Hey…
As per Prince Georges County (Maryland) Fire/EMS PIO Mark Brady, about 11:30 hours this morning, Prince George’s County Firefighters were alerted to a house fire in the Riverdale Heights area. Fire/EMS units arrived at 6318 57th Avenue and found a 1-story single family home with light smoke showing from the front of the house. The engine from Riverdale Heights (813) arrived first and advanced a hoseline to the front door and then paused, to don their PPE and SCBA. The house was vacant and a small fire could be seen in the front living room. The ladder truck from Riverdale (807) was the second to arrive, almost at the same time as Riverdale Heights. The crew from Truck 807 donned their PPE and SCBA and entered the dwelling to begin ventilation by removing windows. As the engine crew from Riverdale Heights prepared to enter the structure and extinguish the fire, their hoseline sustained damage from glass or debris and broke; rendering it useless. As additional arriving companies stretched another hoseline into position, a flashover occurred. The flashover occurred with the crew from Truck 807 inside. The crew quickly exited the structure, some requiring assistance from other firefighters. The fire was then out in about 10 minutes. 2 Firefighters sustained burn injuries and were transported to a Burn Unit.
Fire Fighter Anthony "Tony" Blazek, 27, and a 3-year volunteer member of the Riverdale Fire/EMS Station sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns about his face, neck and back. He has been admitted to the Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center. His burn injuries are serious, however, not life-threatening.
A second firefighter, Cory Johnson, 23 years-of-age, 6-year volunteer member of the Riverdale Fire/EMS Station sustained minor burn injuries and was treated and released from the Burn Unit. Fire Investigators believe the fire started in a couch and was caused by vagrants improperly discarded cigarette. Fire loss is estimated at $25,000.
We have posted several images on our home page (provided by PGFEMS PIO) taken by Probationary Volunteer Member Tony George of Riverdale Heights 813. He was on the first arriving engine and snapped the pictures in sequence.
Additional details and links to follow. Our sincere wishes for FF Blazeks rapid recovery.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL-STAY LOW.
BillyG
The Secret List 11-21-08 / 0615 hours