By FireRescue1 Staff
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A firefighter suffered first- and second-degree burns Monday while battling a fire at an abandoned house.
A flashover occurred when the firefighter entered the building through a door, which severely burned his PPE gear.
“His gear was burned significantly, so the fire gear did what it was supposed to do,” Birmingham Fire Capt. Bryan Harrell told WVTM.
The firefighter sustained burns to his ears, neck, arms and shoulders. Capt. Harrell said the dry weather conditions may have contributed to causing the flashover.
“We think it is definitely arson. It was a set fire,” Capt. Harrell said. “We just don’t know how they set it, so our investigators are working to find out the exact cause, but we definitely think it’s arson.”
Police are investigating the fire.