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UPDATE 8:30 AM:
The only update we have seen since Mark Brady's press release at 1:00 AM is that both firefighters from Bladensburg admitted to the burn center are listed as critical but stable and the Riverdale firefighter with broken ribs is in good condition.
Brady said that the home appeared to be vacant, though a car was parked in the driveway. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and loss estimates were not immediately available
The fire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. Friday at a single-family, single-story home in the 6400 block of 57th Street in Riverdale. Investigators say that firefighters were trying to enter the building when a rush of air from the rear of the house created a fireball that engulfed the respondents. According to Prince George's Fire Spokesman Mark Brady, the sudden rush of air was caused by either a door or window being open or broken out.
Approximately 1:00 AM update from PGFD chief spokesman Mark Brady:
Seven Prince George’s County Firefighters were injured as they battled a house fire in Riverdale. At about 9:11 pm, Friday, February 24, firefighters were alerted to a house fire in the 6400 block of 57th Avenue. The engine from Riverdale and the truck from Bladensburg were the first to arrive and encountered a 1-story, with basement, single family home with fire on both levels.
Preliminary reports indicate that firefighters had initiated an interior attack on the fire when a sudden rush of air, fanned by high winds, entered from the rear of the house either from a door or window being opened or broken out. The sudden addition of a large amount of fresh air into the fire environment created a “fire ball’ inside engulfing the firefighters. Firefighters did all they could do to escape the untenable conditions that consumed the structure interior.
Incident commanders immediately called for additional resources by requesting an EMS Task Force and a Fire Task Force as well as ordering the evacuation tones to be sounded. There were about 65 firefighters, paramedics and incident commanders on the scene.
Photo by Billy McNeel.
Firefighters and EMS personnel went to the aid of the injured firefighters and prepared them for transport to the Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center. The injuries included burns, fractures and lacerations.
Another team of firefighters regrouped outside and re-entered the structure and had the fire extinguished in about 25 minutes after arrival.
Of the seven firefighters transported; four, 3 from Riverdale and 1 from College Park, will be released and sent home tonight.
The most seriously injured firefighters are two from the Bladensburg Fire/EMS Station #809 that were part of the first arriving truck company.
Bladensburg Volunteer Firefighter #1 is listed in “Critical” condition suffering from burn injuries to his upper body.
Bladensburg Volunteer Firefighter #2 is listed in “Serious” condition with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 30% of his body.
The third firefighter being admitted is from Riverdale Fire/EMS Station #807. Riverdale Volunteer Firefighter #1 is hospitalized with fractured ribs.
Dozens of fire service members as well as family and friends are with the injured firefighters at the Washington Hospital Center including Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Riverdale Volunteer Fire Chief Chucky Ryan and Bladensburg Volunteer Chief Randy Kuenzli.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and fire loss estimates are not yet available. This is a vacant structure although firefighters believed the house may have been occupied as a car was parked in the driveway.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department will fully investigate this incident and review all aspects of the operations from a safety perspective.
Updates concerning the medical status and the cause and origin of the fire will be made as information becomes available.
Earlier coverage:
UPDATE: According to TV news reports at 11:00 PM, PGFD chief spokesman Mark Brady says a fireball, fueled by high winds, went through the home forcing the firefighters to bail out. Brady said it was like a "blowtorch".
Some firefighters were burned and others were hurt exiting the home. The injuries range from burns, to lacerations and fractures.
Brady told reporters on the scene one firefighter has potentially life threatening burns.
According to Brady, the injured firefighters are volunteers from Riverdale (Station 807) and Bladensburg (Station 809).
A sudden rush of air into the structure caused “blowtorch or furnace-type conditions” that forced the firefighters out of the house, Brady said. “They couldn’t do anything about it.” Wind gusts were measured at more than 40 mph around that time.
Injuries included burns, cuts and fractures, Brady said. One firefighter was in critical condition, he said. The firefighters were being treated at a burn unit, he said.
Seven firefighters were injured while responding to a house fire in the 6300 block of 57th Ave. in Riverdale on Friday night, according to a tweet by the Prince George County Fire Department.
A one story home with a basement had heavy fire, with flames blown into the firefighters' faces by gusting winds. EMS personnel are on the scene. The firefighters, all volunteers, have injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Seven PGFD firefighters have been injured, most of them seriously, in a residential fire in Riverdale, according to a spokesperson for the Prince George's County Fire Department.
The fire was in a single-family, one-story home with a basement in the 6400 block of 57th Ave. The fire was reportedly heavy and something went wrong.
A medevac helicopter and several ambulances were requested.
Seven firefighters were injured, and most suffered serious injuries, according to Brady. Some could be life-threatening.
The home appeared to be vacant, Brady said.
Also on STATter911 …
- Latest from PGFD: Bladensburg VFD Firefighters Ethan Sorrell & Kevin O’Toole both in critical condition with burns. – February 25, 2012
- Bladensburg VFD’s Kevin O’Toole to be released from burn unit this afternoon. Injured in Prince George’s County, MD house fire almost two-months-ago. – April 20, 2012
- Update: Latest news on injured Prince George’s County firefighters. – February 26, 2012
- UPDATED: PGFD says fire that hurt seven firefighters was arson. New picture from burn unit of Bladensburg VFD’s Kevin O’Toole. – February 29, 2012
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Will keep the firefighters and their familys in my prayers. Get well soon… K
Please everyone say a prayer for these brave souls!!!!
So Sad,
But Why do we continue to Send Our men and women into known Vacant buildings to fight these fires. Risk a lot to save a lot, Risk a little to Save a little.
Thoughts and Prays with the firefighters and their familys.
We send firefighters into vacant buildings because nobody puts big signs in the front yards that say "This house is vacant. In the event of a fire, do not enter." Read the story, it said that the home APPEARED to be vacant. And one more thing, unless they teach ESP at the academy, how do you ever know if somebody is inside a vacant building? Maybe a vagrant? They deserve to be rescued too, and unless you go look for them how do you know. At any rate, these guys got hurt doing what they signed up for. Firefighting is dangerous but it is what it is…… FIREFIGHTING. Nobody on this planet can prepare for everything.
Best wishes guys!
@ truck23 there was a car in the drive way they didnt know it was vacant..
Truckie, there was a car in front of the house they thought it was occupied.
Truckie … just put on your reflective vest and SCBA, stand outside and hush while real firefighters do the job
I do my job just as the next guy and if being a real firefighter is to come on this site and shoot down other people becuase of their opinions then you need a reality check and get over your self. Wishing a speady recovery to those that are hurt.
Be Safe brothers and Sisters.
Truckie23…….Also you have to remember vacant does not mean unoccupied in urban areas and this area is urban. We have many "vacant" buildings that we have made rescue out of because of homeless people living in them. Vacant in a rural or surban setting has a different meaning than vacant in an urban area. Be safe brothers and Strike Da Box! K
Wishing my brothers from PG a speedy recovery and thoughts and prayers.
Speedy recovery to all. Conditions can change so rapidly.
St. Florian, please hear our prayers for these brave firefighters.
PG FF's have a lot of time under their belt fighting fire and making the tough decisions. I hope they made the rights ones with the wind conditions last night. Tactics must be adjusted when all the factors are evaluated. Hope they recover quickly
Now is not the time to criticize and play the jump seat quarterback. Just pray for these brothers and their families. Give our positive support, whehter it be emotional, financial, or giving blood if needed. God bless you guys. Please heal so that you can return to your families and be able to be on the fireground again.
Let us all hope time will heal their wounds and during this period