Courtesy of Shreveport Fire Department
The Shreveport firefighters of Rescue 1 put their lives on the line this morning in performing a high risk rescue of a Queensborough woman trapped in a raging house fire. It all started when Fire Communications Officers at Caddo Parish 911 received panicked phone calls reporting the fire at 2601 Quinton Street at 7:22 a.m. The calls reported that someone was trapped inside the residence. The fire department's rescue unit from the downtown Central Fire Station was responding to a different fire alarm at another location at the time the call was dispatched over the radio. The units captain, Kip Mourad, sensing that they were very close to the Quinton fire, asked for and was granted permission to divert to Quniton.
Rescue 1 arriving on the scene as the departments first company and found the single story and wood frame home completely engulfed in heavy flames and smoke. They were met in the street by one of the homes occupants, Linda Johnson, 45, and were told that her daughter, Debra Johnson, 27, was still inside - her cries for help could be herd from the street. Captain Mourad and his crew realized that there was not enough time to put all of their protective gear and make a successful rescue. The decision was made to make a rescue attempt without breathing apparatus. Two of the members of the crew, Mourad and firefighter Jason Jordan entered the home through a back door after receiving instruction from Linda Johnson as to where her daughter might be located. The door had already been knocked in earlier by a neighbor in a futile attempt to save the woman. Mourad and Jordan entering the home crawling, their sight and breathing capacity diminished as they searched for Debra's bedroom.
Mourad and Jordan reached the bedroom, finding its door closed. As they opened the door, they could hear faint cries coming from a corner of the room. At this time, the other two firefighters aboard Rescue 1, John Davis and Edward Carey, with breathing apparatus, were also entering the back door of the structure. As Mourad and Jordan reached Debra and were pulling her through the bedroom door into the hallway, the fire suddenly and violently flashed-over blasting Jordan out the back door and knocking Mourad and the other firefighters to the ground. Mourad lost his helmet and radio but went back with his other three crew members and pulled Debra to safety. Department paramedics at the scene treated Debra, listing her injuries as serious, and transported her to Willis Knighton Medical Center because of its hyperberic chamber capabilities.
As the fire raged on, other companies had arrived and began extinguishing efforts but Rescue 1 was not through yet. Not knowing if someone else was still in the home, the crew reentered for a second time, while other companies led by Fire Captains Tim Thames and Tommy Carpenter used Thermal Imaging cameras to scour the home for other victims. After accounting for her other two daughters, Mandy, 16, and Holley, 21, Linda Johnson reported to officials that everyone was out.
The fire was brought under control at 7:45 a.m. Three firefighters, Davis, Jordan, and Tony Moffett from Engine 15 received burn injuries - none serious. The home was laced with burglar bars that may have hindered Debra's escape. Additionally, two off duty firefighters Brian Jackson and Scott Marler were also instrumental in assisting the efforts of the department. Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire but reports that electrical work was performed there yesterday are being looked into.
