Houston Firefighter Mayday 1 of 2 TheBravestOnline.com

[station74fire]

The day that changed my life is when I went to Cancun for a vacation and meeting a man that happened to Be a firefighter for this dept and I was with my buddy and he asked if he knew about this fire, he looked at both of us with a look of pure fear and said " boys I was the engineer of that ladder truck that day" and we didn't talk much about it. But truly changed my life.

[ffemt51]

I thinkbits ridiculous how some if you people can arm chair quarterback a call like that ! How did he get lost ? How did ic let that happen ? Oh give me a break, that Captain did a fantastic job on getting out alive! I'm sure alot of you critiquers would shit your pants if ever caught in a situation remotely close to that !

[rol1912]

he was working on the 5th floor...ALONE?? what he was doing before he get lose?

[guitarhamster102]

I want to be a paramedic/firefighter for the HFD when I finish college.

[skyslideshows]

wow... shocking..

[MrFirefighter1980]

Thank God he made it out cause then I wouldn't of had cappt abbt as an instructor.

[TheWaynelds]

I remember one of my friends went crazy and called the fire department after he lit a candle.

[Metalfireman62]

I have Heard a May Day before in a big Fire i was on in my area and it still hunts me to this day .

[botmo85]

our "gruppenführer" means captain normally dont go into burning houses... and if... NEVER ALONE!!!! for my brothers... all fire fighters are brothers... all over the world...

[botmo85]

im from germany... this video is very very hard... i think its ever the situation to get harder.... i like this video cause to see for all firefighters in the world to see what will happen... its a well warning... in germany its that u are never alone... u go in a fire with a troop... min 2 people... when its harder u go with 4 or 5 fighters... why was the captain alone????

[dustinwat]

@botmo85 maybe one reason he was alone was because he got separated from the rest of the crew, its very easy to lose your sense of direction, esp in these office buildings, these building are pretty much just one giant room with a bunch of little office cubicles in them

[BVBRodris17]

the last mayday ... Wow! left me chilled ... I'm volunteer firefighter in Argentina, my condolence to the family.

[schliepsiek]

@BVBRodris17 actually in the second vid (taken down for "copyright") they managed to find him and he survived :D

[wannabenj]

May Day is the worst broadcast.I hope no firefighter ever has to ever use those 2 words.God Bless all the firefighters out there.We really appreciate all the hard work you all do.

[EvacEvo]

This never has to happen again. Our patented, intelligent evacuation system provides a completely automated, non-strenuous way out for anyone inside, even those ABOVE completely burning floors. First responders can use our system to fight the fire from outside in safety while awaiting evacuees.

Visit evacevo.com or my video page for more information.

[MrSasquatch177]

Firefighters are brave men and women to go into a building to save a stranger when everyone else tries to escape... It is very sad to hear a fellow firefighter going through such horror, it sends a chill down my spine.... I would not wish such an ordeal on anyone....God Bless all fire fighters and police is all I can say.

[snakes3425]

God forgive the woman who set the fire, she killed 3 people just beause she got lazy at work and didn't finish an audit on time

[pigjubby]

This is awful. I would hope that chief;'s would learn to shut up and speak english. "So-and-so from so-and-so" Simple english. "Go to the 5th floor and get the fireman out." Sometime we are overtrained and learn to love to hear out voices commanding companies. These aren't promotional interviews, but when bureaucrats run the department, this can be made much worse. If you listen, most of the conversation is chatting and no real info exchange. Not to blame Houston, but ALL departments

[MIKCURIE]

was there a female victum and was she extricated

[MrVanstuart]

@jjm4767 oh none taken thanks for tellin me man i just watched it that made my whole day

[firemen86]

sorry I'm Italian, I'm looking for the captain abbt know where I can find it on facebook

[MrVanstuart]

my condolences to this captains family.

[puppymomthree]

so sad that to this day and maybe forever they will keep building structures who's fire's are out of reach to be stopped and likely save many a life. Hate to say it but even Manhattan is at it again, making an even taller building where sat the two towers of 9/11 lessons never learned. So sad indeed!

