By Katherine Poythress
The Gadsden Times
GADSDEN, Ala. — Three Gadsden firefighters sustained injuries early Monday evening while battling an involved house fire on Lookout Mountain.
Assistant Fire Chief Randy Smith said two firefighters suffered minor injuries and the condition of the third had been undetermined when ambulances transported them from the scene on Scenic Drive, just off Noccalula Road.
Four firefighters were battling blazes in the home’s second story when a floor collapsed into the basement, Smith said.
“There were no critical injuries,” he said, “nothing life-threatening.”
Four Gadsden Fire Department engines and 12 firefighters responded to the initial call placed at 5 p.m. Monday. When responders arrived, the fire was nearly fully involved and had engulfed one end of the house in flames. Residents had escaped unharmed and firefighters entered the home to quench the inferno. It was a matter of minutes before the floor gave way. Emergency responders transported the injured firefighters and by 6:15, their colleagues had the fire contained.
“They did a great job, I’ll say that,” Smith said. “Maybe a bit too good. We may have gone in too far.”
“We can’t go back in now,” he added. “It’s really hard to put it out (from the outside), but more collapsing is possible.”
Homeowner Carroll Sickles said he was working on a car in the home’s basement garage when a work light sparked some gasoline and ignited the fire.
“It spread, and it was fast,” he said. “I’m just so happy we got out. I wouldn’t be this calm if my wife was hurt.”