Firehouse Top 10 Videos of 2020: Everyday Drama on Display
Source Firehouse.com News
Western wildfires, social unrest and COVID-19. This trio of topics might have dominated the headlines this year, but that doesn't mean the most compelling visual moments of 2020 revolved around only those topics.
Riveting video footage captured the everyday drama of fire and medical calls this year as firefighters and EMS workers did their best trying to help someone through a bad day. And in some cases, the person being helped was a colleague.
The following 10 videos—published on Firehouse.com in 2020 and listed here chronologically—run the gamut of emotions, so feel to cringe, chuckle, cry or even cheer as you watch.
Editor's note: Some videos might contain intense images and language. Viewer discretion is advised.
1. Dramatic Video Shows Burning Roof Falling on Dallas FF (Feb. 14)
Dallas Fire Capt. Ronald J. Janek was helping to put out a commercial fire Feb. 14 when he was knocked to the ground by fiery debris from the structure's roof. Janek suffered minor burns, as well as foot and back injuries in the incident.
2. CA Firefighters Rescue Colleagues from Fiery Debris (March 31)
Heartland firefighters quickly sprung into action to rescue two colleagues who were trapped after a section of a burning two-story home collapsed on them during a March 31 fire in El Cajon.
3. OK Firefighters Make Dramatic River Rescue (Aug. 3)
Using a small motorized boat, Tulsa firefighters braved the fast-moving current of the Arkansas River to rescue a person clinging to a low-water dam Aug. 3.
4. Burning Truck's Tire Explodes Near CA Firefighter (Aug. 13)
A Sacramento firefighter escaped serious injury when a truck tire exploded while he was kneeling in front of the burning vehicle during an Aug. 13 call.
5. Amazing FDNY High-Rise Rescue (Sept. 1)
To save a panicked woman trapped in a burning apartment on Sept. 1, FDNY firefighters performed a daring—and rare—rope-roof rescue from the 16th floor.
6. FDNY Firefighters Apprehend Man Who Punched Pedestrian (Sept. 7)
A man on a bicycle made the mistake of punching a woman in front of a Brooklyn FDNY fire station, and members of Engine 214 and Ladder 111 quickly jumped into action.
7. Body Cam Shows TX Firefighters Rescue Disabled Man (Oct. 29)
Bryan firefighters worked quickly to knock down a door and rescue a disabled man trapped inside a burning house in October.
8. Girl Grabs Turkish Firefighter's Thumb after Rescue (Nov. 3)
"I held out my hand. (The girl) clutched it. That's how we got her out," Turkish firefighter Muammer Celik said after he helped rescue a 3-year-old girl from rubble 65 hours following an earthquake that hit the country's western coast.
9. FDNY Firefighters Brave Flames for Third-Story Rescue (Nov. 19)
FDNY firefighters pushed through flames that shot through an apartment window to pull people out of a third-story window and down to safety.
10. Los Angeles Firefighter's Gear Catches Fire (Nov. 25)
A Los Angeles City firefighter had a scary moment when flames began to engulf his turnout gear as he was working a circular saw during a commercial fire in Sherman Oaks on Nov. 24. Fellow firefighters quickly doused him with water.