[FirefighterLove10]

stay safe brothers & sisters. Im almost done with fire academy & this is bone chilling for sure

[adamxaiver]

@uwerewarned1 i totally agree 100% i was arguing with another guy about this i recomended a height and weight requirement b/c ik if i get in trouble i want the rit team to be able to do their job and not be able to get me out b/c their out of shape

[swmpfx9999]

Its not supposed to be easy to listen to...this is as real as it gets. Some call us heros others call us crazy most who know us call us friends. We are normal everyday people who understand that everytime we go out on that call we may die but we all understand that we are not alone and that we make a difference!!! I am a fire fighter and I will stand with any of my brother or sisters and I will fight with you ride with you and if my time is up i will die for you. God Bless all of us

[MrPfd17]

my mayday was aknowledged instantly and i am crippled,but i am alive and i have rit and quick response to thank. I cant imagine waiting for the maday to be acknowledged and the empty feeling that i have been abandoned.

[MrPfd17]

my mayday was aknowledged instantly and i am crippled,but i am alive and i have rit and quick response to thank

[richeykw]

gives me chills.....sad situation, but we can all learn from it.....man...(4:18) "i'm outta air, i'm outta air".......very hard to listen to.

[richeykw]

gives me chills.....sad situation, but we can all learn from it.

[wheeliefreek]

hard to listen to....they showed this to us in training....the guy was sucking floor cause IC never acknowledged him. i remember this fire i lived really close to it.

[brighteyes0623]

Thank GOD the dispatcher heard the may day... sad that IC never acknowledged the may day the 4-5 times the dispatcher tried to relay it to them. 

[InFaMoUsTePhEn]

wow thats horrible, so many things went wrong, RIT team only made it up four flights!??!?!..captain calls mayday and the traffic is off the walls, But how did the captain get separated with the search team? Don't they have safety lines out?

[CorryFireFighter]

God be with him and god bless all firefighters in there time of need



[italianbroker1]

this is why physical conditioning and endurance training is critical if RIT team gets tired running up 4 floors then they wont be able to save anyone and even if they do they need air to get back down too soo yeah i feel bad for everyone on this call that had to listen to it, the guy sounded like he was crying, if that were me id end up jumping out of the second story gasping for air

[AdamB9098]

What I want to know is how and why did this Captain end up ALONE on the 5th floor. And why was the RIT team taking so long to go only 5 floors up? I'm not criticizing, I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong there. I know very well the chaos in a working fire, but it seemed like the IC lost control of the situation.

[Maintenancelawncare]

@AdamB9098 I agree with you 100%. How could a IC lose control! With the way that structure was going and with the that radio traffic that is going through while this video is playing, I am surprised that the RIC ( that's what we call it in NC) team wasn't already en route to assit the Captain in this situation. In the fire service you go in groups of 2, where was the captain battle buddy?

[HoustonTXborn12]

@AdamB9098 We had an instructor walk us through this video today, he said the Captain when up with three men and left there E/O outside with the truck.

They made it to the 5th floor and found a victim, he ordered the three in his crew to take the victim down the stairwell, while he pressed on to look for more victims.. He found another victim, but by that time (assumingly) he was low on air and too exhausted to carry the victim out, then the Mayday was called.

[shadowwolf3327]

he did call mayday right away what i want to know is first off why was the channel never cleared. secondly why was it almost seven minutes before ic called for a par. the way it sounded to me they were looking for two guys when they should have only been looking for one. i just finished entry level classes and i believe that this could and should have went differently

[gagarcia87]

my l.t. told me to listen to this....i didnt want to but i kno maydays are part of the job so i did.....this gave me chills.

[Bogner2009]

wow...we just did MAYDAY training at our station last wednesday and our chief told us to watch this video....very very sad...def teared up....if theres a MAYDAY called there should be absolutely no traffic everyone should be keyed on his channel...very sad...God Bless our Firefighers

[firefightfreak]

Oh damn, im a firefighter just became an iterior firefighter thats scary!

[rplucius]

Man that's hard to listen to.

Time is really of the essence. How did the "MAYDAY" call go unheard?

[toboe399]

@rplucius I heard him yell mayday the first time.....how the fuck did scene command miss it? even another person asked "there is a mayday on the 5th floor, are you receiving?" the O.I.C. should have had his ass reamed for that

[FiReFiGhTe07R]

i'm also firefighter and it so hard to listen.... God bless our firefighters

[speedyspooley]

I'm a firefighter...and this is almost too hard to listen to.

[wrfire]

Clear the mayday channel, everyone else stays OFF!!!! Way to much cross traffic.

[SweatyRombus]

#1 priority - life safety

[wesleyramakers]

1 thin we may never forget this:

if we do stupid things which cuases fire's, you have to know that you do not bring yourself in life danger! but the firemens are also in high fire danger!,

you shut known that fire ficthers fight for your life! by setting thier lives in the game!

i realy have respect for firefighters and i may join the fd later.

