Four firefighters caught in collapse
FirefighterNation Staff
BALTIMORE, Maryland — Four firefighters were caught in a floor collapse while fighting a fire on Wednesday morning.
WMAR and WBAL report that Baltimore firefighters responded to a fire at 1737 Cliftview Avenue at approximately 5:30 a.m.
Fire department audio, courtesy of Broadcastify
(Fast forward to 11:55 for initial dispatch)
Baltimore City Fire Department Commander Roman Clark told WMAR that firefighters arrived to find heavy fire at the rear of the building and that they faced a probable basement fire.
Commander Clark said that when firefighters entered the rowhouse a floor collapsed appeared to happen sending four firefighters into the basement.
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A mayday was immediately transmitted, and a rapid intervention team deployed to remove the firefighters from the basement.
Clark said that the four firefighters suffered only minor injuries.
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According to Clark it appears that the fire unit in the row was abandoned, and that adjoining units were occupied. Firefighters evacuated those occupants from their homes.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from extending into the occupied units.
The cause of the fire in under investigation.
