Holy smokes, this latest YouTube video from the Fresno Fire Department is astounding.
The California fire department has been active on YouTube recently, uploading videos filmed by firefighters with helmet-cams showing exactly how they work to put out blazes—either in somebody’s home or on the side of the road.
The latest video, though, might just be the most dramatic of all, as four engines worked diligently to put out a fire in an abandoned house. Then firefighters were told somebody was actually inside the single-story, single-family residence, and that’s when they really got to work.
“We are full rescue mode. Rescue mode,” the radio squawked, and after calling for forceful entry into the house, firefighters began using axes and a chainsaw on the side of the structure to create an exit for the person still inside.
With fire spreading across the roof and the side of the building, the rescuers eventually cut a big enough square in the side of the house and coaxed the person inside to approach the opening so they could pull him out.
After yanking the transient man away from the house, they dragged him to the road, laid him down, gave him oxygen, and handed him off to the emergency personnel already on site.
“It’s helping you breathe. It’s helping you breathe,” somebody told the man, referring to the oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth. “Relax. Hey, you’re doing good. Keep breathing, buddy. Keep breathing.”
Here’s the entire video.
According to Kerri L. Donis, the Fresno fire chief, vacant structure fires with transient people inside have been a big problem for the department, and she said, via the News Tribune, that many of the fires are being investigated for possible arson.
In this case, the victim was taken to the hospital and later released. For that, he can thank the heroes who dramatically rescued him.