January 26, 2007 – LODD

Firefighter Shane Michael Daughetee, 24

Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Harrison, TN

Firefighter Daughetee and the members of his fire department were dispatched to a report of a structure fire related to a wood stove in the basement of a residential structure. The first firefighter on the scene was the Incident Commander. The IC observed fire coming from a garage door at the corner of the basement. Firefighter Daughetee arrived on the first engine. A second engine established a water supply from a fire hydrant. Firefighter Daughetee and other firefighters entered the structure with a handline and encountered zero visibility conditions. A Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) and ventilation were requested. A Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) fan was set up in the doorway through which firefighters had entered. Firefighter Daughetee was kneeling in the door with the nozzle when the floor had collapsed. Heat conditions had worsened and the floor was described as spongy. The floor below Firefighter Daughtee collapsed and Firefighter Daughetee fell into the basement. A firefighter that had been behind Firefighter Daughetee reached down into the hole but Firefighter Daughetee was unable to reach his hand. Firefighters placed an attic ladder into the hole and called to Firefighter Daughetee to climb out. By this time, Firefighter Daughetee had become disoriented and was unable to assist with his own rescue. Firefighters entered the basement and made contact with Firefighter Daughetee but were unable to retrieve him due to limited air supplies and fire conditions. The structure became unstable and firefighters were withdrawn from the building. Firefighter Daughetee’s remains were recovered by firefighters after the fire was controlled. The cause of death was listed as inhalation of smoke and toxic products of combustion. The four members of the RIT team that went in also suffered injuries. The floor assembly that collapsed was later determined to be constructed with engineered lumber. A number of firefighter fatalities have occurred in collapses involving these materials.