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

[email protected]

• 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

[email protected]

• 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.

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

Grabs 164 Orange Township Fire Department, Indiana (April 14, 2025)

Chief Gene Landers

Chief pulls up on house fire, met by mom that said baby was inside.

Mom ran inside and chief followed her, quick grab by mom (18 month kid) <1 min

Crews arrived and this became a bread and butter fire.

Take-aways

Set up of command vehicle, be prepared for firefight by yourself.

No mask bag with SCBA, speed up

Grabs 164 Orange Township Fire Department, Indiana (April 14, 2025) 

• Chief Gene Landers 
• Chief pulls up on house fire, met by mom that said baby was inside. 
• Mom ran inside and chief followed her, quick grab by mom (18 month kid) <1 min
• Crews arrived and this became a bread and butter fire.
• Take-aways
   
  • Set up of command vehicle, be prepared for firefight by yourself. 
  • No mask bag with SCBA, speed up 

[email protected]

Grabs 163 Carson City, NV (5/16/2018)

Jon Pedrini., Battalion Chief

Carson City Fire Department

05/16/2018

2-story wood framed multi family apartment

5minutes

8yr old male

120lbs Second floor window

Always be ready, fast turnout and mask up times make a difference

If your job is to clear a window for removal make sure you clear it out completely

Room isolation. Shutting the door and isolating the room from fire makes conditions immediately better.

Train often on the drill grounds and in the gym. Make sure the training is realistic and functional.

[email protected]

Grabs 162 South Metro Fire Rescue, Colorado (March 2025)

First truck assigned all in VES Delta side.

Taylor Slaught Firefighter

Vince Pratt Engineer

House converted to Assisted Living

Initial Call as AFA, then upgraded to working fire with 6 trapped.

High windows

First window-heard vict call out from bed. 3 in first, pass victim out window head first.

Extending search from first room, bathroom and door swing (good orientation)

Find second victim in hall face down, dragged victim to same room where victim 1 came out.

Third victim heavy

Fourth victim-a lot of hands trying to make grabs.

Fifth victim found and removed by engine company.

All victims out and fire out in 12 minutes.

1)Fire attack supports search

2)when to VES vs going in through normal egress points.

3)when to extend your search beyond the initial VES room.

4)victim handling/when to take them out a window or go through a normal egress point.

5)making the decision when you locate a victim whether to hand them off to an exterior crew and continue searching or take the victim out and you stay with them until they are transported.

[email protected]