MBFD firefighter Jeff Rice, 33, received first and second degree burns to his forehead, ear, neck and shoulder when super heated steam banked down on him as he entered the structure, according to reports.
“When the interior is hot, putting water on it expands the heat,” MBFD Interim Fire Chief Ken Shuck said. “Sometimes the steam comes back on top of our guys and causes problems.”
At 9:55 a.m., firefighters received reports of a fire at a house in the 1700 block of Gates Avenue.
In less than five minutes, 16 MBFD firefighters arrived to find flames contained to a rear, detached garage that had been converted into a bedroom. Dark smoke spewed out of a door leading into the garage.
“That shows it’s burning pretty well,” Shuck said.
Firefighters were assisted by the Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach fire departments in putting out the fire within six minutes of the arrival of fire units.
Shuck said that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
“It looks to be accidental,” he said. “The preliminary cause of origin is that it was a smoking accident from a cigarette or a cigarette lighter.”
No residents were injured. The man living in the converted garage was not present and other residents were in the main house when the fire occurred.
Rice was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he was treated and released. He remains off-duty while recovering.
Shuck said that the injury was unusual since Rice was properly wearing protective gear that is designed to withstand fire and severe heat for up to 20 seconds within coming into contact. Shuck is checking with the manufacturer of the gear for product defects.
He estimated the cost of damages to the garage – which sustained heavy fire, heat, and water damage – to be roughly $50,000. ER
