Helmet-cam video: House fire in Union City, CA with mayday
California’s AlamedaCountyFire has posted this helmet-cam video from a December 23 fire in Union City where there had been a mayday (prior to the arrival of the crew with the helmet-cam). Below you will find details of the mayday where a captain and firefighter became separated (and here). News coverage of the fire is here.
The description with the video:
Structure fire… 2 story single family approx 2,000 sqft with a patio structure and a pool in the rear yard. Back roof had large solar panels. On arrival heavy fire conditions first floor and second floor, patio structure fully involved with propane gas tank involvement.
2 lines deployed, one on each floor and a truck Co. on the roof venting when 1st floor conditions rapidly deteriorated, causing very high heat and a sudden loss of all visibility. Captain and firefighter became separated, Captain quickly bailed out the rear sliding door and fell into the pool. Conditions were too hot to renter. Capt. Called a May Day believing his FF was trapped inside. Firefighter noted the conditions, could not see or hear his officer and quickly found his line and followed it out the front door. Crews on the 2nd floor did not note the same rapid change in conditions and were able to maintain fire attack.
The department is investigating the circumstances around the May Day. The conditions rapidly changing is also being investigated. There was partial roof failure pushing the solar panels down into the attic, which was heavily involved and may have caused the ceiling dry wall to fall and push the heat and smoke on the crews below.
