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Injured Lauderdale county firefighter back to work

By Josh Ault  bio|e-mail

FLORENCE, AL (WAFF)  It has been 6 months since a Lauderdale County volunteer firefighter was injured while battling a house fire.

His recovery has been remarkable, especially since he broke his back.

In March, Morris Lentz received a heroes welcome when he returned home to Rogersville after spending 7 weeks in the hospital.

Lentz was injured when a wall fell on top of him while battling a house fire in February.  He broke all of his ribs, broke his back, and injured his foot.

Before the accident, he was getting ready for the annual Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments Conference.

"The conference would continue independent of my accident," said Lentz, "But this gave me the incentive to get well real quick."

Lentz is the president of the Lauderdale County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, and in charge of the conference.

He is grateful he is well enough to participate.

"Doing very well," said Lentz, "I continue to go to therapy, just about everyday, but my recovery is very well."

"Morris Lentz's tragedy back on February 8th was a miss to all of us," said Chauncey Wood, President of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, "We had him on a prayer list.  As you can see God has taken good care of him."

Lentz just wants to remind everyone to appreciate their volunteer firefighters.  These men lay down their lives everyday for the public.

"Volunteer firefighters is one of the most important jobs this state has," added Lentz.

The conference is being held at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center all weekend.  There will be around 500 volunteer firefighters in the Shoals.  The public is invited to attend the conference.

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