A structure fire was reported at approximately 0900. Initial interior attack was attempted but halted due to extensive fire in the basement and a balloon construction dwelling. Two ladder master streams and various deck and deluge guns were put into service. After approximately three hours of defensive master stream operations, a crew of three firefighters (including me) was told to re-enter the building in an attempt to locate fire and check for extension. We entered the structure from a side door and I was on the handline with two other firefighters behind me. We crawled into the structure and after crawling about 6 feet into the kitchen, we noticed that a wall had collapsed in the kitchen. We kept moving forward and after crawling approximately 2 more feet, the kitchen floor collapsed sending me into the basement. I fell approximately 6 feet before hitting the water. The other two firefighters managed to avoid falling into the basement. The basement was filled with approximately 8 feet of water. I was submerged completely under the water but was able to breathe the air in my SCBA. My SCBA mask quickly filled with water! I was unable to touch the bottom so I held onto the handline and pulled my head above the water. I used the radio to call for a FAST team.The other fire fighter in the building with me noticed I had fallen so he grabbed the handline and was able to pull me up. He then grabbed my turnout coat and managed to pull me out of the hole. At this point, I most likely lost consciousness as I do not recall anything else until I woke up in the back of an ambulance. The paramedics and EMTs were attending to me. I was transported to the trauma center and admitted. They treated me for hypothermia. The other two firefighters were transported to the local hospital, evaluated, and released.
LESSONS LEARNED:
The lesson learned in this event is that after pouring water through various master streams on a structure that is actively burning for well over 3 hours, do not send any personnel into the structure. The structure will be deemed a total loss at this point and it is not worth risking the lives of other firefighters to attempt to more rapidly extinguishment of the fire. Also learned from this incident, evaluate all orders given to you by incident command. If you do not feel safe, advise incident command and the safety officer of the situation.
