Three Falmouth firefighters were injured, one seriously, while responding to a house fire on Sunday, according to authorities. Flames engulfed a Cape-style home on River's Edge Road, prompting a multi-alarm response from the local fire department. The fire was reported after neighbors noticed a thick plume of smoke emanating from the residence, as detailed in reports by Boston 25 News.
The intensity of the blaze was such that, upon entry, one of the first firefighters to arrive at the scene fell through the flooring, dropping into a fiery basement below. This turned what should have been a routine response into a rescue operation within a rescue operation. His peers swiftly moved to extract him and succeeded, and he was subsequently medflighted to Massachusetts General Hospital. According to NBC Boston, the firefighter suffered "significant and traumatic injuries" but was reported to be in stable condition later that evening.
The other two firefighters sustained less severe injuries, with one hurting their shoulder and another injuring their knee, as per reports from CBS Boston. These firefighters were transported to Falmouth Hospital and are expected to fully recover. Neighbors relayed that the home is owned by an elderly couple who were not present during the incident, as they currently reside in Florida.
It took the fire crews more than two hours to bring the conflagration under control, and they are slated to stand watch throughout the night to ensure that the flames do not rekindle. Investigators are still trying to determine the origin and cause of the fire, which cannot fully commence until Monday due to the significant water accumulation in the basement, "currently four feet of water" as reported by Boston 25 News. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers firefighters face daily in their line of duty.
