Four Rochester, N.Y. firefighters were hurt during a house fire Thursday, but officers say it would have been worse if it weren't for their gear.
Some of the residents were forced to jump out windows to survive, according to rochesterhomepage.net.
One firefighter was transported to the hospital with first and second degree burns while three others were treated at the scene.
In the days since, fire officials are crediting their turnout gear for making the difference, and showed the burned, soot-ladened items to the media.
They say much of it will have to be retired.
"There were some injured. If it wasn't for the gear the guys would be in the burn unit for days or weeks," Lt. Thomas Rogan told reporters.
A number of firefighters went inside the burning home because there were reports of children possibly trapped on the second floor, the station reported.
That wasn't the case, but firefighters tried to get inside as the heat overwhelmed them and smoke grew.
"Definitely one of the hottest, hadn't seen anything this hot in 15 -17 years," Rogan said adding," I was able to look up from my shoulder and see it as jet black smoke see orange on top..."
He and the other firefighters were crawling. But they could not get upstairs.
"Knowing that we can't make second push... two years old, my daughter is two. Fortunately they were out..."
