Above is a statement at the scene by the Modesto Fire Department.
Read press release from the Modesto Fire Department
Raw video from the scene from The Modesto Bee – Part 1, Part 2
Two Modesto, California firefighters were seriously hurt when they fell through the roof of a burning home New Year’s Night. The fire, which went to three-alarms, was reported around 11:30 PM at 2308 Coston Avenue. Here are excerpts from an article by Brian Clark at The Modesto Bee:
As of 3:15 a.m., one firefighter was at Doctors Medical Center being treated for burns. The other, who suffered “significant burns”, was transported by a critical care ambulance to UC Medical Center in Davis, according to Battalion Chief Hugo Patino of the Modesto Fire Department.
A helicopter to transport the firefighter could not be used because of weather conditions, Patino said.
Patino said both firefighters, whose names were not released, were conscious and talking to fire personnel after they were pulled from the burning house.
Patino said there was no electricity in the home, and it appeared that the occupant was using a gas-powered generator stationed in the garage for the electrical supply. He said the generator was out of gas, and while attempting to refill it, and using a candle for light, (resident Wendy) White dropped the candle.
Patino said when fire crews arrived on the scene seven minutes after the 11:36 p.m. call, they began attacking the fire from inside the home. The first started in the garage.
Meanwhile, two firefighters went to the roof to vertically ventilate the single-story house. Vertical ventilation is used to remove the heat and smoke from the environment below.
Shortly after they began, the roof caved in.
“There was a catastrophic failure on the roof and the two firefighters fell through,” Patino said. “Upon collapse, the mayday was reported. The (rapid intervention company) was pressed into service and within a couple of minutes, they had both firefighters out.”
Patino said the intensity of the heat caused the roof to collapse significantly sooner than usual, adding that he was told by one crew member that he had never seen a roof fail in that short amount of time.
Patino also said there may have been structural problems with the roof that contributed to the collapse.
When the firefighters fell through the roof, the incident went from a single-alarm working structure fire to three alarms.
A single-alarm brings four engines, one truck, and one chief officer a total of 16 fire personnel. A second-alarm added an engine and truck with six more personnel. The third alarm brought two additional engines and another six fire fighters.
Five chief officers also responded along with four fire investigators.
