Report Number: 05-0000056
Report Date: 05/27/2005
Event Description
Structure fire in a closed restaurant with apts. above. Fire was in the basement. Myself & one additional firefighter crawled inside (minimal visibility, on the 1st floor, to perform vertical ventilation). We were using axes on a 2"X6" wood floor. There was a 30 ft. deli case located 10 ft. from the north wall. Luckily, our SCBA low air alarm sounded, forcing us to leave & obtain new bottles. Just as we were crawling back inside, the entire floor collapsed into the basement.
Lesson Learned
1. We were freelancing. The company officer was not aware of our location. Had we fallen in, it would have been a long time before anyone missed us.
2. Using a "sounding" tool in front of us would have possibly indicated a soft decking.
3. Using a power saw instead of axes would have been more efficient.
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