By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
OCEAN CITY, N.J. — Ocean City firefighters battled a house fire that briefly trapped a firefighter on a second-story deck.
Firefighters arrived on Oct. 26 to find heavy flames at the rear of the building, NJ.com reported. Initial reports indicated that two people were trapped on a second-floor balcony, but they were able to self-extricate with assistance from Ocean City Police officers before the first units arrived, the Ocean City Firefighters Association said.
As interior conditions worsened, crews were ordered out, switching to defensive operations with three hand lines and a ground monitor, the union said. After knocking down the bulk of the fire, crews re-entered for interior attack and overhaul.
While firefighters were finishing a search, a firefighter became trapped on the second-story deck of the home. A video taken by a bystander shows the flames blocking the ladder on the other side of the deck.
Officials said a propane tank valve failure caused an explosion, intensifying the fire. The firefighter was able to self-rescue via a ground ladder thrown by fellow members on the scene, the union said.
