NFFF Memorial Weekend features memories of returning survivors.

NFFF TV - Survivor: Emily Thornton, the daughter of Scott Thornton, talks about her father and hero.

USFA: Scott Allen Thornton
Incident Description: Captain Thornton was in command of an engine company that was dispatched with other units to a report of smoke in a garage. Upon their arrival, Captain Thornton reported nothing showing. He made contact with the homeowner and found that the garage was charged with smoke. Firefighters including Captain Thornton advanced an attack line into the structure and began to search for the source of the smoke. After difficulty in finding the fire, Captain Thornton and another firefighter began to search the upper floor of the residence without a handline. Captain Thorntonâ019s low air alarm activated. After firefighters had been on-scene for approximately 20 minutes, fire conditions deteriorated rapidly and trapped Captain Thornton and the firefighter who had accompanied him. Captain Thornton ran out of air and buddy-breathed with the firefighter. A second attempt to buddy-breathe was unsuccessful, and Captain Thornton fell to the floor. The firefighter broke out a window, signaled distress, and went back to find Captain Thornton. The firefighter was unable to locate Captain Thornton, but was able to find his way out of the structure. Approximately 20 minutes after his last radio transmission, Captain Thornton was found by firefighters and removed from the structure. Despite efforts on the scene and at the hospital, Captain Thornton was pronounced dead as a result of smoke inhalation. Captain Thorntonâ019s air supply was depleted; his PASS device did operate, but the sound was muffled by the position of his body. The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags that had been stored in the basement of the home. For additional information regarding this incident, please refer to NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program report F2005-05 (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200505.html).