Mayday Monday: Rescuing a Heavily Entrapped Firefighter

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of Mayday Monday. This month we review a fire from St. Mary’s County, Maryland. On June 27, 2023, several departments were dispatched for a fire in a two-story, single-family dwelling. The chief of the first-due fire company was first to arrive on scene and found heavy fire conditions on the first and second floors of the house. He established command and completed a 360o survey of the building. He confirmed fire on the first and second floors and no obvious fire in the basement. 

As units arrived, crews stretched and operated attack lines from Side A into the main entrance. Firefighters were able to make it into the first floor, but the fire had control of the interior. Firefighter Brice Trossbach, acting officer of the second-arriving engine, Engine 132, had the line when a collapse occurred. Members scrambled for the exit, but Trossbach dropped into the basement.