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Permalink Reply by Paul on December 17, 2008 at 9:30am

Amazing video!!!! but my question would be did the FF's have tools with them and check the floor before entering. If they did their sizeup upon arrival they would have known that the fire stated in the lower portion of the house.Thank God there was not a loss of a FF.

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Permalink Reply by T.J. on December 17, 2008 at 9:56am

It looks like my department would've made a interior attack on that fire also, their lucky to make it out hurtless. I know I've come very close a couple of times of going through a floor, yes Paul they should've sounded the floor but that does not always help you. You could be on a good floor with no burn under it and it still can go down. It's all a instink that you need to have from fighting a lot of interior fires, you'll know sometimes in your mind when it's time to get out but sometimes it's to late too. It's all part of the game I guess. A lot of Departments would've gone defensive on this fire and wattched the whole house burn down, but with them going inside like they did seems to me they put a bulk of the fire out and doing that they saved a lot of that families belongings and that means the world to them.

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Permalink Reply by Salty Jake on December 17, 2008 at 5:03pm

Just setting the record straight: I had the opportunity to talk with both individuals that were injuried in this unfortunate mishap. The all out had been sounded moments before. These two were operating an 1.75" hand line equipped with a nozzle that produced 175 gallons a minute, set up in the threshold of a door way. The FF that fell into the basement had just asked for more hose in an effort to get it up under his armfor comfort reasons. He rocked forward, placing weight onto his front foot causing the floor to giveway. His momentum carried him into the basement, there was no intent to make entry......defensive attack at this point of the game. Bottom line...be careful out there and always be aware of your surroundings.

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Permalink Reply by FETC on December 17, 2008 at 5:34pm

TJ hit this on the head.

The floor was sounded with irons. The floor was constructed with 2x10 floor joists and plywood. It was also covered with high end 12"x12" tile / grout.

I believe the tiles masked the thump/thump taught in training. When have you ever sounded an expensive tile floor in training? Most would say pretty much never...

The main house suffered major damage to the basement and first floor. The 2nd floor sleeping areas, the business offices, and all of the families personal belongings were recoverable. There was also garage full of high end toys and a very large 800-1000' apartment on the opposite end of the dwelling which recieved very minor smoke damage.

The instinct to call for an evacuation of the dwelling was transmitted just minutes prior to the collapse. The evacuation was complete and the floor collapse occurred at the entry way door.

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