Westport, MA firefighter/standup comic, seriously hurt from fall at chimney fire
Westport Fire Department Facebook page
The condition of one of two Westport firefighters who fell 30 feet from a roof while putting out a chimney fire was upgraded Friday.
Steve Lopes had surgery for multiple trauma injuries. He was upgraded to serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital. The second firefighter was treated at Charlton Memorial and released.
The fire department said icy conditions Thursday night on the roof of the house on American Legion Highway caused the two firefighters to fall.
When he’s not fighting fires, Lopes raises money for local charities as a standup comedian called “The Portuguese Fireman.”
Firefighter Steven Lopes, 47, a 7-year veteran of the Westport Fire Department and a well-known stand-up comic who goes by the stage name of “The Portuguese Firemen,” slipped on ice while battling the fire at 153 American Legion Highway about 7:55 p.m., according to Fire Chief Brian R. Legendre and Deputy Chief Allen Manley.
Firefighter Robert Manchester, 41, a call firefighter since 2010, also fell when he tried to stop Lopes from falling to the ground, the chief said.
