STATter 911: UPDATED Captured on video: Close call in Syracuse, New York. Mayday as firefighter runs out of air. Watch the raw video.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

UPDATED Captured on video: Close call in Syracuse, New York. Mayday as firefighter runs out of air. Watch the raw video.

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Watch raw video of firefighter rescue from WSYR-TV

Interview with Deputy Chief Bill Mitson

UPDATE - Read interview with Firefighter Ray Duncanson and learn more about his rescue

Syracuse Firefighter Ray Duncanson is out of the hospital after a bit of a close call during an early morning fire. Duncanson was working in the attic of a home at South Salina Street and East Newell Street when he ran out of air. He made his way to an attic window and got the attention of firefighters working on the porch roof below.

Duncanson was able to walk to the ambulance after being helped to safety. WSYR-TV captured the incident on video.

The house is believed to be vacant and investigators are looking at an electrical problem as the cause.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 3:37 PM

Comments:

Glad the brother is okay!!

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2009 5:18 PM

1. Where was his radio to call in a mayday?
2. Where was his buddy to buddy breath off of?
3. Why was his mask, hood and helmet off?

I figured a big department like that would have some sort of Mayday training.

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2009 5:28 PM

Was that an MSA Airpack? If so how was the bell stilling sounding if the cylinder was out of air?

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2009 10:09 PM

Not sure WHY he had a problem BUT
He did radio that he was out of air.
Within seconds he transmitted his own mayday.
There was an engine company as well as his search partner in the attic with him. Ray found the window and used WHAT HE WAS TAUGHT by bailing out head first onto ladder into rescuers reach. With 28 members on the first alarm, tragedy was averted. The mayday brought another 2 engines and 2 truck. he was out in less than a minute of the original mayday. There is INDEED training in both f/f survival and FAST ops.

# posted by

Mark : October 1, 2009 10:09 PM

Was he stuck or did his tank malfunction? Why did he stay that long? Glad he is ok but this shouldn't happen

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2009 10:42 PM

"He panicked for an instant. Then his training took over. He ripped off the oxygen mask and breathed in the toxic smoke."

I don't know what kind of training tells you to rip off your mask when you run out of air during a fire.

Glad he's ok.

# posted by

Anonymous : October 2, 2009 4:38 AM

Like most May Days and other fire incidents there are a lot of questions. Of course if you were not there you need to wait for the facts before you place judgement. Reading the comment from a firefighter that was there all went well and the training paid off.

# posted by

Anonymous : October 2, 2009 7:07 AM

So many things could of went wrong that day. As I watch the video, we are all lucky only 1 went to the hosptial and all made it home.Air Mask dont help any firefighter when they are on there side. what about all P.P.E (flash hoods)? It is about never leave a brother behind! Where was his accountablity partner, his raido? Training, Training, Training.

# posted by

Anonymous : October 8, 2009 9:52 AM