By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Helmet camera footage captured a Smith County, Texas, rookie firefighter falling through a floor while fighting a structure fire on Jan. 23.
• The incident occurred shortly after 10 p.m. as crews worked to extinguish a blaze in a single-story building.
• The firefighter fell through interior flooring but was able to pull himself out of the hole.
• No injuries were reported, and the crew successfully extinguished the fire, according to the department.
SMITH COUNTY, TX — Helmet camera video released by Smith County Emergency Services District 2 shows a rookie firefighter falling through a weakened floor while battling a structure fire Jan. 23.
The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. as Engine 72A responded to a single-story building fire in Smith County and crews worked to extinguish the blaze, officials reported.
Footage from the helmet-mounted camera shows the firefighter dropping through the floor during interior operations, after which a crew member asks if he is through the floor.
The firefighter, identified by the department as a rookie, responded and was able to pull himself out of the hole without assistance.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fall, and firefighters completed fire suppression efforts at the scene, according to the emergency services district.
The department posted the video and highlighted the incident on its social media, noting the rookie’s calm response amid the unexpected fall.