Structural Collapse at Dwelling Fire Results in Two Firefighter Fatalities - (Stockton, California - February 6, 1997) » Overview

Two firefighter fatalities and one civilian fatality occurred in a single family residential dwelling fire. The second floor addition collapsed during suppression operations, trapping the firefighters. A captain was also trapped under the debris, sustaining serious injuries, but was later successfully rescued.

On Thursday, February 6, 1997, The Stockton Fire Department responded to twelve 9-1-1 calls reporting a large fire. The first firefighters on the scene at 4:16 a.m. found what appeared to be a one story home in flames. Because of the small lot size, a perimeter fence and a crowded driveway, there was very limited access to the sides and rear of the home. The constraining perimeter and heavy volume of flames at the rear of the home made it difficult to view the back of the house.

The elderly female resident was reported to still be inside the home, so an interior attack and search for the victim ensued. Firefighters moving towards the rear of the home were unaware of the existence of a second story addition, which was not visible from the front of the house. The addition, which was inadequately supported by its first floor construction, subsequently collapsed, pinning two firefighters and a captain under heavy rubble.

Efforts to extricate the trapped firefighters were immediately initiated. Cribbing and hydraulic rescue tools were used to lift and support the heavy debris; firefighters were able to locate and rescue the fire captain. The two firefighters were subsequently removed from the debris. The body of the occupant was later located in the area of the collapsed second floor master bedroom.

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