Two Md. FFs Injured in Floor Collapse

Jan. 20, 2010
LOTHIAN, MD -- Two firefighters were injured when the floor of a burning home collapsed into the basement Wednesday afternoon. Three of the five firefighters who fell through the floor managed to get themselves out, and were not hurt, said Battalion Chief Mike Cox, of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. The RIT team assisted the other two, who were hurt in the fall. A 25-year-old firefighter from Anne Arundel County was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the MedStar Unit at Washington Hospital Center.

LOTHIAN, MD -- Two firefighters were injured when the floor of a burning home collapsed into the basement Wednesday afternoon.

Three of the five firefighters who fell through the floor managed to get themselves out, and were not hurt, said Battalion Chief Mike Cox, of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.

The RIT team assisted the other two, who were hurt in the fall.

A 25-year-old firefighter from Anne Arundel County was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the MedStar Unit at Washington Hospital Center.

He suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries, and was admitted to the hospital, Cox said.

The Calvert County firefighter was taken by ambulance to Calvert Memorial Hospital after suffering minor injuries.

"We were lucky considering we had five firefighters fall through the floor," Cox said. "It could have been so much worse..."

 The occupant of the home discovered the fire, and escaped before firefighters arrived.

Firefigters from Anne Arundel, Calvert, Prince George's counties and Annapolis were dispatched to the house for a chimney fire. Crews found heavy smoke pouring from the two-story home, Cox said adding that the call went to three alarms.

A draft site was established at a pond, and water was relayed to the scene.

The fire, which is under investigation, may have been burning for some time before it was discovered.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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