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Mayday: Texas FF falls down elevator shaft during mansion fire

A fire fueled by broken gas lines escalated to a third alarm after a Fort Worth firefighter fell through an elevator shaft, prompting a mayday call

By Lillie Davidson
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

FORT WORTH, Texas — A large mansion-style home caught fire Wednesday morning after a possible lightning strike, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.

Crews responded to the home in the 6900 block of Sanctuary Heights Road at about 8 a.m., officials with the fire department said.

The fire was being fed by broken gas lines inside the house, and a partial roof collapse sent firefighters out of the home, officials said. Because of the home’s size, fire crews called a second alarm.

Fire crews sounded a third alarm after a firefighter fell through an elevator shaft and called mayday, officials said. Other firefighters located him and brought him outside the home.

Ninety firefighters worked for two hours to fully contain the fire, officials said. One firefighter was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Mayday Resources
With the right training and direction, rapid intervention should never be a dull assignment
Starting with mayday basics, like when and how to call a mayday, primes them for actual emergencies and sets a foundation for more advanced training
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From prevention to data-driven decision-making, department leaders must set the tone for mayday-minded training
This unique mayday drill is highly realistic and physically demanding
Four simple steps to teach rookies about the seriousness of mayday incidents

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