Firefighter Blaise Steffen was trapped in the smoke-filled basement, surrounded by flames. He sustained severe burns to both of his arms and hands.
"It's a miracle," he told the newspaper from his hospital bed at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. "God was with me. Well, that and the guys who were on shift with me that day. I wouldn't have made it out without their help."
Crews responded to the fire shortly before 1 a.m. in the basement of 2616 W. Marquette Street. They believed someone was still inside the home and went inside to initiate a search.
There was no one inside, but the flames grew intense and the firefighters quickly searched for a way out.
As they exited the structure, the floor fell out under Steffen within six feet of the doorway and he plunged down into the basement.
Steffen was unable to see once away from the flames and attempted to call a Mayday, but discovered that his radio broke in the fall. He then activated his PASS alarm, but was the only one left in the house.
Meanwhile, firefighters were shooting a stream of water into the basement, which hit Steffen. He was able to make it to the basement's window and was pulled out by his crewmembers.
He was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center before being transferred to the burn unit at Memorial Medical Center.
Steffen isn't sure when he'll get to go home and said it will be a while before doctors know if he'll need skin grafts.
He's already anxious to get back to work though, and when he is out will return to Peoria's Four House.
