FIREFIGHTER INJURED IN FIRE AT PLAZA TIRE BACK ON DUTY

For firefighter Randy Morris, the support of his comrades, family and the community helped him get through a long period of recovery after falling in the line of duty.

"A lot of people were there for me," Morris said. "Everyone in the fire department was there when I needed them."

Now Morris, a nine-year veteran, is completely healed and Aug. 2 he returned to full duty with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department at Fire Station No. 2 on Mount Auburn Road.

It was almost nine months ago when Morris and 100 other firefighters from the Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and East Cape County departments battled an intense blaze at the Lanter Co. and Plaza Tire buildings near Kingshighway and William in Cape Girardeau. It is a date -- Nov. 19, 1994 -- he recalls without effort.

Morris and three other firefighters were working in the Lanter building when the roof collapsed and pushed out a wall, which crumbled and pinned Morris.

"I heard the roof go and knew what was happening," Morris said.

He isn't exactly sure what hit him. A companion, Harry Schumer, later said he pulled a steel I-beam off of Morris.

Morris thinks he may have frightened his companions, who were immediately asking him if he was all right. He didn't answer directly as he was busy wiggling his feet and toes to make sure everything was still attached and functioning.

With an ambulance already standing by at the scene, he was quickly rushed to Southeast Missouri Hospital where he was diagnosed with a compound fracture of his left leg. Sixteen screws were inserted into his bones to repair the damage. His entire lower body and back were also badly bruised.

His wife of 13 years, Marlene, later told him he spent two days in intensive care but he has little memory of that. After a week in the hospital he was released and headed home. However, he didn't get to stay long.

After a couple days he began feeling pain in his chest. Doctors discovered a blood clot in his lungs, which they attributed to the trauma of the injury and surgery, and it was back to the hospital for another week.

"I was glad to get out the first time, and to have to go back was not much fun the second time," Morris said.

After Jan. 1, he began rehabilitation to regain his strength, steadily graduating from walker to crutches to cane to walking normally.

"I thought it was a three- or four-month injury," Morris said. "It turned out to be a lot longer than I thought."

However, he considers himself fortunate compared to police officer Danny Niswonger, who was injured last year in the line of duty and lost a leg. Niswonger also returned to duty earlier this year.

"Mine was bad but was nothing near to what Danny Niswonger had," Morris said.

The injury caused a hardship on his family, and its timing put a damper on the holidays. Morris and his wife have three children -- Randy Jr., 12; Emily, 10; and Jennifer, 9.

"It was hard on the family, but I think they came through it," Morris said.

While glad to be back in action, Morris said he likely will be more cautious in the future.

"I guess anybody would," he said.