HARRODSBURG, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A firefighter from the Harrodsburg Fire Department is recovering after a fall through the stairs of a home while battling an early morning blaze Tuesday. The incident occurred as crews were working to extinguish the flames. “When they went back up into the stairwell, the firefighter fell through the stairwell, the way that…
HARRODSBURG, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A firefighter from the Harrodsburg Fire Department is recovering after a fall through the stairs of a home while battling an early morning blaze Tuesday. The incident occurred as crews were working to extinguish the flames.
“When they went back up into the stairwell, the firefighter fell through the stairwell, the way that was set up was that stairwell was overtop the stairwell that goes into the basement, so he fell hit the basement stairs and rolled into the basement itself,” said Brad Cox with Mercer County Emergency Management.
Authorities report that the firefighter called a mayday after falling into the basement. No one was inside the home at the time of the fire, but firefighters needed to enter the structure to manage the situation. A neighbor captured footage of the scene at the time of the fire, which was shared with ABC 36.
“There was just emergency vehicles, one after another after another, so I looked out and saw that it was right here,” said the neighbor Patty Sabo. “I Saw lots and lots of smoke, didn’t really see flames but I saw lots of smoke,” said Sabo.
Mercer County Emergency Management officials stated that the injured firefighter was able to exit the basement on his own and sustained only minor injuries.
“He is fine, there were no major injuries, he was evaluated on scene by pro-EMS,” said Cox, “he’s probably home nursing some bruises and bumps,” he said.
Residents expressed gratitude for the first responders’ efforts and were relieved that everyone involved was safe.
“They were awesome and I saw them and they were parked right outside mine, some of them came in their own vehicles and were suiting up,” said Sabo, “they save us and protect us and we are indebted to them forever,” she said.
Officials emphasized that the quick response to the firefighter’s fall was a result of their training, allowing for a swift resolution to the emergency.