Report Number: 05-0000220
Report Date: 05/27/2005
Event Description
During a working fire on the seveth floor of a high rise commercial office building in (city, state deleted), I advanced a handline into a telemarketing office on fire. My partner and I got separated. He returned back to the stairwell and I was alone on the line. I put down the line momentarily because I thought I had heard someone in the office area and lost the handline. I began to search for the line and found myself going into office cubicles set up for multiple telemarketing callers. It was a maze of chairs and office cubicles. The warning bell on my SCBA began to ring indicating low air. I had no partner and lost contact with the handline. I cut panic off and focused on finding my handline as I knew it was my only chance of getting out alive. With tremendous luck I found the handline and quickly chased it down to the stairway just as I ran out of air completely.
Lesson Learned
1. Never leave or lose contact with your handline or safety rope, particularly in a commercial structure. It is your means to outside the IDLH and into safety.
2. Always remain in contact with your partner through constant communication.
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