Two separate incidents at a west Houston apartment complex yesterday left a firefighter injured and brought into sharp focus the risks our first responders face during emergencies. The firefighter, whose name has not been released, fell through the floor while battling a blaze at the building located off Richmond Avenue near Highway 6. The call came in at around 2 p.m., escalating into a two-alarm fire shortly thereafter. KHOU reports that, according to the Houston Fire Department, a mayday was called when the firefighter fell. There is currently no word on their condition following transport to a local hospital.
In a seemingly related incident, another firefighter was injured when the balcony he they were on collapsed at the same apartment complex. According to Click2Houston, the mishap occurred as the firefighter was conducting a search of the property. This firefighter was also taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center with injuries said to be non-life threatening.
The efforts of the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading further, and they were able to evacuate everyone from the building, preventing potential loss of life. A woman, also affected by the fire, was taken to an area hospital; she was conscious and alert, and the extent of her injuries are unknown, as reported by KHOU. The cause of the initial fire has not been determined.
The Houston Fire Department is investigating the sequence of events that led to not only the fire but also the injuries suffered by their colleagues.
