Tag Archives: MAYDAY

An Evanston firefighter remained hospitalized Saturday night after crews battled a Christmas morning fire that ravaged two homes and three garages in the northern suburb. Two other firefighters were also injured in the blaze on the 1800 block of Laurel that broke out at 5:07 a.m. Evanston Fire Battalion Chief Don Kunita said emergency crews arrived at the scene three minutes later and found a fire that was “getting big rapidly.’’

Suddenly the captain in front dropped into the basement through a large hole in the floor. He was suspended by his shoulders on electrical wires, the only thing that prevented him from dropping fully into the basement. His partner was directly behind him and instantly transmitted a MAYDAY to Command.

“We got firemen unaccounted for,’’ according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford who was on the scene at 7:30 a.m. “Right now we’re working to get inside the building,’’ Langford said. As of 7:24 a.m. the alarm has been elevated to a 3-11 and an EMS Plan II, which automatically sends about ten ambulances to the scene, is in effect, Knight said. Knight said the building is 40 feet by 125 feet.

Mayday is in (part 2) just before the 9 minute mark. Video from CL300 Incident safety officer's helmet cam with dispatch audio. Video starts approximately 20 minutes after arrival of first alarm units. Click below for a PDF file report on this close call.

The quote “A lot of Guys Think This Won’t Happen To Them” was made by Houston Captain Abbt. Captain Abbt was trapped in a high rise fire for over 18 minutes after calling MAYDAY while attempting rescue of trapped victims. ...