On December 11, 2016 at 2:14, companies were dispatched to a possible building fire. While en route, follow up 911 calls and police on scene reported heavy fire showing. First due companies found a four thousand (4000) plus square foot house with fire showing from side C, D, and A/D corner of the building. A second alarm was requested.
The first hand line was stretched to the door near the A/D corner of the building in an attempt to cool and slow progression of the main body of the fire. The second hand line was stretched to the second front door near the A/B corner of the house. Crews planned to make entry and move towards the D side of the building to stop fire from completely engulfing the second half of the building.
The team that entered the building was a three (3) man crew in full PPE with a 1 ¾ attack line. The crew forced the front door and encountered heavy black and gray smoke. Heat was reported to be low at that time. Members entered on their knees and proceeded right towards the D side of the building. Members reported less than one (1) foot visibility with smoke almost all the way to the floor. Firefighter A maintained contact with the exterior wall which was on his right. Firefighter B attempted to position himself just off to the left of firefighter A. While doing so, firefighter B slipped down and away from firefighter A. Firefighter C was just entering the room. Firefighter A realized something had gone wrong and attempted to locate firefighter B.
When firefighter B was found, he was attempting to crawl out of the area he had fallen into. He was able to so with the assistance of firefighter A. Conditions in the room had worsened and the crew exited the building to reassess the attack.
After the fire had been knocked down, the crew discovered the building had a six hundred and fifty (650) square foot indoor pool in the middle of it. The side of the pool was less than 5 feet from the front door. The pool was covered and was about three quarters full. The pool cover held firefighter B’s weight of 275lbs. The exterior of the building showed no signs that it contained a pool. Had firefighters not been crawling, been in contact with each other or if the pool cover had not held, this could have easily turned into a line of duty death.
