A Fresno, California firefighter is in critical condition after the roof of a burning home collapsed underneath him, causing him to fall inside.
Firefighters were working to put out the blaze at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at a home on Cortland and Del Mar Avenues. The firefighter was walking on the roof of the home trying to put out a fire in the garage when it gave out. Witnesses screamed in horror and the moment was caught on cellphone by Sooji Lee.
"I almost had an anxiety attack because we didn't know what was going to happen. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it," Lee tells
[ ABC30 ]
.
The man is a 25-year veteran of the force.
He underwent surgery and is recovering in the burn unit at a local hospital.
"I believe his
, around his face. He did have his mask intact. There were some other burns on his back, around his legs, so they're pretty much in all areas of his body," said Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis.
One witness who used an ax to try and free the firefighter trapped inside the garage
[ says he was stuck for up to 3 minutes ]
before they could free him.
WATCH VIDEO
[ HERE. ]