Pre-arrival video: Did Portland man do the right thing in opening front door checking for victims?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzWpFvynYkc
Tristan Twohig, a former firefighter in Alaska, smelled smoke while riding his motorcycle home from work early Monday morning. The smoke brought him to a burning vacant home in Northeast Portland, Oregon. Worried that someone might be inside, Twohig says he kicked in the front door. The flames that suddenly burst out didn’t let him get far. His raw video is above.
So, the question is, did Twohig, who also called 911, do the right thing in checking for possible victims?
One TV station (video & story below) is questioning Twohig’s actions, citing unidentified firefighters or fire officials who point out that opening the door gave the fire oxygen, allowing it to grow. Twohig could have become a victim himself by his actions. All of that is true and we know the goal is to keep the public out of harm’s way.
But if there had been a victim just inside the door and Twohig had pulled that person to safety, wouldn’t we be calling him a hero and nominating him for a Carnegie Medal?
A man ran toward an intense house fire in North Portland. He was looking to help, but he may have made the fire worse.
Firefighters said everyone can learn what to do, and what not to do, from how this would-be rescue attempt unfolded.
Click here if video above fails to play
When Twohig opened the front door, he let oxygen into the house. That fed the fire, which made the flames grow. Firefighters said Twohig is lucky he didn’t get hurt.Firefighters want the public to know they don’t recommended anyone going inside of a house with smoke coming out of it, or with flames showing. They said the safest things bystanders can do is to not panic, call 911, and alert the neighbors. Twohig did those things right.
