Information provided by Rita Reith
A Mayday was declared and an Indianapolis (IN) firefighter on the attack team had to be rescued after falling through the floor during an early morning fire.
Within four minutes of arrival on scene at a working double residence fire at 232 Rural St., a firefighter from the initial attack crew fell through the floor. Burned-through joists and flooring on the second floor gave way, sending the firefighter sprawling. Her officer, on the attack line with her, leaned into the hole, grabbed her turnout coat, and attempted to pull her back up. Another firefighter assisted. Simultaneously, and with one hand still holding the firefighter, the officer used his other hand to activate the Mayday protoctol over the radio.
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- Firefighter Basics: Calling the Mayday
- Entering Through the Door, Falling Through the Floor: Catastrophic Structural Collapse
Within a minute, firefighters, entered the rear of the structrure, located the firefighter on the first floor, assisted her to her feet and brought her outside. The firefighter was shaken but okay and the Mayday cancelled. She was checked on scene and transported. Another firefighter was also checked on scene for a slight injury.
According to the Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department, this was the first time the fire dispatcher involved in this call was faced with handling a Mayday and did an exceptional job.
The fire in the two-story structure was brought under control. Neighbors reported that squatters had been in and out of the boarded-up structure.
RITA L. REITH is a battalion chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) and serves as the agency’s public information officer.
