Rigorous training helped a Tea firefighter survive a fall through a floor and mayday call at a structure fire.
According to a report broadcast by KDLT News, a Tea Fire Rescue firefighter fell through the first floor at a house fire and ended up in the basement. The firefighter suffered what has been characterized as bumps and bruise and is recovering from the incident that happened Sunday morning.
Assistant Chief Steve Oberle told the television station the firefighter, whom he did not identified, was sounding the floor, went around a corner and the structure gave out beneath him sending him into the basement.
The firefighter alerted his crew mates and the rapid intervention team was deployed, the television station reported. He was able to tell the RIT that they would need a ladder and offered some suggestions on how to rescue him, the station reported. From start to finish, the incident lasted no more than five minutes.
The assistant chief said the event had a good outcome not due to sheer luck. Oberle told the television station his firefighters train continuously on even uncommon events, floor collapses. He said they train with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue using a trap-door device that simulates a floor collapse. Oberle said that training helps firefighters get over the initial shock of what a collapse feels like and helps them keep focused and on task to assist with their own rescue.
The cause of the fire that left a family of six homeless, remains under investigation by the family’s insurance agency, the television station reported.
