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.
Three Houston firefighters suffered serious burns when they were blocked by a heavy door during an apartment fire
Collapse
Five firefighters were trapped by a roof collapse, and a sixth during the rescue, at a fire in Fairfield
Two Southington firefighters became disoriented during a basement fire
A functioning command post needs a paper or electronic tool to be successful
A mayday call went out after the ceiling and walls at Victory Baptist Church collapsed
Syracuse firefighters had to quickly exit the house as the fire worsened; at least two members were injured
A Rapid Intervention Team removed the Bridgeport firefighter from the burning house, and an EMS crew transported him to a hospital
A mayday was called, and the firefighter was transported to an area hospital
In high temperatures, firefighters retreated, and one became disoriented, prompting the mayday call
“I made the promise that I’m not going to come back onto the line until I know I’m ready,” said Manchester Captain Steve DesRuisseaux
The Beardstown firefighters got lost, declared a mayday and exited the building from a second-floor window, falling about 21 feet, the report states
About 30 firefighters from nine departments responded to the blaze
We need to apply our fireground mayday training to our mental health and personal stressors
Fellow firefighters issued a mayday call, but the crewmember was able to remove himself
The firefighter was trapped for a minute after a wall collapsed, but rescued by crewmembers
Investigators cited multiple errors made on the scene of the Dec. 4 fire that contributed to Sterling Lt. Garrett Ramos’ death from asphyxiation
A joint statement from Sterling and Rock Falls says the report contains errors plus suggestions for improvement that the Sterling Fire Department has begun
Report: Command didn’t know the home had a basement, the fire was mistakenly said to be controlled, and flaws in responding to Lt. Garrett Ramos’ mayday call
“I saw a dark spot which looked like a road,” said Jim Carr, Sevier County Fire Department’s maintenance chief
EMS providers treated the firefighter on site, and crews from multiple counties assisted in putting out the fire
Fires in expansive structures – in this case 1.2 million square feet – can quickly overwhelm fire protection systems and crews
Battalion Chief Steve Conn and Lt. Bassel Ibrahim detail mayday lessons from real-world events and progressive training
During initial operations, Oakland firefighters heard two of their own were down and managed to retrieve them from the apartment building
4 were blown off a porch in a possible flashover, Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said
John McMaster is now “conscious and alert” following the partial rowhome collapse that killed three fellow firefighters
What makes January such a deadly month for the fire service – and what can we learn from recent incidents, like Baltimore?
What the data shows about how, when and why mayday incidents occur, plus the 16 most common phrases heard on the radio prior to a mayday call
The same day a firefighter from an adjacent city died in a house fire, I found myself falling through a floor, trapped
ICs need training reps to practice strategic deployment of resources, backup plans and communication skills
A Nashua, N.H., mayday underscores the importance of a quick mayday call and swift RIT response
Many firefighters started calling a personal mayday years ago – it’s time to turn the tide
While self-rescue drills are vital, so too is mayday prevention training focused on fire dynamics, building construction, case studies and technology
Key questions to help determine if your department has the documentation needed – and whether your members are prepared
