Firefighter Sustains Burns, Injuries in Fair Oaks House Fire

Sacramento Metro firefighter, Jeff Wells, 45, was in the process of performing a routine procedure during a two-alarm fire when life suddenly became anything but routine.

The 21-year Metro veteran was ventilating a portion of the burning 6736 Ellsworth Ct. home's roof when the footing underneath disappeared and Wells found himself right in the thick of the burn.

"We arrived at about 8:05 a.m. and found ourselves in a well-involved garage fire," Sac Metro Fire spokesman, Scott Cockrum said. "One of our guys cut the hole - he was up there with his captain - and he took a couple steps and fell through."

Cockrum explained when Well's captain noticed he was missing, he called out for a mayday, which in turn activated Sac Metro's Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC).

"They were able to locate him within a couple of minutes," Cockrum said.

Right now it appears Wells has sustained injuries to his neck, back, knee and some minor burns to his neck and hands, Cockrum said. Wells is being treated at UC Davis Medical Center.

"Right now, the last word I had was that it appears as if he doesn't have any significant, long-lasting injuries and I'm getting ready to go down there (UC Davis Med Center) to verify that and check in on him," Cockrum said.

Firefighters have to be more careful with garage fires because flames can reach the wood faster than in other parts of homes, which are protected by sheetrock, Cockrum said.

"We have a team that will investigate that emergency and we have fire investigators that will investigate the fire origin," Cockrum said.

Investigations are ongoing and no definitive cause has been proven, though foul play isn't being considered at this point.

"The family was home," Cockrum said. "We're leaning more toward an accidental fire."

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