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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Grabs 173 Montgomery County, Maryland (January 20, 2023) 

• Name and Rank-Ryan Harris, Captain
• Department Name-Montgomery County Fire & Rescue
• Date of Grab-January 20, 2023, 2300hrs
• Type of building -2 Story single family, split foyer
• Victim was on phone with dispatch while crews arrived. She was second victim. 
• TIC-Mirrors and Windows made TIC ineffective. 
• First victim, passed off to VES crew for removal.  Called for additional manpower. 
• While removing 1st victim, second victim was screaming. 
• They thought a victim was on the phone, it was a different incident. 
• Approx time from arrival to removal-10 minutes
• Weight of the victim (approximately)-250, 130
• Method of removal -Extremities
• 2-4 takeaways for show notes
   
  • As a FF, fitness isn't something you can develop in the moment, always be ready
  • As an OFC, be the leader for the future of the department
  • As an OFC, "If you're reading this, you obviously care. Do what you can, no matter what your level, to be the change you want to see in your department, regardless of what others think or say." -Chief John Sullivan 
  • Firegroundanalytics.com
  • [email protected]

[email protected]

Grabs 172 Rowley Fire, MA  (June 22, 2024) 

• Name and Rank: RJ Oleary Call Firefighter-EMT 
• Department: Rowley Fire in Georgetown, MA
• Date: June 22nd 2024 
• Came in as a outside fire-upgraded to house fire
• Type of building: Single family residential home 1.5 story wood frame 
• Approx time to remove: 4-5 min 
• Weight of victim: 150-160 LBS 
• VES 
• Method of removal: dirty drag to window (arms first) and lifted out with assistance (tall window sill)  from second and third firefighter. Double Ladders.
• Takeaways:
   
  • Look for the AC unit-indicate a bedroom. 
  • Have a plan once you arrive communicate that plan with your crew. 
  • Be comfortable and confident performing VES know when to use it. 
  • Familiarity with your crew know there levels of training, confidence and proficiency’s

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Grabs 171 Pinellas Park Fire, FL (April 14, 2025) 

• Name and Rank- Lt Bill Weaver
• Pinellas Park Fire Department 
• Type of building- 2 story wood frame townhome
• Met by neighbor-said an elderly person lives in house, no confirmation. 
• Good viz on first floor, zero viz on second floor 
• Dead battery on TIC
• Approx time from arrival to removal - 6 minutes 
• Weight of victim- 130lbs
• Method of removal- dirty drag

[email protected]

Grabs 170 Sac Metro Fire, CA (August 15, 2024) 

• Capt Josh Leonard, Kyle DiBiase, Danny Kim (Engineer Matt Rust) 
• Call came in right at shift change-house fire 
• Duplex-Living room well involved-no extension to Bravo unit 
• Neighbors saying baby trapped in back-all in for search (truck) 
• Engine stretched between fire and victim location. 
• Smoke halfway down, good visibility low until the room, in the room no viz.
• 2 callout heard mumbling noise-Hard to pinpoint location. 
• Found dog before victim, dog was lying on victim covering victim. 
• Officer met at window and gave reference where to find victim and where to get to window. 
• Victim 130 lbs-very tough lift (trapped legs) required second rescuer. Couldn’t go the other way due to fire. Conditions in room got worse. 
• Victim out in less than 2 minutes. 

[email protected]

Grabs 169 Rocky Mount Fire, NC (May, 2024) 

• Cody Johnson, Engineer
• Evening Dispatch to House Fire-Close to station 
• Enroute saw column and told possibly one person inside. 
• Brick range style house, 1600 Sq with addition 
• A-B garage fire, into attic space
• Extra guy added to search, Search ahead of attack team.
• Split search.
• Bathroom-Found arm first (surprised) and the victim pulled away and then stood up.  Smoke Drunk. Half drag half walk out removal.
• 15’ from bathroom to front door.  Captain led them out. 
• Time arrival to removal-under 2 min.
• They went back to check the rest of the house. 

[email protected]

Grabs 168 Fall River Fire Department, Mass (July 13, 2025) 

• Paul Machado, Lieutenant (Duty Heavy Rescue) 
• Gabriel House Assisted Living Fire 
• 9:50pm Multiple People screaming 
• Multiple calls, heavy fire
• 3 story center hall wood frame, 70 people inside upon arrival.
• 150’ long, 3 floors 30 windows 
• Hands and Faces at windows on B side-Ladder initiated searches 
• Everybody get a ladder. 
• Different size ladders lead to different angles
• Conscious victims had death grip on ladders 
• Multiple rescues-some needed window lift and help out, others you could reach from the ladder.
• High Anchor for one that was 450 lbs 
• 11-12 off ground ladders from B-side
• 1 from A-side 
• 3 Cops got stuck in a room taking smoke while trying to evacuate civilians 
• Take Aways
   
  • PT-You have to be physically fit 
  • Ladder skills have to be practiced 
  • Shallow and High Angles (Sometimes you can’t choose) 
  • Confidence with crews (through training)
  • https://abcnews.go.com/US/assisted-living-facility-9-died-fire-recertification-year/story?id=123753767

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• Mike LaFleur, Lieutenant 
• Gabriel House Assisted Living Fire 
• 9:50pm Multiple People screaming 
• 3 story center hall wood frame, 70 people inside upon arrival.
• People at every window waiting to be rescued.
• This episode is from a recalled officer. 
• 10 fatalities at this fire.
• 3rd Floor 3 people, forcing doors and checking SRO.
• First room victim found face down-dirty drag-hand them off to another FF. 
• Girth hitching as grip strength went away. 
• Victim behind door, move victim away from door and then back out.  
• Passing victims off allow searchers to continue with search..they know where they’ve been and where they need still go. 
• 2 unconscious, 1 conscious victim assisted. 
• Take aways
   
  • Preplan the high hazard buildings. 
  • Passing the victim off to another crew. 
  • Have a 30-60-90 second plan
• https://abcnews.go.com/US/assisted-living-facility-9-died-fire-recertification-year/story?id=123753767

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• Amber Steiding: Assistant Chief 
• Potomac Fire Company #2
• 9/1/25 Labor Day
• Type of building: single family dwelling
• Approx time from arrival to removal: roughly 10 minutes 
• Weight of the victim (approximately): victim 1-100 to 120, victim 2- 190 to 200
• Method of removal: More of a tackle and push, victim 2 was an assist under their power.
• First I’ll start with staying ready and staying prepared.  Between being fit, training, drilling, and studying the Lord prepared me for this. 
• I really got a first hand feel for what victims are going through. 
• Do not trust dispatch or initial reports of all occupants out. How do you know? Search, search, search…even if no one else will.

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Grabs 165 Ashville, NC (2/16/2025)

• Grant speaks with Senior Firefighter James Burnette 
•  02/16/2025 at 11:07pm
• Single story, Single family residential 
• 5:23 seconds to removal
• Victim 130lbs
• Horder Conditions 
• 50’ exit Grab limbs and exited on Alpha
• Takeaway-Masking up with gloves on

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