Mayday: Del. firefighter suffers burns to face during house fire

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

ELSMERE, Del. — Four firefighters were injured, one seriously, following a mayday call during a house fire in Elsmere.

Firefighters responded to the fire in the Colonial Heights neighborhood on Oct. 23 and arrived to find smoke showing. During fireground operations, “the fire rapidly intensified,” and a mayday was transmitted for missing firefighters, according to a social media post from Elsmere Fire Company No.1.

A 25-year-old firefighter was treated for facial burns and taken to the hospital in serious condition, Delaware Online reported.

Three other firefighters were hospitalized in stable condition, including a 37-year-old man with burns to his arm, a 23-year-old with possible internal injuries and a 51-year-old with burns to his hand.

No occupants were trapped or injured during the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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