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Rotton, terrible news....
Firefighter dies in east-side blaze
Second injured as pair fall through floor of burning home on Edgewood Drive
By Nathan Phelps
[email protected]
A Green Bay firefighter died and another was injured after they dropped through the floor of a burning house Sunday afternoon and into a basement "filled with fire."
The incident occurred when two firefighters entered the house at 438 Edgewood Drive on the city's east side shortly after noon. No one was at home at the time of the blaze.
"They followed their standard procedures to attack this fire," Green Bay Fire Chief Jeff Stauber said Sunday night. "They took a line in … and soon after entering the building fell through the first floor into a basement that was filled with fire."
A female firefighter was able to escape from the home through a window and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital, where she was treated for burns and released, Stauber said. Firefighters were still attempting to recover the body of a male firefighter late Sunday night.
"The structure right now is not safe to enter. There have been several flare-ups throughout the afternoon as we've made every attempt to do search and rescue," he said. "It's been a very difficult day for everyone in our department as well as all city employees."
At 8:30 p.m., Stauber said the body of the firefighter was still in the building and crews were in a "recovery mode."
Names of the firefighters involved in the incident were not released, but Stauber said the deceased firefighter was an engineer and had been with the department for 17 years.
He said this is the first time the department has lost a member "in this type of situation."
News of the loss hit other firefighters hard.
Rich Gee, a Green Bay firefighter and vice president of the firefighters union, was choked with emotion.
"I knew the individual very well … It's very hard," he said. "We're a family and it hurts us a lot. It's a hard day for everyone involved."
Throughout the afternoon and night, firefighters congregated at the scene. At Fire Station No. 5 on Finger Road, the closest station to the fire, cars filled the parking lot and lined the street in front of the station by early evening.
Stauber said a significant number of firefighters were on the scene around 8:30 p.m.
"They're doing what they can to support each other," he said.
Bystanders said they were moved by the news that one of the city's firefighters had died in the line of duty.
"They're America's heroes; they're our heroes on the home front," said Green Bay resident Kelly Trickey who spent several hours Sunday just outside of the police barrier leading into the fire scene. "I asked my daughter, 'Would it be corny if as the relief (firefighters) came in, I saluted them?' I did."
Don Davis, who lives a little more than a block from the house, said he felt for both the firefighter and the owner of the home.
"They lost their house — everything is lost — and one of our best was along with it," he said. Losing the firefighter "is just like losing a neighbor."
The Lakeland Chapter of The American Red Cross provided both food and beverages for firefighters. The homeowner did not need assistance with lodging, said Jody Weyers of the Lakeland Chapter.
Brown County tax records list the value of the house at about $330,000.
Numerous agencies responded to the scene, including the department's own technical rescue team, the Green Bay Police Department, Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and a structural engineer.
"I hate to use the term 'normal' structure fire … it's never normal, there's always danger here," Stauber said when asked if it was a "normal" structure fire. "That's what they're here to determine, is there anything unusual. I don't know that at this point."
The cause of the fire was not known Sunday.
Stauber said the investigation was turned over to the Department of Criminal Investigation with assistance of local agencies to ensure an objective investigation.
"With a death involved or serious injures — whether it's civilian or firefighter — we do everything to make sure it's investigated to the fullest," he said.
Firefighter dies in east-side blaze
Second injured as pair fall through floor of burning home on Edgewood Drive
By Nathan Phelps
[email protected]
A Green Bay firefighter died and another was injured after they dropped through the floor of a burning house Sunday afternoon and into a basement "filled with fire."
The incident occurred when two firefighters entered the house at 438 Edgewood Drive on the city's east side shortly after noon. No one was at home at the time of the blaze.
"They followed their standard procedures to attack this fire," Green Bay Fire Chief Jeff Stauber said Sunday night. "They took a line in … and soon after entering the building fell through the first floor into a basement that was filled with fire."
A female firefighter was able to escape from the home through a window and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital, where she was treated for burns and released, Stauber said. Firefighters were still attempting to recover the body of a male firefighter late Sunday night.
"The structure right now is not safe to enter. There have been several flare-ups throughout the afternoon as we've made every attempt to do search and rescue," he said. "It's been a very difficult day for everyone in our department as well as all city employees."
At 8:30 p.m., Stauber said the body of the firefighter was still in the building and crews were in a "recovery mode."
Names of the firefighters involved in the incident were not released, but Stauber said the deceased firefighter was an engineer and had been with the department for 17 years.
He said this is the first time the department has lost a member "in this type of situation."
News of the loss hit other firefighters hard.
Rich Gee, a Green Bay firefighter and vice president of the firefighters union, was choked with emotion.
"I knew the individual very well … It's very hard," he said. "We're a family and it hurts us a lot. It's a hard day for everyone involved."
Throughout the afternoon and night, firefighters congregated at the scene. At Fire Station No. 5 on Finger Road, the closest station to the fire, cars filled the parking lot and lined the street in front of the station by early evening.
Stauber said a significant number of firefighters were on the scene around 8:30 p.m.
"They're doing what they can to support each other," he said.
Bystanders said they were moved by the news that one of the city's firefighters had died in the line of duty.
"They're America's heroes; they're our heroes on the home front," said Green Bay resident Kelly Trickey who spent several hours Sunday just outside of the police barrier leading into the fire scene. "I asked my daughter, 'Would it be corny if as the relief (firefighters) came in, I saluted them?' I did."
Don Davis, who lives a little more than a block from the house, said he felt for both the firefighter and the owner of the home.
"They lost their house — everything is lost — and one of our best was along with it," he said. Losing the firefighter "is just like losing a neighbor."
The Lakeland Chapter of The American Red Cross provided both food and beverages for firefighters. The homeowner did not need assistance with lodging, said Jody Weyers of the Lakeland Chapter.
Brown County tax records list the value of the house at about $330,000.
Numerous agencies responded to the scene, including the department's own technical rescue team, the Green Bay Police Department, Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and a structural engineer.
"I hate to use the term 'normal' structure fire … it's never normal, there's always danger here," Stauber said when asked if it was a "normal" structure fire. "That's what they're here to determine, is there anything unusual. I don't know that at this point."
The cause of the fire was not known Sunday.
Stauber said the investigation was turned over to the Department of Criminal Investigation with assistance of local agencies to ensure an objective investigation.
"With a death involved or serious injures — whether it's civilian or firefighter — we do everything to make sure it's investigated to the fullest," he said.
RAY WAS HERE 08/28/05
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