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Update to must see video: Dearborn, Michigan firefighters talk about their extemely close call on the roof of burning Fordson Cleaners.

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Previous coverage of this story

More pictures of the fire

The three Dearborn firefighters on the roof of the Fordson Cleaners Thursday evening who had an extrememly close call captured on video and seen around the world are Lt. Steven Bucholz (in the red helmet), Firefighter Mark Farrell (who was pulled to safety by the others) and Firefighter Joe Murray. They told reporters today they didn’t realize how close it was until they saw the video on the news. Watch the interview above and here are some quotes from the story by Julie Banovic at WXYZ-TV:

“As soon as I felt it going I just reached for that wall,” said Mark Farrell.  Mark Farrell is the Dearborn firefighter sliding toward a hole of fire who narrowly escaped being burned alive.

“Thank God for both of these guys,“ said Farrell.

“I didn’t really know how bad it really was.  We all came off the roof and went back to work,” said Farrell.

“Oh man, I was closer to the hole than I thought it was.  And it wasn’t until I saw the video that I realized that,” said Farrell.

“It really opened our eyes how lucky we got,” said Joe Murray.

WDIV-TV:

Firefighter Mark Farrell did not tell his wife what happened until she saw him on the news.

“I didn’t really realize the helicopter was up there. (My wife) saw it later on in the night. I caught some flack for it later,” the year firefighter said laughing. 

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Posted by on March 30, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UPDATED – A must see: It doesn’t get much closer than this. Roof caving in during Dearborn, Michigan fire. Additional video & pictures added.

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In case you were wondering reporter Ron Savage, in the video above, is a volunteer paid, on-call firefighter with Michigan’s Brighton Area Fire Department.

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Dearborn Fire Department website 

Thanks to a number of our loyal readers for the alert about this video from a fire in Dearborn, Michigan Thursday evening that became a very close call for three firefighters (including Mike Smith who publishes the wonderful site BoronExtrication.com).

Above is the story from WJBK-TV with more some additional video of the fire. Below is raw video of the partial collapse of the roof from WXYZ-TV.

WXYZ-TV:

Three Dearborn fire fighters escaped serious injury during some scary moments  while battling a fire at Fordson Cleaners.

It happened when they were on the roof trying to ventilate the building.

WJBK-TV:

They had made their first hole when the roof started giving way under their feet.  Skyfox was overhead when it happen and caught the dramatic moment on camera. 

Click here for Dearborn Patch aftermath photos by Ian Kushnir.

Dearborn Patch:

The call for the fire came in just after the business closed, around 7 p.m. It was a two-alarm fire that blew out the doors of the business

While attempting to ventilate the building, the roof of the business caved in with three firefighters standing on top of it. One man almost fell in, but was pulled to safety.

Fordson Cleaners has been in business in Dearborn since 1949, and cleans everything from draperies and rugs to wedding gowns and commercial orders. 

Do you want to sell a rig? Click HERE to find out how with SellFireTrucks.com.

Click here for Google Maps tour around Fordson Cleaners at Lois and Michigan in Dearborn.

Click here for Bing Maps Bird’s Eye View of Fordson Cleaners.

Posted by on March 29, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anatomy of a mayday & bailout. Video details house fire that left two Milwaukee firefighters injured.

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Previous coverage, interviews & video

The clip above provides additional video and details from the story we brought you a month ago of two Milwaukee firefighters who were forced to bail out of a burning home. At least two cameras were rolling when Lt. Chris Schutte and Firefighter John Kokalj dropped from the attic onto a porch roof. The fire occurred on June 3 at 16th Street and Lincoln Avenue. The video was put together by Dale G. Pakel.

Here's some of what Pakel wrote about the incident:

MFD Engine 31 experienced a collapse in the attic while searching for two children who were reported trapped. The hose line they were on lost pressure and the collapse cut off their primary egress to the stairwell. As a result of rapidly deteriorating fire conditions, the Officer and Nozzleman were forced to bail out the front attic windows.

Posted by on July 4, 2011 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Close call video: Milwaukee lieutenant discusses bailout from house fire caught on video.

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By now you have likely seen the video from Friday's house fire from 16th Street and Lincoln Avenue in Milwaukee that forced a lieutenant and firefighter to bail out of the attic as conditions rapidly changed. Firefighter John Kokalj left first after suffering second-degree burns. Lt. Chris Schutte was right behind him. Schutte injured his pelvis. A third member of the crew, Jason Rodriguez, found another escape route and was unharmed.

Above is the interview with the firefighters. It includes cell phone video of the firefighters' escape taken by an off duty firefighter from another jurisdiction. There is another video of the bailout that can be found here. Below are two clips from later in the fire. Here's an excerpt from WTMJ-TV's story:

"I just dove head first as if i was jumping into the lake," said Schutte. "I didn't look to see where I was going. I didn't look to see if there was a porch. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was getting away from the heat."

The temperature inside reached a few hundred degrees, they couldn't see and the ceiling was falling all around them. They knew they were in danger and they needed to get out fast.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday engine 31, mayday" yelled Lt. Schutte into communication radio. 

They could no longer find the stairs but they found their way to a window. Both fell about 10 feet onto a porch.

"I had to get out," said Kokalj.

Posted by on June 7, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,