July 31, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Destroys Hollywood Home / Firefighter Injured

■ Firefighter gear and officer’s action credited with avoiding electrocution

A fire that destroyed a Hollywood neighborhood home in the early dawn hours of this morning also sent one firefighter to the hospital. Firefighters, called to 4122 Booker T Street at 5:58 a.m. found the single story, wood frame structure totally consumed in flames upon their arrival. Two residents of the home, including one bound to a wheelchair, were able to escape the blaze without injury. After almost 30 minutes of intense firefighting, officials listed the fire as under control at 6:25 a.m.

At the fire’s onset, firefighters from the department’s Hollywood Avenue station, beginning suppression measures in the back yard of the home, discovered a downed electric power line. At that moment, firefighter Victor Green, a 6-year department veteran, stepped on the "live" line. Captain Robert Schweigart sensing Green’s situation, immediately shoved him off of the line but not before the firefighter felt the effects of an electrical current. "The line arched and then I felt a vibration in my boots," said Green. Green then tried to resume fighting fire with his crew but officials could sense that he was still affected by the electric exposure and sent him to be evaluated by department paramedics at the scene. He was then transported to Willis Knighton Medical Center on Greenwood Road for further evaluation. He was released a short time later.

Fire officials credit Green’s protective clothing and Captain Schweigart’s quick actions in minimalizing the effects of the electric exposure. According to the department’s chief of safety, Sandy Davis, the rubber soled, rubber lined boots worn by firefighters, provide a certain measure of protection against an electrical exposure but not for an extended period of time. "A normal power line to a residential home is about 240 volts," said Davis. "Even with our protective footwear, a firefighter could not withstand that level of voltage long," added Davis.

Fire investigators have determined that the fire was accidently started when one of the occupants, carrying some lit paper through the house, dropped some of the material in a bedroom. The occupant said that he was trying to light a device that kept mosquitoes away. ###