Photos By Dennis Leger
Story By Lon Slepicka

A Springfield, Mass. fire Jan. 3, left firefighter Angel Caquias with second and third degree burns to his hands, back, right arm and back of his legs after a flashover.

Springfield FD spokesman Dennis Leger said that on Jan. 9, Caquias had been upgraded from serious to fair condition but was undergoing multiple skin grafts at Baystate Medical Center.

Caquias, 26, on one of two, two-member teams that entered the three-story house to check for victims, was on the second floor when he was injured. Leger said firefighters had entered the front and back of the house with 1 ¾ inch lines. After getting caught in the flames, Caquias jumped from a window and was assisted by other firefighters. A ladder was used to extricate his fellow team member from a window. The other team was removed from a third-floor roof with an aerial bucket.

Leger said Caquias was completely protected and that his gear was burned on the outside but not inside suggesting the burns were caused by steam. The gear was being sent back to the manufacturer for analysis.

The fire was probably caused by clothing coming into contact with a space heater, Leger said.