BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Two Glynn County firefighters are recovering after a close call inside a burning house over the weekend.
Extreme conditions trapped firefighters William Spooner, 34, and Nathan Desrosiers, 22, as they were searching a burning house for victims, according to Glynn County Fire Chief Vincent DiCristofalo.
DiCristofalo said the firefighters suffered second-degree burns on their ears, necks, shoulders, arms and hands, but were discharged from the hospital Saturday night. Now, they are beginning treatment and recovering before returning to full duty.
Neighbors are thanking the firefighters who do such a dangerous job.
A neighbor said he watched flames reach the treetops, meaning the flames were about double the size of the home, on Fifth Street in Brunswick.
“The way those flames were going up, I just know the whole house was gone,” said Melvin Lewis Jr., a neighbor in the area.
DiCristofalo said a possible flashover occurred when Spooner and Desrosiers were inside the home, trapping them. He explains a flashover is when a room suddenly bursts into flames due to extreme heat. Flashovers are considered extremely dangerous.
DiCristofalo said no one was home during the fire and the family that lived there was out of the area. Children’s toys remained in the front yard on Monday.
“They got a job that I don’t think too many people want, but somebody has to do it,” said Lewis about the firefighters. “And it’s a dangerous job.”
For Lewis, seeing what’s left of the home he’s lived by for about 40 years makes him appreciate the people who do such a dangerous job every day.
“We need those people in place because we never know when something like this could happen," said Lewis.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.