Firefighters Say Gear Saved Lives
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: January 27, 2012
Rochester City Firefighters say equipment helped save lives during the locust street fire on Thursday.
It was a fire that forced some living in the home to jump out of the windows.
One firefighter went to the hospital with first and second degree burns.
Three others were treated on the scene for injuries.
The Rochester Fire Department showed News 8 the turnout gear firefighters used during the Locust Street Fire.
They say much of it will have to be retired.
It's black, burned, and covered in soot.
A number of firefighters went inside the burning home when they arrived because there were reports of children possibly trapped on the second floor.
That wasn't the case, but firefighters tried to get inside as the heat overwhelmed them and smoke grew.
"Definitely one of the hottest, hadn't seen anything this hot in 15 -17 years," said Lt. Thomas Rogan, Rochester City Fire Department.
Lt. Thomas Rogan was with the first truck to arrive.
"On the way to the call we could see the smoke from fire [in the] distance," said Lt. Rogan.
Firefighters were told some children may have been trapped on the second floor.
Rogan and others went inside.
"I was able to look up from my shoulder and see it as jet black smoke see orange on top," said Lt. Rogan.
Lt. Rogan says he and the other firefighters were on the ground crawling.
But they could not get upstairs.
"Knowing that we can't make second push... two years old, my daughter is two. Fortunately they were out," said Lt. Rogan.
Four firefighters were injured.
One was sent to the hospital with first and second degree burns.
His uniform and helmet, torched by the fire.
He was released from the hospital on Thursday.
"There were some injured. If it wasn't for the gear the guys would be in the burn unit for days or weeks," said Lt. Rogan.
The Rochester Fire Department is not calling the fire suspicious, but investigators say they don't know what started it and are asking for help.
"Yesterday no one was able to tell us where they thought that fire started or what reason. The building is gone, so we are relying on photos we took to piece the puzzle together," said Executive Deputy Chief Sam Mitrano, Rochester Fire Department.
Anyone
with information is asked to contact them.
A family member says the four people inside the home have since been released from the hospital.
