PGFD Firefighter escapes injury after fall through floor of burning house

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

A Prince George’s County Firefighter escaped serious injuries after falling through a weakened floor of a burning Upper Marlboro house.  On Wednesday, February 3, at around 5:45 pm, firefighters responded to the 10700 block of Waco Drive for a 911 report of a house fire.  The Office of the Fire Marshal indicated that working smoke alarms alerted the occupants to the fire and they called 911.

Upon arrival firefighters from the Croom Fire/EMS Station 845 were the first to arrive and encountered a 2-story single family home with light smoke showing.  Ensuring all occupants were outside of the house firefighters made their way inside to search and extinguish the fire.

During their cause and origin investigation Fire Investigators determined the fire was located between the floor joists under the first floor and above the basement ceiling.  As firefighters searched the first floor for the fire one member stepped onto a burned out weakened portion of the floor and fell through the joists and into the basement.

Following standard operating procedures the firefighter radioed his “MAYDAY” message to incident commanders and indicated that he was not injured and did not need to be rescued.  The firefighter made his way back up the basement steps and rejoined his crew in extinguishing the fire. 

After the fire was extinguished the firefighter was checked out by medics and with the exception of some minor scrapes to his upper body did not need any hospital treatment.


The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in loss.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

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