Firefighter injured stopping man from running into burning room
FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A fire captain was injured trying to stop a man from running into a burning room on Thursday morning in Forest Grove.
The fire started in the bedroom of a house around 11:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke and learned people were inside the burning home.
Firefighters made their way into the ground floor and found several people inside. Two of them were men who were trying to run up the smoke-filled stairway to extinguish the fire, according to Forest Grove Fire and Rescue spokesman David Nemeyer.
Captain Joseph Smith, a 25 year fire veteran, hurt his leg when he tried to tackle one of the men inside the stairwell, Nemeyer said.
The men were eventually taken out of the home and Smith went on fighting the fire under his own power, according to Nemeyer. He was later taken to the hospital to be evaluated by a doctor.
The fire department later tweeted that Smith was released from the hospital and possibly tore a muscle in his calf.
During the rescue, firefighters also managed to help get a wheelchair-bound woman out of the house.
Once everyone was safely out, firefighters got into the bedroom and extinguished the fire burning the bed. The heat was so intense that it melted the smoke alarms that first alerted the residents, Nemeyer said.
Investigators said the fire was ignited by a discarded cigarette that ignited the bedding. The fire then spread to the rest of the room.
Six cats were also rescued from the house.
Nemeyer said firefighters hope people learn two valuable lessons from this incident. First, he said that all cigarettes should be discarded in a safe container outside of your house. Second, he said if a fire starts you should leave the building right away and not go back in under any circumstances.
“Please let firefighters do their job and use their life-saving skills and tools,” he wrote in a news release about the fire.
I just read all the posts by RalphCramden and I'm pretty sure we would all be happy if he did go out into the woods and not come back. Â Even better if he hasn't bred yet and we can give him the Darwin Award. Â To Forest Grove Fire and Rescue, you guys are much appreciated. Â Thank you for doing the job that you do and I hope Captain Smith has a speedy recovery.
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You guys are all being trolled by a bored idiot who doesn't have a job. Â
Tackling a person in their own home?!!! That's over the top. Even if it was a stupid guy trying to play hero.
If the guy managed to get up the stairs then became incapacitated due to smoke inhalation etc... then the fire dept would have to put thier own people at risk to bring him out/save his life. I see your point, but there is more at stake than just the dumb occupants 'castle rights' in this case.
 @Jack_BauerÂ
Ok to answer this question I asked a fire chief from a major local fire agency of the Portland area. This is what he had to say.
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Firefighters can forcibly remove a person from a structure they believe to be unsafe. They are actually obligated by law to do so (individual firefighters and fire agencies can be held liable for not evacuating). Â Just like a medical professional may restrain a person who is likely to harm themselves or others, firefighters can use physical means to remove a person from a structure. Once removed they are obligated to turn that person over to either law enforcement or medical professionals but if the person poses no risk, most firefighters just leave them be.
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He was unable to cite me the code, but claims it is Oregon law and that all states he is aware of have such legislation.
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Finally, if a firefighter is harmed in the act of removing a person from a structure, that person has committed assault and can be prosecuted.
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There was a woman yesterday who tried to go back into a structure to save her cats. A firefighter was hurt when she attacked him trying to remove her. She is being charged.
 @RalphCramdenÂ
You are welcome to ask them yourself. Indeed I would say anyone who has a question of this nature to find out from real sources (some dude on a comment section isn't a very credible source). I am sure at the station they have resources that could be used to give you exact information.
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This is what I suggest, if you happen to be going by a fire station, stop by. Those guys always like to see people and show off the stuff (you bought). Ask to see a chief (there will usually be one available) and they should be able to give you something more tangible.
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You can do the same with law enforcement. If you happen by some police station, stop by and ask to see a sergeant, lieutenant, or captain and ask this or any other thing you have.
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These folks actually DO like to talk with the public.
 @Repoman He can't cite the law....suspicious to me. I know of no such law and would love to see it in writing. There may have been some laws passed recently that I am not aware of but depriving folks of their freedom is a very touchy area and only a fool would want to do that.
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The charges for illegally depriving someone of their liberty are kidnapping and false imprisonment. If a person is injured in depriving them of their liberty then assault charges can be added to the mix.
 @RalphCramden ORS 162.257 - A person commits the crime of interfering with a firefighter or emergency medical services provider if the person, knowing that another person is a firefighter or emergency medical services provider, intentionally acts in a manner that prevents, or attempts to prevent, a firefighter or emergency medical services provider from performing the lawful duties of the firefighter or emergency medical services provider. Interfering with a firefighter or emergency medical services provider is a Class A misdemeanor.
 @PMJ2kx Where does it say that a firefighter can restrain someone? I must have missed that part. Now police officers have the right to deprive a person of their liberty but even then they have to have a pretty good reason.
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An EMT or paramedic can restrain someone if they believe that person is not capable of making sound medical decisions but that has to be well documented. There have been successful lawsuits of medics restraining someone who was competent to make their own medical decisions.
 @RalphCramden " I can tell you for absolute certainly that what the firefighter did was not legal"
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[citation needed]
 @RalphCramden  EMS regulations regarding detaining a patient are different than fire regulations. True I can't detain a PT unless they are a hazard to themselves or others( ie. ETOH, Head Trauma, non emancipated minor) but when we respond to a structure fire we take possession of the fire scene until the last firefighter leaves the structure. We can and will if required forcibly remove homeowners and non firefighter (Police)
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Hey Ralph, do you know what firefighters and police officers have in common?
They both wanted to be firefighters when they grew up!Â
 @Cherylanne I was in emergency services for over 30 years. I know how the game is played.
