Tulsa Firefighter Injured In Arson House Fire Continues To Improve

Fire officials say firefighter James O'Neal has been making steady improvement and was taken off the ventilator Monday and has been breathing on his own.

Monday, January 2nd 2012, 1:11 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Firefighter Injured In Arson House Fire Continues To Improve

Tulsa firefighter James O'Neal has been making steady improvement after nearly dying in a house fire last weekend.

He was taken off a ventilator Monday and has been breathing on his own.

O'Neal was resuscitated after being hurt in a house fire Saturday night, New Year's Eve.

The fire was set at the home in the 4900 block of North Elwood.

O'Neal was at the back of the house when the injury occurred, according to Tulsa Fire Public Information Officer Captain Stan May.

Officials hope O'Neal can be moved out of Intensive Care in a day or two.

Tulsa business owner and former Tulsa firefighter Brett Baker has donated to a reward fund offered for information that leads to the conviction of the arsonist.

The reward is now at $1,500. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Tulsa Fire Arson hotline 918-596-ARSN.