A High Ridge firefighter has a long road to recovery after falling through a floor while searching a burning house in the 4200 block of Hickory Lane in House Springs on Sunday morning, June 19. The firefighter fractured a vertebra and was taken to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County and released the same night, but he is not expected to return to duty for several months because of the injury, said John Barton, chief of the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
At about 9 a.m., High Ridge Fire got a call about the fire from someone who lives near the House Springs home, and crews arrived on the scene at 9:07 a.m. The firefighter fell through the floor at 9:14 a.m., and crews had rescued him by 9:17 a.m., Barton said.
He said the firefighter has worked in the field for 15 years and has been with the High Ridge fire district for five years. The firefighter was searching the house because it had just been sold, and the neighbor was not sure if anyone was inside, Barton said.
He said it was later determined that a man and woman had just bought the home and had not yet moved in. The home was significantly damaged.
The cause of the fire is not known but is not considered suspicious, Barton said.
He said the fire was under control by 9:50 a.m.
The Antonia, Cedar Hill and Eureka fire protection districts helped with the call. The Big River Ambulance District also responded to the scene.