Firefighter falls through cabin floor EMMITSBURG — A firefighter/emergency medical technician fell through a hole in the floor of a burning cabin Friday afternoon and "mayday" was declared, said Jim Click, deputy chief for Vigilant Hose Co.
"He was holding himself up (with his hands)," Click said. "This was on the second floor." Firefighters declare mayday when they are in trouble or are trapped, said Wayne Powell, a retired public information officer for Vigilant Hose.
Click isn’t sure who declared mayday."The operation officer told me we have a mayday inside," he said. "It had my heart pounding." A couple of fire personnel rescued him, he said. "They went in, both of them grabbed his arms and pulled him out." He was checked by the ambulance crew. "He was fine," Click said.
The fire was in one of the large cabins at a camp and conference center in the area of 7600 Hampton Valley Road, he said.
The call was dispatched at 2:58 p.m., he said. Units from about 11 fire companies responded. They had the fire under control in roughly half an hour, Click said.
The fire started in the basement and burned through the second floor, Click said.
The man who fell is with the Emmitsburg Ambulance Co., Click said.
The Frederick County fire marshal was at the scene to investigate the blaze, he said.
