Firefighter burns leg battling blaze at mobile home in San Dimas

Mayday: Firefighter recovering after fall through roof

Posted: Sep 11, 2013 10:34 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 12, 2013 10:47 PM EDT

“Once we got there, we saw flames coming out the windows, heavy smoke coming out the eves of the house,” said Wood.

He was on the roof checking for a place to ventilate the house.  While he was up there, the roof started to feel a little soft, so Wood thought it was time to get down.

That’s when things changed.

“As I’m going back out my path that I came in, I hit it one more time, made sure I found a stud to step on, and I just fell straight down,” Wood told FOX19.

He fell several feet into the attic space before catching himself on the trusses of the house.

“My pants had come up above my boots. I got third degree burns on my right leg, second degree burns on my left leg,” Wood added.

He punched a hole in the drywall to get out but found nothing but flames below him. His only option was to go back up the way he came down.

“I finally got through on the radio, ‘Mayday, mayday, mayday!  Firefighter Wood.  I’ve fallen through the roof.  I’m okay.  I would just like some help, a ladder up here to rescue me,’” said Wood.

Wood says he just had to stay calm and let his training kick in and take over.

“My adrenaline was for sure going, but I never thought to myself that this was the end.  It was not like that,” he said.

He’s so dedicated to being a firefighter, he was actually on another call early Thursday morning driving a ladder truck donning full gear.

An adult and two teenagers were inside at the time and were able to make it out safely.

The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen, located in the rear of the home, and spread to the attic.

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 PRELIMINARY INFORMATIONAL  REPORT  STRUCTURE FIRE  FIREFIGHTER BURN INURY

106 OLE BARN RD, KEARNEYSVILLE, WV 

JUNE 20, 2011

INCIDENT # 2499

This report is intended as a safety and training tool, an aid to preventing future occurrences, and to inform interested parties. Because it is published on a short time frame, the information contained herein is subject to evision as further investigation is conducted and additional information is developed.

Preliminary Informational Report

SYNOPSIS

While performing an interior fire attack at a mobile home fire, a firefighter fell through the floor becoming briefly trapped from the waist down. The firefighter attempted to self-extricate himself. He was assisted by the engine officer up and out of the hole. The firefighter pushed a window and part of the exterior wall with his body falling to the front yard. The firefighter was transported to the nearest level II trauma center with burns to both legs and then transported to a burn unit two days later.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Temperature 71F degrees, Dewpoint 63F, Humidity 75%, Wind direction 5.8 mph SSW, Overcast. 

SUMMARY

On Monday June 20, 2011 at 10:51 the Jefferson County, WV 911 Center received a report of a mobile home fire at 106 Ole Barn Rd, Fox Glenn S/D, Kearneysville, WV . At 10:52 a dispatch assignment was started for the structure fire box. Departments alerted: Shepherdstown (Jefferson Co 3), Independent (Jefferson Co 4), BakerHeights (Berkeley Co 60), Veterans Administration Medical Center(Berkeley Co 80).

A working fire task force assignment was dispatched at 10:59.

Berkeley Engine 81 (staff 2) arrived on scene approximately 11:04 (exact time was not recorded by communication center).

Jefferson Rescue Engine 3 (staff 4+1) arrived on scene at 11:06. RE3 deployed a supply line from intersection of Ole Barn and Fox Glenn to the scene. The RE3 officer did a face to face with E81driver to confirm status of any occupants. There was no information to confirm the location of occupants. A crew of 3 including RE3 officer entered the mobile home from the front door (side A) with a 1 ¾ handline. At that time there was approximately 30-40% fire involvement. The fire had also vented through the roof. The crew began an interior attack while sounding the floor area. The entire mobile home had several inches to several feet of debris including clothes, home items and trash that had been stored over many years. This hampered fire attack, search and sounding the floor.

Preliminary Informational Report

The third member of the attack crew was at the front door feeding hose inside. The other firefighter and RE3 officer had advanced 8-10 feet inside along the side A wall when the firefighter fell through the floor. The firefighter began to feel burn injuries to both legs and attempted self-rescue. The RE3 officer saw the firefighter in the floor attempting to remove himself. The officer grabbed the firefighter by the shoulders of his coat and pulled up. The firefighter then pushed towards a window with the assistance of the RE3 officer exiting the structure through a window and the exterior wall (side A) landing in the front yard. The officer still located inside the structure called a MayDay. Communication center has the MayDay at 11:08. Just after the firefighter landed on the yard a crew from Jefferson E4 (staff 6 including captain) approached the side A area. Jefferson Captain 4 assumed command ordering an evacuation of the structure and an accountability check.

The injured firefighter from RE3 was moved to a safer location on side A. Fire crews and EMS began an assessment of the firefighter’s burns while removing PPE and SCBA. The firefighter was conscious and talking. It was determined the firefighter had first to second degree burns to both lower legs. The firefighter was loaded and transported by Jefferson Medic 4 at 11:26 to WinchesterMedical Center , Trauma Unit in Winchester, VA.

Two days later the firefighter was transferred to the burn unit at the WashingtonHospital Center, MedStar in Washington DC for further treatment.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFETY ACTIONS

• Always wear full personal protective equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus while operating in IDLH atmospheres.
•  Sound floor during interior operations. 

• Review Mayday and firefighter survival procedures. 

• Establish RIT as soon as staffing permits. 

• Assure an ALS service and transport unit/s is on scene. 

Daniel Thomas

Health & Safety Officer

Shepherdstown Fire Department, Inc.