[Zone3FireExplorer702]

i saw this video in my fire service class at PSSC [Puget sound skills center. google it] this had me all teared up man. crazy, really glad he made out ok. js a everyday reminder that our life we put on the line

[firemen202]

I think this should be a reminder to anyone who is a firefighter that this can happen to anyone of us.

[dewi911]

@firemen20

Sad but true......hearing his last mayday chilled me!

[firstin2719]

Firefighter made it out ok!! God was on his side that day...

[HBFD14]

this is so hard to listen to

[aguywithasniper]

to everyone who either disliked, or simply doesn't respect this video - - imagine if

was your dad in there.

[MISSBeautyGurrrl]

@aguywithasniper Oh my god.. Was your dad there?

[aguywithasniper]

@MISSBeautyGurrrl noo my dad is a firefighter though. just thought i would put my two cents in.

[firebuff2448]

hey how do i apply for the job where r u at tell me and u can email me anytime u want to at fdny242003@yahoo.com

[adamxaiver]

@firebuff2448 hey just woundering if you ever got the info you were looking for

[ffhaynes]

good lesson good job guys stay safe brothers.

[MMnyess]

Whats the name of the song in the beginning?

[JEHIAHL]

Thank God for saving his life. Hearing him suck in air like that makes you think its all over.

[kbk1061]

@JEHIAHL You dick, your like the dicks that ruin movies !

[JEHIAHL]

@kbk1061 Come on man, its just a lot more bearable knowing that he will make it. Sorry i ruined it for you.

[Trogman12]

The IC on this Scene did one hell of a job, Props to him.

[Scarface1894]

My Department is working on the LUNAR system for mayday calls.

a. Last Known Location

b. Unit Number

c. Notable Event (what happened)

d. Assignment

e. Remaining Air, Resources Needed, and Radio Equipped

In this video as soon as the mayday was acknowledged, Command should have sent all other operations to a different channel.

[paintballer34878]

@Scarface1894 we read our lunar like this

Last known Location

Unit Number

Name of firefighter

Air supply

Resources needed.

[rplucius]

@Scarface1894 similar to our LIPS.

L - Location

I - Identification

P - Problem

S - Survive

[FirefighterDaniels]

I watched this in one of my training classes at the FD...I couldnt help but start to tear up..hearing another firefighter in trouble is heartbreaking!

[firebuff2448]

@FirefighterDaniels that is no lie when i was in the fire academy we watched that and i almost started to cry seeing a feloow firefighter in trouble and all that radio traffic pissted me off they should have shut all radio traffic down except the command and the trapped firefighter and the dept where u at r they hiring

[FirefighterDaniels]

@firebuff2448 Im in Connecticut Fire Department...We are looking for more people to join yes...

[attaboy101]

Be Brave - Be Strong - Be Safe

God Bless you all.

[enick36]

It could happen to any of us, doin what we do to perserve life, Glad that capt was ok, way to go guys, god bless

[jherikeys]

I watched this on that terrible day with my then husband. A Houston fire fighter. I turned my scanner on but never heard this. Thank God. I remember my husband always telling me that the harder you breathe the quicker you suck up the air in the tanks. I am just so glad that he made it out. It chapped me that the news never mentioned the trapped fire fighter. But I guess it isn't news. Because you all do this every day. But let me say thank you...to all of those who have the guts.

[EagleMan317]

Being a firefighter its really hard to watch and hear this... I'm glad that the captain is ok.... as far as the woman who set this fire.... she should have got life... she only got 25 years.......

[rexanater]

@EagleMan317 You are right, that should be "attempted murder". She will get what is coming to her one day.

[devanoo2]

seemed like a long time for the truck to get there

[jack5505]

I have a scanner and i listen to the Houston Fire Department on a daily basis, but I never heard anything this sad before

[PaulieMac77]

crazy bitch should been put 2 death............ RIP to those who passed in this fire :(

[Rjanowski]

BTW he isn't dead there is a part 2 to the video and right before part one ends you can here him keying up the mic in short bursts

[Rjanowski]

Some pass alarms actualy do have a gps locator built in like Scott has the packtracker my department had it installed on our packs we have yet to use it because we ran out of money to buy the tracker it's self time to look at grants

[tintedglasses1]

Rest in Peace Fellow Brother

[sniper1487]

@tintedglasses1 hes alive lol..

