FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno, California, firefighter is clinging to life following a tragic accident at a house fire captured in disturbing video.
According to KFSN in Fresno, the unidentified firefighter was battling a house fire around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday when he fell through a roof and into a wall of towering flames. Fellow firefighters tore down a garage door and pulled their injured comrade within a few minutes, but the damage had been done.
“Once they extracted the firefighter out of the garage, they doused him with water. And as they took his uniform off, he was burned from head to toe,” eyewitness Joe Reyes told KFSN.
WARNING: The video contains graphic footage and/or language that might be disturbing for some viewers. Viewer discretion advised. (Video Credit: Viral Hog)
The video of the incident was posted to the media at the request of the Fresno Fire Department to show the public the dangers faced by firefighters everyday, KFSN reported.
The firefighter was taken to an area hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. There were no other injuries reported in the fire.
According to the Fresno Bee, the fireman, who was only identified as a 25-year veteran of the department, suffered burns on 60 to 70 percent of his body, 40 percent of those burns were third-degree.
“Firefighting is an inherently dangerous operation. We routinely step out, and we put ourselves in harm’s way,” Fresno Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd Tuggle told KFSN.
