5 Pennsylvania Firefighters Injured Battling Blaze
SHARON HILL, Pa.-- Five firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm fire in Delaware County late Wednesday night.
Officials said flames broke out in a garage on the 900 block of Coates Street in Sharon Hill just after 11 p.m.
Crews believed they had the fire under control when a wall of the building suddenly collapsed.
"Routine fire, we had the bulk of the fire knocked down. We actually estimate they were about eight feet outside of the building and all of the sudden the front facade just fell," said Sharon Hill Fire Chief William Beneke.
Three firefighters, ages 19, 21 and 23, were trapped under the falling debris. All three were rushed to Mercy Hospital, then transferred to Crozer Medical Center with burns. Officials said one of the firefighters is in critical condition, while the other two are being treated for minor injuries.
A fourth firefighter was treated for a leg injury and a fifth was treated for chest pains he suffered during the commotion.
"Everybody was upset. They used the term, everybody was like a deer in headlights," Beneke said.
Garage owner Walter Tims was devastated.
"I'm just so very sorry, very sorry," Tims said.
Tims was fixing his motorcycle inside the garage when the gas line got loose and ignited bug repellent candles sparking the blaze.
"Went out and got the water hose to try to put the fire out, couldn't put it out," Tims said.
Tims is planning to visit the injured firefighters in the hospital.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.
Republished with permission of KYW-TV.