A Medina firefighter was briefly trapped when part of a second-floor ceiling collapsed, prompting a Mayday call and rapid rescue

By Cory Shaffer
cleveland.com

MEDINA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Medina firefighter was briefly trapped Tuesday evening after part of a second-floor ceiling collapsed during a house fire in Medina Township, according to the Medina Fire Department.

Firefighters rushed at 4:52 p.m. to a report of a residential structure fire. They arrived to find heavy flames in the garage that had already spread into the attic and interior of the home, the department said.

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Firefighters attacked the fire with a 2.5-inch hose from the outside while another crew entered the home to search for people and battle the fire inside.

Crews from Brunswick Hills and the City of Brunswick later assisted at the scene.

Inside the home, a large section of drywall ceiling from the second floor collapsed onto a firefighter, briefly trapping him at the bottom of a stairway, according to the department.

A Brunswick Hills firefighter nearby issued a Mayday call over the radio, and crews were able to quickly remove the trapped firefighter from the home and transfer him to an ambulance.

The firefighter was taken to Medina Hospital, where he was evaluated and released later Tuesday evening. The department said he is recovering at home and doing well.

One occupant of the home also suffered minor burn injuries and was transported to the hospital before later being released.

The cause of the fire was not immediately released.

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