A NIOSH review of a September fire that burned a Texas firefighter when a carport collapsed on him highlights the need for firefighters to conduct exterior fire suppression from a safe location and for incident commanders to understand when fire conditions are evolving and step in to alter tactics to protect firefighters.
The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program examined the incident that occurred Sept. 3, 2025 in Fort Worth. Crews were dispatched to a reported house fire in a one-story residence. Engine 11 arrived to find heavy fire showing and deployed a hoseline to attack fire under a carport. While extinguishing a burning vehicle and wood support beam near the Alpha/Delta corner of the structure, a firefighter stepped under the carport moments before it collapsed, trapping him beneath the burning roof, NIOSH reported.
A mayday was declared, a second alarm requested, and crews used hand tools extricate the trapped firefighter within minutes. He was airlifted to a medical facility for treatment of serious burns. Firefighters transitioned to defensive operations and brought the fire under control nearly an hour later…