Philadelphia firefighter Lt Matt LeTourneau (pictured) and the man he was trying to rescue from a house fire have died after the interior of the home collapsed on Saturday morning, pinning them under debris
A Philadelphia firefighter and the man he was trying to rescue from a house fire have died after the interior of the home collapsed on Saturday morning, pinning them under debris.
Lt Matt LeTourneau was trapped for 30 minutes until firefighters were able to remove him, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said at a news conference later that day.
LeTourneau, 42, was taken to Temple Univeristy Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 11am
The resident of the home was found dead in the building and two firefighters were injured.
The fire broke out around 8.30am on the 2200 block of N Colorado Street, although the cause remains unknown. The blaze was reported at 8.51am and firefighters arrived three minutes later.
Approximately 100 emergency crew members, including LeTourneau, responded to the fire. He was injured when part of the house’s structure collapsed.
LeTourneau, 42 (left and right) was trapped for 30 minutes until firefighters were able to remove him. He was taken to Temple Univeristy Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 11am
The fire broke out around 8.30am on the 2200 block of N Colorado Street (pictured), although the cause remains unknown. The blaze was reported at 8.51am and firefighters arrived three minutes later
‘All of the men and women of the Philadelphia Fire Department are heroes,’ Thiel said
From the day they take the oath to this city, they are heroes. Among those heroes, there are the pantheon of men and women who have made ultimate sacrifice. Today, tragically Lt Matt LeTourneau joins that host of heroes. And our hearts are breaking.’
The department did not immediately identify the civilian who was killed.
Residents said they didn’t know the man’s full name, but he was called Andre and believed to be in his 50s living alone.
His next door neighbor, Sherel Smith, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she saw him around 2am Saturday carrying a box containing a heater. He said thathe didn’t have heat in his house to face the bitter cold.
‘He said he was going to turn on his heater and stay in the house,’ said Smith told the newspaper.
LeTourneau (left on the far left, and right) was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department and he was promoted to lieutenant in 2015. He received a unit citation in 2010 and a letter of commendation for his service during the World Meeting of Families in 2015
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney issued an statement saying all City of Philadelphia flags will be flown at half-staff for 30 days. Funeral arrangements for LeTourneau have not yet been announced
Another person from a neighboring home was taken to Temple University Hospital and was listed in critical condition. A name and further details about injuries were not disclosed.
LeTourneau was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department and he was promoted to lieutenant in 2015.
He received a unit citation in 2010 and a letter of commendation for his service during the World Meeting of Families in 2015.
He lived in Springfield and is survived by his mother, other relatives and friends. He had no children
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney issued a statement saying all City of Philadelphia flags will be flown at half-staff for 30 days. Funeral arrangements for LeTourneau have not yet been announced.
The last Philadelphia firefighter killed in action was Lt Joyce Craig, who was fatally injured in December 2014 while battling a wind-whipped house fire.