WASHINGTON-- As the condition of Sgt. Michael LaCore, one of four firefighters injured in a flashover Monday morning continues to improve, officials are releasing more information on the fire.
The dispatcher is heard first, listing off the details and units being sent to the fire that occurred at townhouse under renovation on Fourth Street NE at about 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Immediately following the dispatcher, the frantic voice of a firefighter can be heard:
"Mayday, mayday, mayday. Firefighter down. Mayday, firefighter down."
Discussion between another firefighter and the one who called in the mayday follows, determining the best way to remove the firefighter from the building.
The dispatcher's voice is heard again toward the end of the recording.
Charlie Shyab, whose condition was listed as critical following the fire, has been upgraded to fair and remains in a burn stepdown unit.
The other two firefighters, Douglas Donnelly and Kenneth Humphries have since been released from the hospital.