[ben07zie]

what if pass devices had GPS locators on them?

[ben07zie]

@ben07zie sad video btw. i wish i was there to help too...

[oskar09pickle]

wow im 15 and my dads a fire fighter and wow my eyes just teared up listeing to this.. this is hard to listen to.. rest in peace captin..

[SgtSMOKE78]

@oskar09pickle he didnt die, he made a full recovery

[oskar09pickle]

@SgtSMOKE78 oh ok.. thank u and thank god..

[jrfirefighter1995]

Wow, this is most deffintly i the hardest video i have ever watched. But it does expose the dangers of what we do. But may our Brother rest in peace

[ThySaint]

My department just used this video for a drill, the drill was RIT training, this was very hard for everyone to listen to. It makes you wish you were there to help.

[speedyspooley]

This is so hard to listen to......being a career firefighter....knowing that every call can potentially lead to a situation like this. The captain held his own....and was tough under fire.

[mrfrantic]

listening to a brother die is always a terrible thing ..may he rest in peace

[theFIREkid05]

Many mistakes were made on that fire. Captain Abbt will not be forgotten.

[FoFoZem]

what is this song at the begining

[leiforrdrumz81]

Thank you Sr. Capt Abbt......your training was bad ass. And I appreciate all that you have taught me the last 2 weeks......

[Soledad829]

Unless you've been in a big building with no air, surrounded by fire, and you are struggling to breath, I don't really think you would know how you would react.  Specially if you are by yourself.

[canterburyfiredept]

I have just completed a firefighter 1 coarse, and i hope i never have to call a mayday. it's never easy dealing with a firefighter down, it's something i done once and never want to do again

[utbpitcher09]

Someone in a two story plus building, that calls a mayday and panicks, has a reason to.

[eclgoalie1]

good video

[arthurdietrich]

I really wish the dramatic soundtrack would go away. The scenario doesn't need a string section to set the tone.

[mas3ary]

good job baptin abbt and your encourage crew

[57PROBIE]

amazing video, rly makes you think. this can happen to any of us at any time, everyone says i know what to do if it happens to me but saying it and actually doin to are two different things. reminds us we must rely on our training

[Matt218]

His breathing was through the ROOF! I understand he is paniced, but pacing yourself will buy you precious seconds of life.

[ACzervic]

Every firefighter knows what they're "supposed" to do. In reality, many of us will never be faced with this situation. If you have been, Im happy that you have survived such a perilous situation. On the other hand, it is hard to judge the actions or downright human behaviors that would occur in such an event. This is a horrific event, and hopefully we can learn from it. Heroism overshadows "controlled breathing" in this instance; but that doesnt mean we dont stand to gain intelligence.

[marines13r]

@Matt218

True, but how would you react in this situation. I know a guy who was lost in a basement fire, no way out but he kept cool and eventually ran into someone AFTER the fire was out. He kept his cool the whole time. Some people have the flight reaction to such a situation. You dont know whether you'll flight or fight unless it happens to you. I pray to God that no one ever has to find out... but it happens.

[misscountryygirl]

firefighters::: true american heros::: enough said. only about a year and a half til i start training and classes<3 firefighter forever and always<3

stay safe and come home to your loved ones guys and gals<3

[gpfdfireman]

Thank you too the R.I.T. personnel everywhere. Without you, we might not be here today!!

[ACzervic]

Train yourself or ensure your department trains in R.I.T. as well. Its for every firefighter.

[bygdrew]

very hard the listen too!!!

[fpedraza28]

I have been watching this video over and over, but from what i have found out the capt was just doing his job and it can happen to anyone, all we try to do is to be safe to go home to our families.

[ACzervic]

Here here! However, this incident is a paramount for "new" training and techniques everywhere. Something can and will be learned from this. Thankfully more people werent killed. Stay safe.

[bluejeanbabyqueen4]

i cried the whole time i watched this.

[ACzervic]

Im glad I wasnt the only one. Stay safe.

[godiscare]

he had to be at either 5 percent or less cuz his viber alert was going off

[ACzervic]

Would be going off at 5%....maybe. Our Scotts vibralert at 25%. You have to remember that the vibralert itself uses air, so...at that point, your already behind the 8-ball. What is scary is that you at one point dont hear the vibralert while he is breathing. That is getting close to the end of the air supply. Remember, Im not criticizing this incident in any way. Im very glad that he survived, and Im sorry that somebody died.

[arzuk21]

props to RIT n' ladder truck guys !

does anybody know if he was on a 4500 bottle? and how much air he had left be4 he called mayday if any ?

