On January 1, 2000 at about 6:00 am Engine 14, Ladder 14, Engine 24 and Battalion 3 responded to an apartment fire at Clemson Road and Sparkleberry Lane. Engine 24 arrived first and reported heavy fire showing and called a second alarm. When we arrived flames were shooting from the 'D' side of the structure. Captain Anderson's crew was preparing the ladder for an aerial assault, asking around if anyone was still inside and receiving conflicting responses, I decided to make a search of the apartments. Entering from the 'A' side with my nozzle man. While my hydrant man and driver prepared the deck gun on my engine. All lights inside the structure were on giving me the impression that the structure was more intact then it was. Once inside I saw a small opening in the upstairs ceiling with fire showing. I turned to my nozzle man and told him to pull another hand line for a back up line. As soon as he left a piece of wooden truss fell through the hole exposing heavy fire in the attic. I turned to come down the steps when the roof fell in on me knocking me down about 7 steps and pinning me on the floor. Temperatures started rising fast and I thought it was over. I told God I loved him, it was then that time stood still, I pulled myself up and crawled to the wall and followed it to the doorway, burning from head to toe.

My guys met me right outside the door knocking me to the ground to extinguish my gear. The fall caused me to break a knee cap, the extreme heat caused me to sustained 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns to my face, neck, arm, hand, legs and buttocks. The burns to my hands required skin grafting.

Thank you for making a gear that saved my life. Captain Robert C. Rabon Engine Company 14