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I don't panic over anything. I have had guns in my face, been shot at, been stabbed, had my clavicle broken taking down a meth addict, trashed my knee taking down an armed bank robber, been kicked in the face by a sweet 82 year old lady (at least she was like that at first), had people die in my arms, and told a lot of people that their loved ones didn't make it and been in more burning houses that I can count.
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No one will be restraining me in my own house unless they have the authority to do so. Firefighters do not have that authority.
 @RalphCramden If they come to my burning house and I am in a panic, running around trying to get things out of burning rooms I hope they restrain me. These same firefighters saved my life on my birthday this year. I am glad they step up and take charge in an emergency. If anything rcramden...they will restrain u and put your butt outside then go back in and put themselves in danger.
 @PMJ2kx I can tell you for absolute certainly that what the firefighter did was not legal. I was on a committee about this stuff years ago when we were considering allowing paramedics to put 72 holds on patients. All these laws were presented so all of us on the committee knew where we were starting from.
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Restricting a persons freedom of movement is a very touchy subject and most were not ready to commit to the issues involved.
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Now if the guy was going for a gun or was somehow going to hurt someone then that is legal. Protecting ones self is in the constitution and reenforced by the 2nd amendment.
 @RalphCramden Consult your attorney because I don't have the answers you're looking for - I agree that firefighters shouldn't conduct themselves as peace officers, unless they are (and are acting as such in an official and recognizable capacity), but when it comes to life and death situations, I am of the personal opinion that there was nothing wrong, nor illegal about what this firefighter did.
 @PMJ2kx A firefighter cannot restrain anyone. There is nothing in law that allows that option with a few exceptions but this was not one of them.
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Now morally, that is a different story. I doubt that a jury would convict a firefighter of false imprisonment for holding on to someone who wanted to go back into a burning building.
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There was a big lawsuit a while back where a firefighter held someone down and forced them into an ambulance. I think it was Chicago. The firefighter lost and paid out lots of money.
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Saving lives is a wonderful thing, if the person wants to be saved.
 @RalphCramden Well..."lawful duties"...don't those include saving lives? Wouldn't it go contrary to a firefighter's duty to allow someone to do something stupid enough to go back in a burning building?
 @RalphCramden He tackled him because the men were uncooperative, wouldn't let the firefighters do their job, and was seriously risking his own safety by trying to run into a very hot, burning, smokey room. It was for his own protection more than anything else.Â
 @RalphCramdenÂ
You make a good point it is law enforcement whose job it is to secure a location. If for example, there was a person with a gun, firefighters won't go and neither will EMTs until it is claimed safe.
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But in a burning building, a firefighter can and will forcibly remove you. Not sure how it works out in the legalities, but there is no question, if you refuse an order from even the least senior firefighter to leave a premise when ordered, they will use physical means to enforce that restriction. Should you pose a danger (like a weapon), then they will go get law enforcement, but without that risk, they will do it themselves.
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Like I said, such action is routine. People trying to go back and save the cat, or hamster, or family album, the occasional pot head trying to save his stash, you name it, people often see that value over their won safety.
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Think is, if they got out of the darned way that stuff would likely be saved.
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Oh hey also, if you want to tick off a firefighter, ask him how many foundations he saved today! That always goes over real good in a bar!
 @Repoman It may be routine but it is not legal. Because is happens and no one complains then it isn't an issue.
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DUII's used to be routine and cops let people sleep it off on the side of the road. That happened to me several times when I was a stupid kid. Times have changed and now they are strictly enforced...okay, they aren't enforced....bad example...but you get the idea.
 @Encore That is the job of police. Firefighters do not have the legal power to detain folks against their will.
 @Encore There will be no fire in my house. I have a sprinkler system. Ever since the laws changed that allowed the use of potable water for sprinkler systems I put one in and am working to do that to all my homes.
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I also have water flow alarms that text me and my wife in case one were to ever go off.
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It's my house and my property. You better be very clear on what you are doing and the laws if you ever show up at my house. If you choose to deprive me of my freedom be ready to defend yourself in court.
Well, if you want to go running off into the woods I won't stop you. But if your house is on fire, you sure as hell better stay out of the way of the people who need to put that fire out.Â
 @Encore Do you assume that everyone wants their life saved? I don't want to be saved and would be filing charges if someone tried to save me by tackling me.
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If I disappear in the wilderness and they send out a search party it is against my will. I tell that to everyone when I go on an extended hike so that if I don't show up they won't call anyone.
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I am DNR and like it that way. No CPR, no AED, no intubation. Just let me be.
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There was a case in California where some EMT's were transporting a patient and the patient wanted to get out of the ambulance. The medics let the guy out because it is illegal to restrain someone without a hold. The guy ended up dead (don't remember the cause of death) and family sued. The family lost because the law was very clear.
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If someone wants to ignore the laws, rules and policies that is their decision. They had better be aware of the consequences and prepared to deal with the backlash.
 @RalphCramden So we should always obey a rule simply because it's a rule and that's what it tells us to do, instead of doing what is morally right and saving someones life?Â
 @Encore And that makes it okay to illegally restrain someone?
 @RalphCramden Um, the house was on FIRE. Firefighters wear protective gear. Why would a cop be in there at that time? The dude was running into a burning room. Did you read the part about the heat being so intense that it melted the smoke alarms? He would have gotten hurt. And that's my point.Â
 @RalphCramdenÂ
Well they had to get the moron out of the way. If he wanted to save more of his home, he needed to let the firefighters work.
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Oh and it may not have been his home, he may have been a guest there.
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This actually happens quite often. The usual reason is that there is something illegal going on and the person wants to dispose of the thing before firefighters find it. It is also the thing that usually causes the fire (meth lab heat lamps and pot plants etc).