Medina Firefighter Sustains Minor Injuries in West Smith Road Blaze

Fire Chief says firefighter has been released from hospital with no restrictions.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A Medina firefighter sustained minor injuries while battling a structure fire at a waste recycling plant on West Smith Road in the early morning hours of February 9th. Fire Chief Larry Walters reported the firefighter was transported to Medina Hospital but has since been released without any restrictions.

Why it matters

Structure fires pose significant risks to firefighters, who often put themselves in harm's way to protect public safety. This incident highlights the dangers they face and the importance of proper training and equipment to minimize injuries.

The details

Firefighters responded to the commercial structure fire around 5 AM and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the rear of the building. It took over 2.5 hours to bring the blaze under control. In addition to the Medina Fire Department, crews from the Medina Police Department and several neighboring fire departments assisted at the scene.

  • The fire broke out around 5 AM on February 9, 2026.
  • Firefighters had the fire under control in just over 2.5 hours.

The players

Larry Walters

Medina Fire Chief who provided details about the firefighter's injuries and the fire response.

Medina Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to and battled the blaze on West Smith Road.

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What they’re saying

“Crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from the rear of the building and it took a little more than two and a half hours for them to get the fire under control.”

— Larry Walters, Medina Fire Chief (cleveland.com)

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the risks firefighters face in protecting their communities and the importance of proper training, equipment, and coordination between emergency responders to ensure their safety.