A New Orleans firefighter suffered injuries when he fell through the floor of a burning house on the Tulane University campus earlier this month. As reported at nola.com, it was the third multiple alarm fire within a 12-hour period for the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD).
The campus fire occurred at the Zeta Psi Fraternity just before 5:00 a.m. Fire crews from the NOFD arrived on-scene and saw a portion of the fraternity house engulfed in flames, according to an NOFD spokesperson. The fire quickly spread to the attic of the structure. Two firefighters fell through the floor as they battled the blaze. Rescue crews transported one of the men to a hospital with a possible arm injury. The other suffered exhaustion and dehydration.
In all, 68 fire fighters fought the fire for about an hour-and-a-half. Residents of the fraternity house think the fire started in the kitchen. Making things difficult for the firefighters was the fact that party decorations made it difficult for them to locate doorways and walls.
Fortunately, there were no reported burn injuries and all residents of the house made it out safely. Large residences should have designated escape routes in case of fire and residents should know which doors and windows lead to safety. There should also be a fire extinguisher accessible on each floor of the house.
Could you find your way out of your home if it was engulfed in flames?
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans injury lawyers