Detroit FFs Rescued After Building Collapse

July 28, 2022
Detroit Fire Chief James Harris says five members escaped, two were trapped and rescued and several have been hospitalized.

Two firefighters have been rescued after they were trapped under debris when a vacant burning building collapsed in Detroit, officials said.

WDIV 4  reported the fire started around 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a building on Hollywood Avenue in Detroit.

Detroit Fire Chief James Harris told WDIV the firefighters were initially called to the location on reports of a house fire. While they were there, the vacant building collapsed.

Five firefighters escaped right after it collapsed, and were treated by EMS crews who provided water and oxygen.

Three of them were transported to the hospital, Harris said.

Two firefighters were trapped, but they were both rescued.

“He’s conscious, he’s talking to us,” Harris said of the final firefighter who was rescued. “We’re in the process of getting him out and getting him transported to the hospital.”

Harris said the final trapped firefighter was underneath approximately a foot and a half of plaster and/or wood.

“It’s our worst nightmare,” Harris said.

The Detroit Police Department tweeted its support for the trapped firefighters: