BROUSSARD, La. — A New Year’s Day fire on Santa Cruz Drive in Broussard left behind significant destruction and brought harm to several firefighters who risked their lives in the battle to control the flames. After weeks of recovery, those affected by the fire spoke out, sharing their experiences and reflecting on their path to recovery.
One of the most harrowing moments came for firefighter Nicholas Stancliff, who recalled the moment when a brick wall collapsed while he was working to extinguish the fire. The heat from the wall, which had been burning for some time, reached dangerously high temperatures, causing the bricks to burn through Stancliff’s protective gear.
“I started feeling the heat from the bricks,” Stancliff said, describing the intense pain he felt as the heat radiated through his gear. “The bricks had been burning for quite a while, so they were probably a couple of hundred degrees, and they started burning me through my fire gear.”
Despite the danger, BFD Engineer Cole Champagne, who was evaluated at the scene, reported no injuries. However, fellow firefighter Juston Chretien did sustain minor leg injuries, but like his colleagues, he was determined to continue working.
“The first thing I did when I got hit was make sure I felt my fingers, my hand. I just wanted to make sure everything was still intact,” Chretien said. “After that, I just went back to fighting the fire.”
Captain Eric Mannting, a seasoned firefighter with over a decade of experience, was not as fortunate. Mannting suffered serious injuries during the incident, including broken vertebrae, ribs, and damage to his knee. Despite the severity of his injuries, Mannting remained grateful for his survival.
“I have a couple of broken vertebrae that have been repaired, my knee is pretty damaged, broken ribs, but it’s recoverable. I’m here, alive—thank God for that,” Mannting said.
Following the incident, both Mannting and Stancliff were transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center for treatment. Mannting, a father of two, took a moment to reflect on the emotional impact of the accident on his family.
“They know Dad works a dangerous job, and they just knew I was hurt,” he shared, acknowledging the emotional toll his family experienced.
Though the injuries have been significant, both Mannting and his fellow firefighters are determined to get back to work and continue serving their community. For them, the need to protect and save others outweighs the risks they face daily.
“Emergencies don’t stop just because we get hurt,” said Mannting. “We may be out for a while, but people still need our help. That motivates us to get back to work as soon as we can.”
The community has shown overwhelming support for the firefighters during their recovery, and Mannting expressed deep gratitude for the kindness they’ve received. “We’re deeply grateful. We owe a lot to the city, to the community, to everyone, especially to the department, the guys who helped me through it,” he said. “They kept me out of some dark times.”
As the firefighters continue to heal and prepare to return to their duties, their resilience and commitment to their work stand as a testament to the courage and strength of those who serve on the frontlines.