Combined efforts save life in Jackson home fire
FROM THE JACKSON FIRE DEPARTMENT 1/5/26:
“The System Worked”: Occupant actions, 911 Dispatchers and Aggressive Rescue Tactics combined to Save Life at North Hays Avenue Fire
JACKSON, TN – A collaborative effort between a trapped occupant, 911 dispatchers, and Jackson Fire Department (JFD) crews resulted in a successful rescue during a structure fire on January 2, 2026. The incident serves as a critical example of how the Jackson Fire Department’s new initiative Project ESCAPE framework is essential to saving lives. Emphasizing that “Every Second Counts”—can mean the difference between life and death in the modern fire environment.
At approximately 5:19 p.m., JFD units were dispatched to 441 North Hays Avenue for a residential structure fire. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions originating from the first floor of the two-story home. While the father of the victim was able to self-extricate, a second occupant remained trapped on the second floor as fire conditions rapidly deteriorated.
The “System” in Action – The survival of the victim is attributed to the seamless execution of three critical components: occupant action, dispatcher coordination, and aggressive firefighter search tactics.
1. Occupant Action: Isolation – The occupants of the home were alerted to the fire by smoke alarms. The upstairs occupant was alerted but realized escape was impossible due to the rapid spread of smoke and heat. The occupant retreated to a second-floor closet and sheltered-in-place inside a closet and behind a closed door. This decision was vital to his survival. According to national data, a closed door can reduce room temperatures from over 1,000°F to 100°F and significantly lower toxic gas levels. Statistics show that when a victim is located behind a closed door, the survival rate jumps to 83.58%, compared to just 60% when the door is left open.
2. Dispatch: The First Link – The trapped occupant called 911 immediately. Dispatchers remained on the line, keeping the victim calm and obtaining granular details regarding his specific location. This allowed dispatch to relay precise information to arriving crews, eliminating guesswork during the critical search and rescue phase of the operation.
3. Operations: Aggressive Search – Despite zero visibility and extreme heat, JFD crews initiated an aggressive interior search simultaneous with fire attack. Firefighters fought their way to the second floor, while other crews entered via a second-floor window. According to incident narratives, crews located the victim in a bedroom closet. Firefighter Zabriskie initially located the victim in the closet, he continued to isolate the victim in the closet, shielding them from the heat. Upon hearing Firefighter Zabriskie’s radio transmission of the victim location, all firefighters on the second floor converged and assisted in removing the victim from the residence.
Outcome and Recovery – Upon being removed from the structure, the victim was transferred to awaiting Paramedics. He was transported to Jackson Madison County General Hospital and subsequently transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. As of this morning he is awake, alert and sent a short video to the department thanking them for their actions.
The victim’s father, who self-extricated, was also hospitalized due to complications from both the fire and a recent kidney transplant. Both men are improving and expected to make a full recovery.
In a poignant turn of events, one of the apparatus drivers that responded to the scene, Derrick Fuller (Engine 52), is the uncle of the rescued victim. Driver Fuller was immediately relieved from his duty so that he could help support and comfort his family.
A Warning on Modern Fire Behavior This incident highlights the urgency of the modern fire environment. Partially due to synthetic building materials, the average escape window has shrunk from 17 minutes in 1980 to less than four minutes today.
“The system worked because everyone played their part,” stated Fire Chief Don Friddle. “The occupant knew to isolate himself behind a closed door, dispatch provided a lifeline, and our crews executed a high-risk search without hesitation. I am extremely proud of everyone involved; this is the type of call we prepare for but hope never happens. This incident is the essence of Jackson Fire’s new initiative, Project ESCAPE: Every, Second, Counts, Action, Purpose, and Efficiency saving lives.”
The Jackson Fire Department reminds all residents to install working smoke alarms, close interior doors when sleeping and to call 911 immediately if they become trapped. If you would like know more about preventing and surviving home fires, please reach out to the Jackson Fire Department (731)-425-8350 or visit Jackson Fire’s website @ jacksontnfire.com
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