Firefighter Hospitalized While Fighting Cornelius House Fire

CORNELIUS, NC -- A firefighter was sent to the hospital Monday for an injury suffered while battling an intense house fire along a main Cornelius thoroughfare Monday morning. The blaze was made more difficult by “hoarding conditions inside the house,” fire officials say.

Fire crews from Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville responded to the blaze in the 21000 block of Catawba Avenue Jan. 29 after fire broke out in the attic and walls.

“During the offensive attack a Mayday was declared on the 2nd floor,” Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue said on social media. “That Firefighter was located and extricated quickly thanks to the efforts of the crews inside. The Firefighter was transported to the hospital for observation and is reported to be in stable condition.”

Three firefighters were hurt while fighting the blaze, Fox46 reported. One firefighter partially fell through the attic and got his leg caught, but was able to free himself and make his way downstairs, Cornelius Fire Captain EJ McCormick told the station. The firefighter, however, had a low air supply and was disoriented. Another firefighter was able to get him out safely and he was transported to Novant Presbyterian Huntersville.

According to the station, a woman in her 20s lives in the home and was not aware of the fire until a passing jogger banged on her door after seeing smoke and flames.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.

Photo courtesy of Huntersville Fire Department