Arizona firefighters used an office chair instead of proper medical equipment to carry a 76-year-old man down concrete stairs, dropped him, and left him in a vegetative state that ended in his death, according to a lawsuit filed by his family.
The family of Harold Barefield claims Rural Metro Fire Department responders arrived at his Tucson home in May 2024 with a “cheap roller chair” without armrests when they should have brought a gurney or stair chair designed for medical transport. The responders then fumbled Barefield during the descent, causing catastrophic injuries.
How the Medical Call Went Wrong
Barefield’s family called 911 when he experienced medical distress at his home. When Rural Metro firefighters arrived, they decided to move him down an outdoor staircase to reach the ambulance. Instead of using equipment designed for safely moving patients on stairs, the responders placed Barefield in what the lawsuit describes as a standard office chair with wheels.
The chair had no armrests and no securing mechanism. During the descent down concrete steps, the firefighters lost control and Barefield fell, striking his head on the concrete. The impact caused severe traumatic brain injury that left him in a persistent vegetative state.
From Emergency to Wrongful Death
Barefield never regained consciousness after the fall. He remained in a vegetative state in a care facility until his death months later. His family’s lawsuit names Rural Metro Fire Department and the individual firefighters involved, claiming their choice to use office furniture instead of medical transport equipment amounted to gross negligence.
The complaint argues that standard operating procedures and basic emergency medical training require responders to use appropriate equipment — stair chairs, gurneys with straps, or other devices specifically designed to safely move patients. Office chairs on wheels have no place in emergency medical transport, particularly on stairs.
What Happens Next in Court
The wrongful death lawsuit seeks damages for Barefield’s pain and suffering, his family’s loss, and the medical costs incurred during his months in a vegetative state. Rural Metro Fire Department has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations in court.
The case raises questions about equipment standards and training protocols at private fire departments that contract with municipalities. Rural Metro operates in multiple states providing emergency services under agreements with local governments.
Key Points
- Harold Barefield, 76, was placed in a wheeled office chair without armrests instead of proper medical transport equipment
- Firefighters dropped him on concrete stairs, causing brain injury that left him in a vegetative state until his death
- Family lawsuit claims Rural Metro Fire Department’s equipment choice violated basic emergency medical protocols
