A University Heights firefighters suffered serious burns after being caught in a flashover while battling a house fire early Saturday morning, according to The Plain Dealer.
Firefighter Paul Nees, 58, sustained second-degree burns to his arms, shoulders and back and is being treated at the burn unit of MetroHealth Medical Center.
The 22-year veteran of the department responded with crews to a house fire with people reportedly trapped shortly before 2 a.m. on Milton Drive.
When they arrived, a woman was climbing down an extension ladder brought over by a neighbor and the father and his three children had already escaped by climbing out on the roof at the rear of the home.
Nees and two colleagues went inside to battle the flames that quickly grew. A flashover occurred, knocking him to the floor. One of the other firefighters helped him outside and he was transported to Hillcrest Hospital before being flown to MetroHealth, according to the report.
The cause of the fire has not been determined though officials said it appears to be accidental.
