SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — A video of a large house fire in Windsor has drawn scrutiny on social media, with viewers questioning why one firefighter appeared to stand by as flames poured from the home’s roof.
The footage prompted a wave of comments from confused viewers asking why the firefighter wasn’t actively fighting the fire. The fire department responded to the criticism and addressed viewers’ concerns about the firefighter’s actions at the scene.
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Sun Prairie Firefighter Adam Nieft was the one seen in the video, WMTV reported. Sun Prairie had been called in to assist with the Oct. 7 house fire in Windsor, where Nieft’s role that day was serving as a driver.
Nieft said firefighting doesn’t play out the way it does in the movies, explaining that there are reasons behind both the actions crews take and the ones they hold off on.
Sun Prairie was the second-due company on the call, according to Lt. Thomas Stoltenburg. Stoltenburg said command had already been established by the DeForest Fire Department, which radioed instructions for Sun Prairie to go interior for fire attack and a possible search.
Nieft said his role includes getting everyone to the scene safely and connecting them with their supplies, including hose, ladders, other equipment and water. Stoltenburg said drivers often don’t put their turnout gear on right away.
Beyond the driver, the company officer assesses the scene, determines entry points and identifies safety concerns, all while handling radio reports and possibly assigning tasks to incoming units, Stoltenburg said. As company officer, his duties include a scene size-up, a “360” walk around the structure to locate the fire, identify potential victims and determine whether the basement needs to be accessed.
No one was hurt in the Windsor house fire, though the roof and deck of the home sustained major damage. DeForest-Windsor led the response and said the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes.
As a firefighter, how do you respond when the public — or other firefighters — misunderstands what’s happening on scene? Have you dealt with similar criticism from bystanders or social media?
