ABQ firefighter accidentally shoots himself in fire station

Man treated for ‘traumatic injury’

If you’re going to accidentally shoot yourself, a fire station isn’t a bad place to do it.

An Albuquerque firefighter was hospitalized for almost a week after accidentally shooting himself at a fire station in northeast Albuquerque last month.

Melissa Romero, a spokeswoman for the fire department, said there is an ongoing investigation into the issue and the man wasn’t identified. The city didn’t immediately produce investigative documents about the incident.

City rules prohibit all nonlaw enforcement employees from carrying firearms on city property, said Alicia Manzano, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office. She said employees can be disciplined for violating the policy.

The shooting happened on Jan. 24 when the man was on duty at a fire station. He spent five days in the hospital with a “traumatic injury,” Romero said in an email.

He remains on sick leave. There have been pushes in some states around the country to allow firefighters or paramedic first responders to carry concealed weapons in case they respond to a deadly situation.