Horseshoe Bay Police Patrol Sergeant Lin Thorp had a heart attack while helping fight The Trails fire, but that set back may have been a silver lining in disguise. When the call came in reporting a fire along RM 2831 near The Trails on August 18, 2020, many units of the HSB Fire Department were already dispatched to the scene of grass fire in HSB South. Thorp was one of the first, if not the first, police officer to respond to The Trails' fire. Thorp helped Fire Department personnel pull hoses from the trucks as they arrived, assisted as residents with garden hoses protected their homes, and did just about anything else that needed to be done.
HSB Police Chief Rocky Wardlow was on the scene quickly, but was asked to get in front of the fire to relay progress. “I saw Lin get into an ambulance as I was leaving the command post. I was told he had overheated and needed to cool off. The next update I got was that he had been taken to Baylor Scott&White on Highway 71, but was being transferred to Lakeway with a heart attack.”
Once the fire fight reached a point where there were enough fire fighters from all the area departments and sufficient law enforcement assets and personnel on the scene, Chief Wardlow said he handed off supervision to the department's Assistant Chief and “took off headed for Lakeway” to be with Thorp. But as Wardlow crossed US 281, he realized it was a pointless trip given the COVID-19 protocols in place which would not have allowed him into the hospital to check on Thorp.
The initial medical report was that Thorp would need a couple of stints which could be done in Lakeway. Further testing revealed Thorp's condition was much more complicated and open heart surgery would be required. The medical team transferred Thorp to Round Rock. Thorp underwent surgery on the Wednesday after the fire. He was discharged the following week and has been home recovering.
Thorp said, “The doctor in Lakeway told me that I had just had a stress test, and failed!” And some folks don't think doctors have a sense of humor!
Thorp dropped by the Police Department late last week for a visit. He is doing great and is on the mend. If all goes well, Thorp expects to return to light duty in October and be back to full duty sometime around Thanksgiving.
Many local residents have heard about Thorp suffering a heart attack while fighting The Trails fire and have wanted to help with any financial hurdles. But Chief Wardlow reports that Thorp's medical bills should be covered by either insurance or workers compensation. The COVID-19 protocols would not allow Thorp's wife to stay with him in the hospital, so she incurred hotel and meal expenses that won’t be covered. Anyone wishing to help Thorp or any other police officer or fire fighter can donate to the HSB Police and Fire Assistance Fund that was set up many years ago to help first responders through the Martin Foundation. Make out checks payable to either Police Chief Rocky Wardlow or Fire Chief Brent Batla and drop them by their offices adjacent to HSB City Hall. They will deposit the funds and insure the
