In most cases, rapid intervention teams assembled outside of structure fires have little more to do than watch as crews fight the flames.
But when a Dickson City firefighter fell through the first floor of 1140 Frieda St. on Wednesday as flames ripped around her, Olyphant Firefighter Jerry Tully and Dickson City Firefighter Frank Mazur knew what they had to do.
"That's your job, to go in there, and you'd better get them out," Mr. Tully, 29, said.
At any fire, a rapid intervention team tasked with rescuing injured firefighters is established by the chief in command and, in most Dickson City cases, Olyphant firefighters are selected, said Dickson City Fire Chief Joseph Chowanec Jr.
The Dickson City firefighter had just walked through the home's front door when the flame-scorched floor fell from underneath her, leaving her wedged between intact floor boards and a joist holding up the home's first level, the fire growing around her.
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Another Dickson City firefighter had narrowly avoided the fall, but Mr. Tully and Mr. Mazur had to pull the female firefighter by her coat's collar until they could reach under her oxygen pack to yank her out completely.
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