A day after being trapped inside a burning building, a New
Castle firefighter says he’s just sore. Monday the officer talked about
the rescue by his fellow firefighters.
New
Castle Fire Chief Tom Maciarello is calling the fire inside a vacant
building on the 100 block of East Washington Street suspicious. The fire
was called in shortly after 8:00 p.m. Sunday.
Castle Fire Chief Tom Maciarello is calling the fire inside a vacant
building on the 100 block of East Washington Street suspicious. The fire
was called in shortly after 8:00 p.m. Sunday.
Three
firefighters went inside to attack the blaze, but when they found the
second and third floors fully engulfed in flames they decided to get
out. Two firefighters made their way out safely and the other
firefighter became trapped.
firefighters went inside to attack the blaze, but when they found the
second and third floors fully engulfed in flames they decided to get
out. Two firefighters made their way out safely and the other
firefighter became trapped.
Lt. John Onufrak
said, “When it started coming down I didn’t think it was going to be
that bad because I have had ceilings fall on me before and then the
large timber came down. I was concerned and it happened so fast and it
knocked me fortunately toward the door. I was maybe two feet from the
door but buried and stuck.”
said, “When it started coming down I didn’t think it was going to be
that bad because I have had ceilings fall on me before and then the
large timber came down. I was concerned and it happened so fast and it
knocked me fortunately toward the door. I was maybe two feet from the
door but buried and stuck.”
Lt. John Onufrak
said his fellow firefighters started digging and called for more help
but there was another obstacle, his air pack.
said his fellow firefighters started digging and called for more help
but there was another obstacle, his air pack.
Chief
Maciarello said, “As we attempted to pull him out, his air pack got
caught, OK, as we were pulling him his air pack was pulling up against
him. So we had to cut the straps of the air pack and it took a minute, a
minute and a half but we finally pulled him out of harm’s way and
transported him to the hospital.”
Maciarello said, “As we attempted to pull him out, his air pack got
caught, OK, as we were pulling him his air pack was pulling up against
him. So we had to cut the straps of the air pack and it took a minute, a
minute and a half but we finally pulled him out of harm’s way and
transported him to the hospital.”
Lt. Onufrak
said, “Once I got into the ambulance and up to the hospital then I
started feeling some pain in my chest area and they did x-rays and
nothing’s broken and today (Monday) I’m a little sore that’s all.”
said, “Once I got into the ambulance and up to the hospital then I
started feeling some pain in my chest area and they did x-rays and
nothing’s broken and today (Monday) I’m a little sore that’s all.”
On
the day after the blaze, the fire chief says it’s unsafe to go inside
to try to determine the cause. He does believe it started in the back of
the building and he believes it is suspicious.
the day after the blaze, the fire chief says it’s unsafe to go inside
to try to determine the cause. He does believe it started in the back of
the building and he believes it is suspicious.
Maciarello said the side door to the building was open and officials received reports people were going in and out of it.
Meanwhile Lt. Onufrak said he is grateful for his co-workers. “I’m just so thankful they were there to get me out.”
