Photos: Garage Collapse Traps Fort Worth, TX, Firefighter Prompting Mayday

A Fort Worth firefighter was trapped within minutes of arriving at a fire when the garage roof collapsed Wednesday. A second firefighter was taken to the hospital. 

Firefighters began receiving 9-1-1 calls at 10:51 a.m. with the first unit, Engine 11, arriving on scene in the 200 block of William Street. in the city's Near Southside neighborhood. Engine 11 was returning to their station on the city's far north side from the maintenance shops.

Firefighters deployed an attack hoseline and began moving into the well involved garage when the roof collapsed, suddenly and without warning, the roof collapsed at 10:58 a.m., Fort Worth Fire Department Spokesman Craig Trojacek the Firehouse.com. 

A mayday was called, which triggered a second alarm response.

The firefighter was trapped under a beam and the garage roof, which collapsed on the Alpha/Delta corner.

"From what I was told, if that car had not been in the garage, it would’ve been a whole different story," Trojacek told Firehouse.com, adding that the vehicle suspended a large section of the roof.

Firefighters quickly began removing debris off of the injured member, lifting roofing material materials, and the beam and freed the member within two minutes.

"When you go to your everyday fire and then you hear those three words, mayday, mayday, mayday, everything changes," Trojacek said. "Nothing matters anymore but getting your members to safety when a mayday is called and that's what our firefighters did - they moved in freed him within two minutes."

As firefighters began to treat the injured member, other crews began attacking the fire in the garage, which had extended into the attached home.

Heavy fire conditions inside the home prompted commanders to withdraw firefighters from the structure to reassess the scene and confirm accountability of all members, tragic said. 

The firefighter caught in the collapse was transported to a medical helicopter, which flew him to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment, where Trojacek said he was in stable condition. 

Firefighters used an aerial ladder and multiple handlines to contain the stubborn fire as it spread throughout the structure, traveling through voids and roof spaces that were extremely challenging for members to get access to 

A second firefighter, who was involved in the rescue of the trapped Firefighter was injured and taken to a local hospital, where he was also said to be stable condition.

Nearly 20 fire companies responded to the fire.