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| Mayday at Fort Oglethorpe House Fire, Firefighters Injured FORT OGLETHORPE, GA – Tuesday, February 20, 2008 – At just about 10:05 PM, Fort Oglethorpe Fire and Rescue was toned out for a vehicle fire with structure endangerment at 89 Mineral Avenue. Almost immediately, tones were reset and the dispatcher advised that the flames had encroached on the house and all three stations, 1, 8 and 10 were dispatched. About 4 minutes later Battalion Chief Marlin Thompson arrived on the scene and advised that he had heavy involvement on the C side of the structure and a van on fire on that side as well. Command assigned Engine 1 to come directly to the scene and pull two attack lines to the rear of the structure and one to the front for RIT. Ladder 1 was instructed to come directly to the scene and Engine 10 was assigned to lay a supply line from the hydrant at Mineral Avenue and Cloud Springs Road. Firefighters entered the structure to do a primary search and also to begin an aggressive attack on the fire. Once inside, they were met by very heavy fire and rooms filled with all kinds of materials making it difficult to move around inside the structure. They were also met with very heavy fire. As they were fighting the fire, the ceilings began to collapse and heavy fire spread around them. Two firefighters who had made it as far as the living room realized that the fire was quickly advancing toward them and they retreated immediately. A flash occurred and one firefighter exited through the living room window and a second went through the front door. Two other firefighters were trapped in the center of the structure and immediately called a Mayday. They attempted to exit a window on the rear side of the structure but burglar bars covered the window. As the RIT team began making entry in the rear of the structure, these two firefighters were able to self rescue themselves through a rear door. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion by medics on the scene and released. The second received no treatment. A third firefighter was cut by glass and debris on the hand. A fourth injured his ankle and a fifth his knee. All of them were also transported to Hutcheson Medical Center. All were treated and released and are expected to make a full recovery. Firefighters also laddered the roof and provided vertical ventilation which remove heat and smoke, and allowed others to re-enter the structure to battle the blaze. Fort Oglethorpe Fire and Rescue is known for its training regimen and has recently spent a lot of time doing RIT training and disoriented and trapped firefighter training. It paid off at the fire tonight. All parties involved did exactly what they were taught to do including the ones that were trapped. They immediately called for a Mayday as soon as they realized what was happening. Command immediately dispatched the RIT team and all radio traffic on the fireground channel stopped immediately. The 9-1-1 center reacted perfectly by ensuring that command was aware of the Mayday and also notified the police on the scene of the call for help. The extra emphasis placed on training certainly went a long way tonight toward preventing more serious injuries or even death. No one was located inside the structure after the occupants had vacated the house prior to the arrival of firefighters but this was not known until later in the fire. The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation but it is believed to have started in the van to the rear of the house. No civilians were injured. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the homeowners. On the scene were Fort Oglethorpe Engine 1, Ladder 1, Hose 1, Engine 8, Engine 10 and the Air Light Truck. Assistance was provided on the scene by the East Ridge, Tennessee Fire Department. Firefighters from Walker State Prison stood by at Station 1 for coverage. Angle EMS and Hutcheson EMS provided medical care and the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department and the Catoosa County Sheriff’ s Department also assisted in the on the scene operation. |
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