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Close Call in Virginia

6 comments

FIREFIGHTERS IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA, got to witness a fire explosion up close Thursday morning when six of them were attacking a fire inside a townhome. 

all photos via Harrisonburg Fire Dept.

They had responded to the fire around 10:30 am and found a row house with a working fire.  As they were inside, an as-yet-unidentified type of explosion wracked the fire building.  WHSV-TV continues:

Harrisonburg Fire Capt. Larry Shifflett witnessed the unthinkable.  As several of his men went to fight the fire, an explosion occurred on the second floor.

Shifflett says, “Four of those guys came out the front door. They suffered first- and second-degree burns. Two of them actually had to bail out the second floor window and just hang by their fingertips until we could get ladders to get them down.”

Another firefighter was transported later for heat-related problems and later released.  It is believed that the fire started from cigarette butts in a trash can.  Three homes were damaged by the fire, two of them have extensive damage.

WHSV-TV has the full story and a video report HERE.
Harrisonburg Fire Department WEBSITE.

Hat tip:  John C.

Posted by on June 25, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fires • Tagged: , , ,
  • capacole

    The captain states that these two were “hanging by their fingertips” … If this is accurate, how in the world were they able to turn upside down (And why would they want to?) and go down the ground ladder head first?

  • firegeezer

    I think “hanging by their fingertips” was used as a manner of expression.
    FG

    ________________________________

  • capacole

    Thanks F.G. The photos also clearly show why it's vital to 'make a doorway out of window openings' by removing the entire window. It's difficult to squeeze out the small opening while wearing PPE and an air pack. I've seen FF's attempt to bail out a window only to be knocked back into the room when their cylinder struck the sash.

    I hope the firefighters are okay and able to return to work quickly.

  • DL

    I think this incident needs a lot of review. Glad everyone is ok.

  • Afj622

    im sure he wished that ladder had been extended all the way to the window sill…

  • yourmom

    Fire fighters are trained to bail out of a window head first. If a firefighter who just came out a BURNING BUILDING runs out of oxygen in his SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) , he goes head first. That way he can slide himself down the ladder quickly. Keep in mind; he's escaping a room that is ON FIRE. Not, climbing out for the heck of it