Nick speaks with Matt Goodner about a rescue made on March, 26th, 2023.

Name and Rank:

Matt Goodner - Firefighter

Department Name:

Danville Fire Department (IL)

Date of Grab:

March 26th, 2023

Type of Building:

Two-story, type 3, eight unit multi-family low income apartment building.  Four units per floor connected by open hallways with open stairwells on each side of the building.  This complex has 30 buildings of the same size and construction.  

Approximate Time from Arrival to Removal:

6-8 minutes

Weight of the Victim:

325-350 pounds

Method of Removal:

Extension ladder to a second story window.  

Takeaways:

The physical and psychological effects of stress and adrenaline are real.  Auditory exclusion and tunnel vision came crashing in hard on this call.  Training was crucial because my body went into autopilot mode. 

We needed predetermined plays for our crew that Identified which circumstances and indicators would cause a shift from fire attack to victim rescue. 

Parallel ladders should be the play when possible.

In the days and weeks after the dust settles, there's an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, pride and humility, and second-guessing and what-ifs.  Navigating all of those thoughts and scenarios wasn't something I ever expected.  

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