By ABC 7:
Three firefighters were rescued after feeling disoriented while fighting a blaze at a vacant convenience store on S. Washington Street.
On Saturday at about 9:27 p.m., the Amarillo Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at a vacant convenience store located at 4014 South Washington Street. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke emanating from the building’s eaves and rear corner.
As crews initiated an attack on the inside, forcing entry through a secured door, they encountered high heat and zero visibility. During the operation, three firefighters became disoriented, prompting a Mayday call.
The Rapid Intervention Team was activated and was able to get all personnel to safety. No injuries were reported.
Due to deteriorating conditions, including roof instability and extreme heat, incident command shifted to a defensive strategy. Firefighters used exterior handlines, ladder operations and aerial streams to control the blaze. Suppression efforts were prolonged due to a partial roof collapse, which limited safe access.
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