A firefighter was injured by a collapsing wall while battling an intense house fire in Hesperia on Saturday afternoon.
The blaze was first reported at 2:50 p.m. at a single-story house in the 17700 block of Hercules Street, according to San Bernardino County Fire Department logs.
Firefighters arrived to find an attached garage and a motorhome “fully involved” with flames, firefighter and department spokesman Christopher Prater said in a written statement.
Urgency was increased by initial reports relayed via radio traffic that an elderly man was possibly unaccounted for. Firefighters made their way into the structure to search, reporting “zero visibility” due to the heavy smoke.
As firefighters worked to control the flames, roughly half of the roof collapsed, firefighters reported from the scene via radio.
“A Mayday was declared when a wall at the front of the structure collapsed, injuring a firefighter,” according to Prater.
“Fellow firefighters quickly located the downed firefighter, removed him from the debris and carried him to a safe area for emergency treatment,” he said.
The firefighter was removed from the home with injuries including a possible broken leg, according to radio traffic. A REACH Air Medical Services helicopter was summoned to rush him to a hospital for treatment.
“He is currently being treated for moderate injuries and is expected to survive,” according to Prater.
Officials briefly declared an “operational retreat,” but resumed an offensive attack on the flames a short time later.
No additional victims were found upon a search of the scorched building, and no other injuries were reported.
A total of 42 fire personnel responded to the incident, including colleagues from the Apple Valley Fire Protection District and Victorville Fire Department, officials said. Firefighters declared the fire extinguished at 3:50 p.m.
The Red Cross responded to help find five adults and teenager who were displaced from the fire find temporary lodging, Prater said.
“San Bernardino County Fire wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to REACH Air Medical Services for their swift response and outstanding medical care during the transport of the injured firefighter,” he added.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
(This story has been updated with additional information.)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Firefighter injured while battling intense house fire in Hesperia
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
