Two Prince George's County, Md. firefighters were burned last Friday when a flashover occurred as they battled a structure fire.
Firefighter Anthony "Tony" Blazek, 27, a 3-year volunteer member of the Riverdale Fire/EMS Station sustained second and third 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 Johnston, 23, a 6-year volunteer member of the Riverdale Fire/EMS Station sustained minor burn injuries and was treated and released from the Burn Unit.
Crews were called to the one-story, single family home in the Riverdale Heights area at about 11:30 a.m.
The engine from Riverdale Heights arrived first and advanced a hoseline to the front door and paused to don their personal protective equipment (PPE) and self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The house was vacant and a small fire could be seen in the front living room. The ladder truck from Riverdale Fire/EMS Station #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 structure 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 was cut; rendering it useless.
As additional arriving firefighters stretched another hoseline into position, a flashover occurred.
When the flashover occurred, the crew from Truck 807 was inside the structure. The crew quickly exited, with some firefighters requiring assistance from other firefighters. The fire was then extinguished in about 10 minutes.
Fire Investigators believe the fire started in a couch and was caused by vagrants improperly discarded cigarette. Fire loss is estimated at $25,000.
For more on this story, and dramatic pictures from the incident, visit STATter 911 Blog.
