West Peculiar fire chief talks about fire that claimed his firefighter
FirefighterNation Staff
WEST PECULIAR, Missouri — West Peculiar Fire Chief Bobby Sperry told The Kansas City Star that nothing about Sunday’s house fire appeared out of the ordinary until the moment he was told a firefighter was missing.
Fire Chief Sperry talked about the fire on January 5 that killed Firefighter Chuck McCormick and the transition from putting the fire out to rescuing McCormick.
Missouri Firefighter Killed in House Fire
Firefighters were called to 23311 Deer Run Road on Sunday just before 11:00 a.m. for a fire in the laundry room.
The Star says that firefighters saw light smoke showing from the house when they arrived. As some firefighters worked to establish a water supply, others began attacking the fire from the outside as well as making entry into the home.
Chief Sperry said that firefighters had entered the basement from the outside, came out, and reported not being able to find the fire.
Firefighters then entered through the front door and made their way inside, to the right.
At some point after being inside Chief Sperry said that a firefighter on the nozzle became separated from a captain.
The captain exited the house and notified a chief that he did not have his firefighter.
Sperry said firefighters were sent back inside to look for the missing firefighter.
Firefighters from other departments were called to the scene including Kansas City.
After several attempts to locate McCormick, firefighters were able to find him and remove him from the house. Grandview Fire Chief Ron Graham said it took at least 30 minutes to reach McCormick in the debris.
Fire Chief Graham said it appeared to have taken so long because of all the debris that was on top of McCormick.
Radio communications also appear to have been an issue.
Sperry said that has not been able to talk with the captain about the details of what happened inside.
McCormick was transported to Belton Regional Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.
McCormick is survived by a wife and three children. He joined West Peculiar Fire Protection District full-time in December. Prior to that he worked for South Metropolitan Fire Protection District in Belton.
A GoFundMe account has been created to raise funds for his family.
“This is the most horrific thing,” Sperry told The Star. “From here I really don’t know where to go. I have to go back and figure out what’s left of my fire department, mentally and physically, how we can move on from here.”
The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s office along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are investigating the fire.
