Firefighters Pull Occupant
Out of Working Fire

August 4, 2003 0014hrs:

Units were alerted for a reported abandoned commercial building fire. FIrst arriving Chief 3A Clark Embrey found an old vacant house with smoke showing. This was the same house that fire gutted on Christmas day 2001. Engine 32, under the command of Chief 3B DJ Mills, arrived on scene moments later and pulled a 1 3/4" crosslay into the remains of the structure. As the crew was advancing the line into the room on fire, Lt Brian Godfrey and F/F James Thorne found an unconcious vagrant laying just inches from the fire. Together, they removed the victim from the room and turned him over to F/F Justin "Bubba" Zdobysz. F/F Zdobysz removed the victim from the structure and carried him out to E-32. Once the occupant was outside, he regained conciousness and later attempted to re-enter the burning structure. Chief 3A special requested the medic unit to respond for the victim for possible smoke inhalation. E-32's crew extinguished the contents of the room without further incident. Engine 121 arrived on scene and provided extra water to E-32. Command held units from Company 3, 12, Truck 1, Ambulance 128, and Medic 21. The rest of the assignment was placed in service. The victim signed a release with the EMS units and was turned over to the custody of the Sheriff's Office.

Responding Units: Engine 32, Engine 31, Squad 3, Engine 121, Engine 402 (Brandywine), Engine 363 (Baden), Truck 1 (La Plata), Tower 24 (Accokeek), Squad 2 (Hughesville), Ambulance 128, and Chief 3A Clark Embrey

Special Requested Units: Medic 21