Mayday
Mayday events can stop an incident in its tracks, as the team refocuses efforts on locating a downed, trapped or disoriented firefighter. Firefighters are encouraged to call a mayday whenever they feel they need help from fellow crewmembers and not wait until it is too late to be reached. The FireRescue1 Mayday resource page provides essential information on how to train for mayday events, video on how to prevent mayday events, details of the rapid-intervention team, plus news of mayday events and Rapid Response analysis of mayday incidents.
A consultant’s review of the fatal fire criticized Sedgwick County’s 911 operations and the Wichita Fire Department’s lack of “self-reflection and accountability”
With the right training and direction, rapid intervention should never be a dull assignment
Firefighter Marcelo Garcia succumbed to injuries from a wall collapse during a warehouse fire
They were pulling ceiling tiles when drywall fell on them; they were uninjured but one firefighter was unable to move
A mayday call was sent out to rescue the firefighter, but he self-extricated himself and is OK
Probationary firefighter Lawrence Wasser, 23, suffered second- and third-degree burns to his hands
The probationary firefighter was burned over 5 percent of his body after falling; four other firefighters suffered minor injuries
The firefighters were shaken but otherwise OK; no civilians were found in the building
The firefighters were listed in fair to good condition; at one point a battalion chief issued a mayday
They were trying to get down the stairs when they ran out of air; two firefighters from another department rescued them
Firefighter Patrick Wolterman, 28, sent a mayday call after falling through the floor into the basement
A firefighter who was on the same hose said that he was unaware that a collapse zone had been established, saying he relied on his commanders to make him aware of dangerous situations
Fire officials said there was nothing around the open elevator shaft to alert firefighters that a hazard was present
The firefighter sent out a mayday call and crews on scene quickly located him; he was uninjured
As Alan Dugan looked back on 2 minutes and 30 seconds of being trapped, he realized he has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving
Crews sent out a mayday because they were unable to pull him out; the firefighter is expected to be OK
The fire started in the basement and quickly spread; the firefighter suffered non life-threatening injuries
They hope it will provide answers to why Kevin Bell was left behind and no one searched for him for eight minutes
All three firefighters are resting comfortably at home and will continue rehab at a burn unit
The firefighters were treated for minor burns and were later released from the hospital
The firefighters were searching for a resident who was reportedly trapped; they suffered second-degree burns to their lower extremities
The firefighter was taken to a hospital in fair to serious condition; he suffered a hand injury but was not burned
The captain, who suffered second-degree burns, was injured after a ceiling collapsed in a second-floor apartment
Lost on the third floor of a warehouse with as many as 50,000 burning tires, the crew was unable to follow their tangled hose to safety
The mayday call was in effect for 35-40 seconds; they were able to get up and walk away without injury
Kevin Bell died when his SCBA ran out of air; a preliminary NIOSH report showed that one of his alarm bells was not working
The stricken firefighter was rescued by colleagues and taken to a hospital, where he was treated and later released
An officer found the firefighters a way out of where they were; the cause of the fire is being investigated
The two firefighters were uninjured; a resident also escaped the home uninjured
A state police fire marshal said the March 3 fire started when a mattress leaning against a wall fell onto a propane heater
Firefighter Daryl Gordon, 54, died after falling down an elevator shaft; he leaves behind a wife and two daughters
Residents of the building said the elevator was unreliable and many feared using it
Fire Chief Richard Braun says department policies and procedures will be reviewed to try to learn from the death
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