By Pat Reavy
The Deseret News
MAGNA, Utah — There were tense moments at a house fire Saturday when a firefighter fell nine feet through a collapsed floor. Just before 2 p.m., crews from the Unified Fire Authority were called to a basement fire at 3175 S. 8520 West.
When crews arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the house, said UFA Capt. Clint Smith.
Firefighters initially went inside the structure to battle the flames but started to feel the floor get “spongy,” Smith said, prompting them to evacuate.
Just as the last firefighter was about to get out of the house, the floor collapsed, dropping him nine feet into the basement.
“Our last guy out actually fell through the floor,” Smith said. “It was quite tense for a few minutes.”
The firefighter, a captain, called for a “mayday” and other crews started to assemble to go in and get him.
While they were doing that, however, the captain was able to make his way to a wall and find a window.
He contacted the other firefighters who helped him crawl through the window and out of the house.
“It was one of the closer calls we’ve had for quite some time,” Smith said.
The firefighter was not injured.
Smith credited the firefighters’ training for helping everyone get out.
The cause of the fire was linked to rags soaked in linseed oil tossed in a hamper.
Smith said linseed-soaked rags thrown together are notorious for self-combusting and igniting.
The home was undergoing “extensive renovation” at the time of the fire.
The exposed areas and wood helped fuel the flames, Smith said.
Three people were at home when the fire started.
Smoke alarms alerted them to the situation, and they initially tried to use a fire extinguisher, but they evacuated after they couldn’t put the fire out.
Total damage was estimated between $75,000 and $80,000. There were no reported injuries.
Copyright 2011 The Deseret News Publishing Co.