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‘Are you through the floor?': Helmet cam captures rookie Texas firefighter’s fall through floor

“Yes, sir,” the Smith County rookie politely responded before pulling himself out of the hole

SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Helmet cam video posted by Smith County Emergency Services District 2 shows a rookie firefighter falling through a floor while crews battled a structure fire on Jan. 23.

The footage, shared on the department’s Facebook page, captures the firefighter dropping through the flooring inside the single-story building as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

“Are you through the floor?” one firefighter asked.

“Yes, sir,” the rookie politely responded before pulling himself out of the hole.

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Engine 72A was dispatched just before 10 p.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, with no injuries reported, according to the department.

“Excellent job to one of our rookies who maintained his good manners even after falling through the floor,” the post stated.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.