[smash69691]

when he called mayday, only dispatch could hear him... where he is in that fire is on top of the victim, but there are others around him... he got seperated and was freelancing on his own.. im a volunteer and going to school to become a paid firefighter... i watched this video yesterday and it makes u think, why do i want to be a firefighter!!!!!!!!! i glad he was okay!!!!!!

[SkydiverGoose]

looked like an MSA 4500 pack when he was coming down the quint ladder in the 2nd half of the video. it took RIP 15-20 minutes to just get to him, so I'm sure he had to be on a 45 minute bottle.

[koolaid0212]

We can all say what we're supposed to do.. But if we're in the situation, we're not going to think about skip breathing, we're going to try to get out.. Firefighter survival should be taught in basic firefighter classes and should be drilled on as much as anything else..

[firefighter5111]

i would be freakin mad if this happend to me

[fyreman471]

why didnt he activate his pass remeber the buddy system it save my life but great job overall

[graves420fire]

Thank god this guy made it, he and his partner seperated and went opposite directions upon entering the fire floor, that is why he was alone. It disturbs me that he called Mayday at least three times before dispatch told the chief about it. The Rit team did not find the captain, it was a ladder company that was on the outside of the building that did, the chief thought he was in the stairwell

[SgtSMOKE78]

actually the capt sent the two other guys from his crew back to the 4th floor to get a hose line, its on HFD website the full story is on there.

[firebuff2448]

that disturbs me to and i am a firefighter

[cmdrsimm]

Great job RIT!! I'd like to know why the Capt. was alone. I will be using these videos for training for my crew. Nice teamwork with these crews! Thank God he was able to get across what he did on the radio! Everyone Goes Home!!

[smokeeater6631]

the 1 question i have for IC is that when he heard the mayday why didnt he stop fireground operations and send in hiw RIT team? its hard for me to judge not being on scene, but thats the way i feel it should have been handled

[andennefire]

I am happy qu its finishes well, cheer colleagues

[tjh32673]

MoodyGrove-

Really Clark? I'd loooove to hear you on the radio when you are confronting your last minutes on earth. I love the mall ninja's when they tell us "how they would do things"

[paigerockson]

This is a fine example of SHUT THE FUCK UP! Every idiot is on the radio. The ONLY people that should be using the radio are the guys inside. Everybody should be LISTENING! This guy is in trouble and should be the only voice heard.

[71vwbug]

correct when a mayday is called his channel should be clear except for communications to him and him only. other crews should be switch to a seperate channel for communications. there should be an open line there..... second if your in that situation you should be trying to save your air not suck it down... skip breathing... remember that guys and dont split from your crew

[ctl1102]

100% agreed!!!

[kgcwhazup]

This has got to be the most horriable traffic I have ever heard.. I was in total tears

[boyatv]

I just went through this in training and its one of the skills that we learned i hope that I never have to use.

[FFk37]

I hope to never find my self in that situation

[MoodyGroove]

USFA report Improving Fireground Communications says we do a good job training manipulative skills but poor job training stress-tempered communication skills. I'm not judging this Captain but it's a good reminder to keep your cool and speak in a calm, controlled, moderately loud voice with clear enunciation to get our message across. Also, turn down your portable when you approach the IC so there is less feedback when he speaks. Thank God this FF lived. Learn from every near-miss.

[705west]

My hats off to all you guys, "risk a lot for a lot". Stay safe Houston FD.

Props for your IC; clear, calm, and concise while listenning to some understandably stressed radio traffic.

[carl13892]

that man went through hell

[tuckj12]

what's the song at the beginning of he video?

[cougaspatupa]

apologize, by one republic

[garycalgary]

obviously it was hard to hear

What i like about youtube since Rescue911 is off the air is the fact we as the public can watch firefighters do their jobs.....

and not come out

i am not certain what is going to happen in the next one but i already have deep respect for what you do.

[brewfighter]

Actually, the Capt. made it out alive. The purpose of this video is #1, to save lives, both those of firefighters, and civilians. This is a chilling example of what can happen on the fireground. It is by the grace of God, (whatever you believe in), the training and the resolve of the people involved in this incident, made it turn out the way it did. Unfortunately, the occupants the captain was trying to save, I believe, perished.

[bmfd12]

i would rate this video but i do not know how it is not on the rating list its just that sad={ everyone tryed so hard.

stay safe everyone!

[dmir406]

See video 2