CINCINNATI --
A local firefighter is telling a harrowing tale of how the floor of a home gave way while his team was fighting a fire.
Four firefighters were injured in the collapse. It happened at a home on Eldorado Avenue in the California neighborhood.
"As soon as we heard the crack -- we knew -- and it gave way," Firefighter Fred Averill said.
Averill was one of three firefighters who were taken to the hospital after falling through a hole in the floor.
"Before we knew it, we felt the floor shift, and a few expletives were said, and next thing we knew the entire floor gave way and we were crashing down onto the first floor," Averill said. "Honestly, the very first thing that I thought was, 'I'm not going to die today,' that was very first thought I had as I was reaching to call the mayday."
But before he could even call for help, it was already there.
Fellow firefighters were pulling him, and the rest of the crew to safety.
That quick action may be what kept the firefighters from more serious injuries. All three that were hospitalized were home by later that night, a little bruised and sore but OK.
Averill is ready to head back to work on Tuesday.
"Go right back -- you gotta get right back on the horse," Averill said. "Everybody who was there to help us all -- I'm not sure I'll ever be able to express my gratitude."
The structural problems that sent those firefighters tumbling through the floor, made the house so unsafe that they couldn't go back in.
Instead, the home was torn down piece by piece, while crews poured water on the wreckage to make sure the fire was out.
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