Over the past five nights, the Omaha Fire Department has fought four fires in vacant homes.
Fighting such a fire poses unique risks for the firefighters, according to Battalion Chief John Incontro.
"There might be people sleeping in there or setting up a meth lab or -- we don't know. But we have to treat it like there is somebody in there," Incontro said.
Two Omaha firefighters were injured on Aug. 17 while fighting a vacant-house fire. The porch collapsed on them.
"There's always hidden dangers we don't know about. There could be holes in the floor we don't know about, or ladders laying around, or things like that," Incontro said.
Incontro said the advantage of an occupied home, for firefighters, is that residents can't tell them whether more people or animals are trapped inside.
Previous Stories:
- August 29, 2006: Fire Fought For Second Time At Same House
- August 28, 2006: Investigation Under Way In Morning House Fire
- August 28, 2006: Firefighters Called To Eppley
- August 26, 2006: Investigators: Fire May Be Result of Arson
- August 25, 2006: Tip Says Bodies May Be Inside Fire Ruins
- August 18, 2006: Firefighter Feared He Might Not Survive Porch Collapse
- August 17, 2006: Porch Collapse Was Close Call For Firefighters
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