Seven Wisconsin firefighters were in a duplex when the ceiling collapsed, leaving one hurt.
Firefighter John Andersen told WEAU reporters when the ceiling came down it knocked him to the ground. He says his first thought was of the volunteer firefighter who was killed in Abbotsford last week.
"The entire ceiling of that living room came down in one solid pancake collapse. I had my helmet on and it knocked me down and then all the insulation came down on top of me. I was under the sheet rock and basically got buried in the debris pile in the middle of the living room,” he told reporters.
Andersen is the Chief Inspector for the Chippewa Fire District and says at the time he was watching out for the crew in the bathroom fighting the fire. He says his first thought of was the fallen Colby Firefighter Jamison Kampmeyer who died in a fire last week.
"When I was under there I heard them call mayday we had a rip crew at the door. I was not hurt they just had to get the stuff off of me. I basically looked like a snow man covered in insulation," says Andersen.
"It’s a firefighter's worst nightmare; to have a firefighter injured when they're in charge. We had a lucky outcome today no one was hurt," says Chippewa Fire District Chief Kent Hulett.
He says he believes the duplex is a total loss, but says he's relieved no one was seriously hurt. Andersen says he knows his job is dangerous, but says there are a lot of steps they take to stay safe.
"I have been doing this for 35 years so this is not my first time to that kind of rodeo," Andersen added.
