Firefighter Survives Fireball

A Menlo Park firefighter is healing today, after being enveloped in fire while battling a blaze.

On May 30, neighbors reported seeing “gray smoke” coming from the house at 1058 Oakland Avenue at about 6:40 p.m. 20 firefighters arrived within four minutes. 

The origin of the fire was hard to find, said Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman, as the home had been recently remodeled. Firefighters discovered flames in the attic and began to work their way toward them.

One of firefighters started to cut a hole in the roof with a chainsaw to let some of the hot air out of the home, when the winds shifted.

Firefighters frequently cut holes to alleviate smoke conditions, but typically try to avoid being over areas where active fire is directly underneath them since it compromises structural stability, Schapelhouman said. 

It is unclear what actually stoked the flames, but they grew so fast that the firefighter did not have time to get away. As he stood bent over the roof with his chainsaw, he was engulfed in flames. 

The Fire Protection District is not releasing the name of the firefighter to protect his privacy. He is expected to be okay after he heals. 

The fire caused an estimated $500,000 worth of damages, investigators said. The house is now uninhabitable. 

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