Update: Fallen firefighter identified. Scroll down.
SDIS 17 / Guillaume Largeau / Sylvain Roussillon
A 33-YR.-OLD FIREFIGHTER WAS KILLED EARLY THIS MORNING (Monday) in the French seacoast city of La Rochelle. The fire was in a seafood processing plant, Dem Atlantic, that cooks and packages frozen shrimp. A hose crew was working inside the plant when what the fire department is reporting as a flashover ignited inside the large processing room that was filled with wood and styrene packing supplies. The fireball downed the unidentified firefighter and ignited the entire interior with the other FF on the hose line barely escaping. Immediately after, a wall fell on the unfortunate man, trapping him further.
SDIS 17 / Guillaume Largeau / Sylvain Roussllon
It took the other firefighters about 45 minutes to knock the fire down enough to get in to retrieve the victim. Using a thermal-imaging camera, they located him underneath a large section of sheet metal wall that had collapsed on him.
Update, Tuesday morning:
The fallen firefighter has been identified as Sebastien Couturier, age 33 and father of two children ages 6 and 8. His demise occurred on his birthday. His rank was caporal chef (senior corporal) and he was assigned to the CSP Mireuil station in La Rochelle.
Sebastien Couturier (Sud Ouest photo)
His partner is hospitalized in serious condition with burns to his face.
The fire which began around 3 am (local time) was attacked by 60 firefighters and was largely extinguished by 7 am.
France3 TV has a video report from the fireground HERE.
Sud Ouest / Cottin & Chauveau
Additonal sources:
SDIS 17 WEBSITE (the responding fire department).
Sud Ouest STORY. (includes a good photo gallery)
Sud Ouest / Cottin & Chauveau
Hat tip: Laurence D. – the Fireball for assistance.
Also on FireGeezer…
- Downtown Fire in La Rochelle – January 4, 2011
- LODD – Massachusetts – December 8, 2011
- LODD – Germany – April 6, 2011
- LODD – Italy – January 9, 2012
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