At 05:11 AM the Cincinnati Fire Department Communication Center received a telephone alarm from an occupant of 140 Eldorado Avenue in the California Neighborhood of Cincinnati reporting a smoke condition inside the residence with fire involvement.
1st Alarm: Engines 18; Trucks 18 & 31; RAT 23; District 4 (Mertz) and Rescue 46. Fire Tower added the 2nd DC District Chief 1 (Reed) and Squad 14 due multiple calls reporting fire.
The occupant had to self evacuated the structure via a second floor window onto a porch roof. Neighbors would assist the occupant to an awaiting portable ground ladder to the ground prior to the arrival of the fire department.
Firefighters arrived on the scene discovering a heavy fire condition showing from the first floor of a two-story with an attic (frame) private dwelling. An aggressive interior fire attack was conducted. Primary and secondary searches were performed as well with negative results, no persons were found within. Due to the type of building construction, this type of building has many hidden wall voids, which allows the fire access to many structural members.
Interior fire conditions deteriorated quickly a second alarm would be transmitted. A decision to withdraw all firefighters from the interior of the structure was announced this fire would be fought “defensively”. After some time passed and main body of the fire was extinguished a “limited” amount of firefighters would be allowed to re-enter the structure for final extinguishment.
2nd Alarm: Engine 46 & 23; Truck 3; Car 301 (DC Jones) acting Duty Chief; Rescue 2
At 06:15 AM a portion of the second floor collapsed approximately twelve feet, momentarily trapping four Cincinnati Firefighters. All the firefighters were able to verbalize their locations and the extent of their injuries. Firefighters assigned as the Rapid Assessment Team “RAT” and members of the Heavy Rescue Company were immediately put to “work” to extricate the downed firefighters.
Within minutes all four firefighters were pulled out of the structure and medically assessed by awaiting paramedics. Three firefighters were transported to an area hospital, all suffering from minor injuries. The fourth firefighter was treated at the scene and released. The building was a total loss and the Building Department was on the scene with a demolition company, which razed the structure.
Special Called: Rescue 14 and Ambulance 18.
All firefighters have been treated and released from the hospital. The injured firefighters involved in this incident were a Fire Lieutenant, Fire Apparatus Operator and Firefighter from Ladder Co.3 and a Firefighter from Engine Co.23.
The cause and origin on the fire has yet to be determined, the Cincinnati Fire Investigation Unit is on the scene. Firefighters were still on the scene untill early in the afternoon. Smoke alarms can be credited with the early notification to the occupants.
