Veteran one of 3 battling blaze to get trapped in house
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006 The Dallas Morning News
A Dallas Fire-Rescue veteran was badly burned before he was saved from a house fire Wednesday night in Far North Dallas.
The officer, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was one of at least three firefighters who became trapped inside the one-story home while battling the fire in the 7300 block of Kirkham Drive.
He was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital with second-degree burns on his face, chest and hands. The other firefighters escaped without serious injury.
Fire department driver Robert Palmer saw flames shooting 20 feet into the air as he neared the house. Over his radio, he heard the fearful yell, “Get me out, get me out.”
“It was terrifying,” he said. “The first company started screaming on the radio. I told another company to go get them.”
Mr. Palmer later saw the injured firefighter crash through the front window to safety.
“He either fell out or was pulled out, probably both,” he said.
Capt. R.M. Baker said it is unclear what started the fire, which was reported about 7:40 p.m., but investigators believe it began in the back of the home. The homeowners were away when the fire broke out. Most of the home’s contents were damaged or destroyed.
Mr. Palmer described the injured firefighter as an “unbelievable” officer with about 17 years of experience with Dallas Fire-Rescue.