DAVE STATTER
STATTer911/WUSA9
Reprinted with Permission

Two firefighters ran into serious trouble Monday evening at a garden apartment building fire in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Firefighters were already dealing with heavy snow on the ground and water supply issues when a mayday was called for two firefighters down. This happened around the time command ordered the evacuation of the building due to a report of a top floor collapse at the building in the 4200 block of Hunt Club Circle in the Fair Oaks section of the county.

Fire officials say one firefighter came off of a balcony dropping three floors into a snow bank. A second firefighter was reported missing for a brief period. That firefighter was soon found and was taken to a burn unit after the firefighter’s facepiece became dislodged.

The snow slowed firefighters in placing ladders and accessing hydrants. Virginia National Guard members in Humvees and other vehicles have been assisting firefighters. They helped in getting at least one of the injured firefighters to an ambulance.

The injuries to both firefighters are not considered life threatening.

At least 14 apartments were damaged in the fire.

It already had been a tough day for the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department. Eighteen firefighters had a close call when their fire station crumbled around them at 3:00 in the morning. Heavy snow on the flat roof at Station 410 in Bailey’s Crossroads collapsed the roof. The fire station, the apparatus inside and vehicles belonging to firefighters parked outside have been heavily damaged, but no firefighters were hurt.