Barbara Anderson, Fresnobee.com:
Capt. Pete Dern was leading a crew across the roof to provide ventilation for the safety of attack crews when the roof collapsed and he fell into the inferno, the fire department said. A video posted on EAFacebook that captures Dern’s fall into the flames has received national attention.
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Dern, 49, was rescued within minutes but suffered second- and third-degree burns on 65% to 75% of his body. Third-degree burns are the most severe.
Fire department spokesman Pete Martinez said Dern is a 25-year veteran of the department and a captain for 17 years. “He is one of the most well-respected fire captains in the department.”
As of Monday morneing, Dern remained heavily sedated and was on a ventilator, the fire department said. Dern has had the first of many surgeries for his injuries. Dern is married and has one daughter.
EARLIER
Here is the information KFSN-TV posted with the video below showing a Fresno Fire Department captain falling through the roof of a burning garage this (Sunday) afternoon and being critically injured:
WARNING: This footage contains material that some viewers may find disturbing due to explicit language and/or the graphic nature of the material.
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More fire videos from FireCritic.com
A Fresno Fire Department captain fell through a roof into a burning home early Sunday. At the request of the FFD, we are posting this video to show the dangers of working as a firefighter.
The captain, who has not yet been identified, is now in critical condition and has third-degree burns over 30 percent of his body. 60-70 percent of his body is burned. He is in surgery at Community Regional Medical Center.
Thanks to our #abc30insider Sooji Lee for capturing this video.
The firefighter was in critical condition Sunday evening at Community Regional Medical Center, Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis said at a news conference outside the hospital.
Donis said the firefighter was in surgery. She said he had burns on 60% to 70% of his body; 40% of those burns were third-degree. She said she’s confident in the CRMC burn-unit doctors.
Donis said the firefighter is a 25-year veteran of the department. She declined to name him, citing deference to his family.
The first engine arrived at 1:23 p.m. at the house on Cortland Avenue just west of Manchester Shopping Center and reported fire in the garage. Battalion Chief Todd Tuggle said crews used standard technique of sending one firefighter up to the roof; that firefighter fell through at 1:35 p.m.
