Executive Summary: At 0127 hours on October 2, 2008, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Emergency Communications Center (ECC) alerted Station 3 of a transformer fire in the area of 222 Frederick Avenue in Rockville. Upon arrival, Engine 703 discovered a fire in the basement of a house located at 219 Frederick Avenue and requested the full structure fire assignment be dispatched.
During firefighting operations, a fire fighter from Rescue Squad 703 fell into the basement through a hole in the first floor dining area. The bedroom below the dining room had been engulfed in flame just seconds before the structural collapse. A Mayday operation was initiated. The fire fighter was able to perform a “fire fighter self rescue.” The fire fighter was transported to the burn unit at Washington Hospital Center with 35% total body surface burned. Given the severity of the injuries and magnitude of the event, a Significant Injury Investigation Group (SIIG) was assembled to review the incident.