Firefighter falls through roof of burning Central Fresno home
FRESNO, Calif. -- A Fresno firefighter is in critical condition after falling through a roof into a burning home.
The house fire broke out just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Central Fresno. Firefighters were battling the blaze on Cortland and Del Mar avenues when the man was injured. The firefighter underwent surgery on Sunday and was in the burn unit.
Harrowing screams from bystanders was caught on camera by Sooji Lee, who watched in disbelief.
"I almost had an anxiety attack because we didn't know what was going to happen. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it," Lee said.
The Fresno firefighter is a 25-year veteran on the force. Investigators say he was trying to put out a garage fire when he fell into the burning building.
"I believe his burns were on his hands, around his face. He did have his mask intact. There were some other burns on his back, around his legs, so they're pretty much in all areas of his body," Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis said.
RAW VIDEO: Firefighter falls through roof while battling Fresno house fire
WARNING: This footage contains material that some viewers may find disturbing due to explicit language and/or the graphic nature of the material.
It took minutes for firefighters to tear the garage door down and free the firefighter out of the inferno.
"Sounds from the public were traumatizing in and of themselves. We could hear people screaming. We could hear people running in, trying to help," Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Todd Tuggle said.
Once he was rushed to the hospital, dozens of his colleagues stood by in a show of support.
The video of the fire captain has since gone viral on the Internet, and Lee says she'd share it again in a heartbeat.
"Just that way they know the kind of position that these firefighters are put in, and that they do brave things every single day," Lee said.
It's a dangerous act that we call bravery, but firefighters call just another day at work.
A member of the fire department says the fire captain has many more surgeries to undergo before they know the full extent of his injuries.
