FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — On August 11, 2021, a 46-year-old career fire captain died after falling into the basement of a large single-family home during a structure fire in Maryland. The captain, assigned to Engine 251, transmitted a Mayday after the floor collapsed beneath him. Despite rapid intervention efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
The incident underscores the dangers of low-frequency, high-risk residential fires and highlights the importance of thorough scene size-up, effective incident management, and maintaining crew integrity.
Key investigation findings
The incident involved a low-frequency, high-risk fire in a large residential structure, which posed unique challenges for incident management and operational decision-making. The complexity of the structure and fire conditions contributed to the captain’s fall into the basement.
A comprehensive 360-degree scene size-up was not completed prior to interior operations. This lack of full assessment limited the incident commander’s understanding of the building layout and fire progression, impacting strategic decisions…