Executive Summary
- A bathtub fell through the second floor of a Columbus duplex during a fire, pinning a firefighter.
- A mayday call was issued, and the firefighter was rescued uninjured by colleagues.
- The building was under renovation, which contributed to the structural instability.
- Investigators, assisted by an arson dog, are working to determine the cause of the fire.
A Franklin Township Fire captain narrowly escaped serious injury early Saturday morning when a bathtub collapsed through the second floor of a duplex in Columbus, Ohio, pinning him beneath the debris during an active fire response.
The incident occurred in the 900 block of South Racine Avenue in the Hilltop neighborhood. According to reports from the scene, the structure was undergoing renovation at the time of the blaze. As firefighters navigated the building, the floor gave way, causing a bathtub to fall and trap Captain Matt Bocock.
Lt. Pierce, a fellow firefighter on the scene, immediately issued a “mayday” distress call. Pierce and other crew members quickly lifted the heavy fixture off Bocock. “In the moment, it’s pretty scary,” Bocock told WSYX, expressing gratitude for the rapid response of his colleagues. Pierce attributed the successful rescue to the extensive training and resources available in Central Ohio, noting that help is immediately available when a mayday is called.
Despite the structural collapse, Captain Bocock was evaluated by paramedics and found to be uninjured. He refused further medical treatment and returned to fighting the fire. The blaze caused significant damage to the unit under renovation, while the adjoining unit sustained minor smoke and fire damage.
Operational Safety and Investigation
This incident underscores the unpredictable hazards first responders face when engaging fires in structures under renovation, where structural integrity may be frequently compromised. The presence of an arson detection canine at the scene indicates that investigators are rigorously examining the cause of the blaze to rule out foul play or negligence. As the investigation proceeds, fire officials will likely focus on determining the origin of the fire and assessing whether the renovation work contributed to the rapid spread and structural failure.
