an unoccupied home on Rivers Edge Road at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17. Upon entering the house, Mr. Bailey fell through the building’s blazing ground floor and into the basement.

Mr. Wagget was injured while rescuing Mr. Bailey from the flames and was treated at an area hospital. Mr. Bailey had to be flown by a medical helicopter to Boston. 

Both firefighters have a long recovery ahead, said Falmouth fire Capt. Scott Starbard. 

“They will both be out of work long-term,” said Mr. Starbard. “We are continuing to investigate not only the cause of the fire but the accident and how it occurred.”

For more information, visit the Oak Bluffs Fire-EMS Department Facebook page.