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Oakland Firefighter Injured In Airport Training Drill Is Awake And Breathing On His Own

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- An Oakland firefighter who was critically injured when a truck he was driving overturned during a training drill at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday is awake and breathing on his own Wednesday, according to a city spokesman.

The firefighter, a 28-year veteran who is assigned to the airport, was driving an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting rig when it rolled as he was turning near the Oakland Maintenance Center at 11:43 a.m. Tuesday, according to spokesman Sean Maher.

The firefighter wasn't thrown from the vehicle but authorities initially described his injuries as life-threatening and said he was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

No other injuries or property damage were reported.

The rig is capable of carrying 3,000 gallons of water and 420 gallons of foam.

The airport remained open and its operations weren't impacted by the accident, Maher said.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

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