Firefighter Trapped in Downtown High-Rise Inferno

On Monday, March 7, 2011 at 9:55 PM, 5 LSFD Engines, 4 LSFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Battalion Chiefs and a Rapid Intervention Unit responded to a Greater Alarm structure fire with firefighter injuries at the San Andreas Network company building ('SAN Tower') in Downtown Los Santos, under the direction of EMS Bureau Chief Brett Carnahan and Fire Chief Jason Scotts.

Responding to several 9-1-1 calls and the building's fire alarm, first-due LSFD Firefighters arrived quickly to find the 73 story commercial building showing heavy smoke and fire from the lobby and the first, second and third floors. Multiple persons were unaccounted for in the evacuation efforts and were believed to be trapped inside.

Firefighters mounted an immediate, aggressive offense with multiple handlines and powerful master streamers, whilst a three-man Interior Attack crew made forcible entry on the uninvolved lobby doors. The team continued their search through the smoke-charged lobby, suppressing the flames that were now ascending the main stairwell.

Several minutes into the intense fire fight, the Interior Attack crew were relayed information about the specific whereabouts of the trapped workers, through radio communication with a fellow SAN employee outside. Multiple smoke-exposed but uninjured persons were subsequently found and led outside, among which were SAN executives Kaylis Wyatt and Thomas Henderson (who were broadcasting at the time of the fire).

An all-out attack on the blaze continued as the trio of firefighters re-entered to complete their Primary Check of the structure, quickly making their way up the now unhindered stairwell and accessing the third floor. However, whilst performing a systematic room-to-room search, a partial roof collapse occurred, trapping one of the team members.

The imperiled firefighter immediately activated the 'emergency trigger' on his handheld radio, alerting the Incident Commander of his circumstances. Despite the other two crew members' best efforts to free their trapped colleague, the fallen rubble was too heavy to clear, and so an on-site Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) was assembled outside and swiftly deployed to carry out the rescue extrication.

The RIT company used powerful hydraulic pistons to shift the fallen rubble, freeing the pinned firefighter in a matter of minutes. Soon thereafter, he was quickly brought out of the building and admitted treatment for moderate bruising and smoke inhalation.

The rescued firefighter and four civilians were all discharged on-scene, having only suffered minor injuries.

It took Los Santos Fire Department personell approximately 50 minutes for a complete knockdown of the fire. The cause itself remains under active investigation, and the dollar loss is still being tabulated.

Submitted by Brett Carnahan, Community Liaison Officer
Los Santos Fire Department