Watch: Flames Trap Ocean City, NJ, Firefighter on Porch
A firefighter was briefly trapped as flames engulfed the second floor of an Ocean City home Saturday morning.
Firefighters were called to the fire at West Avenue and 16th around 8:30 a.m. and found fire engulfing the rear of the two-story home.
In video captured by Jane Davis, and shared by NJ.com, flames encroach on the firefighter as he waits for a ladder to be thrown to the second story.
Fire officials told the newspaper that a propane tank failed, exploded, and intensified the flames as the firefighter waited for help.
A portable ladder was placed to the railing and the firefighter ascended to the ground as the entire second floor porch lit off from the tank failure.
A second alarm was called, bringing firefighters from Margate City and Marmora to the scene.
All residents escaped but one was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
The fire, which displaced five residents, was contained within an hour.
About the Author
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.