By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — A Cedar Falls firefighter sustained serious injuries while battling a fire at an abandoned factory.
The firefighter fell nearly two stories down an elevator shaft at the Diamond V Mills facility on July 5, resulting in serious injuries. Although the injuries are not life-threatening, the chief described the mayday call as a distressing experience, CBS2 Iowa reported.
“In my career, that’s the first mayday that has been called for somebody in a live fire structure,” Fire Chief Greg Smith said. “You hear it on the radio, it makes your heart sink. Obviously, it’s just intense focus until you know that the crews have located that individual.”
The Diamond V Mills facility was supposed to be unoccupied, but when firefighters arrived, they saw people leaving. Firefighters then searched the building to ensure no one else was inside.
The building had been labeled by the city’s code enforcement department to prohibit unauthorized entry and the individuals should not have been inside.
A second fire occurred at the facility on July 8. Smith said both fires are under investigation and that both fires were likely caused by people and not by lightning or fireworks.
