TX Firefighters Recount Daring 3-Alarm Rescues on Anniversary

Oct. 9, 2020
In a short documentary posted online by the Spring Fire Department, several firefighters talk pulling people from a three-alarm motel blaze in 2019.

A year later, several Texas firefighters are recounting their daring rescues of during a three-alarm motel blaze in a short documentary released by the department.

On Oct. 9, 2019, Spring Fire Department crews responded to a large fire that erupted at a Motel 6. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found people still trapped inside on the third floor.

"These people are hanging out (of a third floor window), smoke's rolling over, and there's still glass shards that are falling on us because they're trying to come out of the building …," firefighter Shawn Kohl said in the nearly 11-minute online video. "And we just had to think to ourselves slow down because we're moving too fast, you know. Adrenaline's kicking. I was, like, 'Hey, man, we gotta slow down and do this right.'"

Seven people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The firefighters involved in the rescues were awarded 100 Firefighter of the Year honors, according to the department.