Firefighter Trapped in Limited Access Area

The Denver Drill is based on the 1992 death of Engineer Mark Langvardt of the Denver Fire Department in Colorado. While working a commercial structure fire, Langvardt reportedly became separated from his crew when a floor collapsed, trapping him in a small storage room on the second floor. The room measured approximately six by eleven feet, but cabinets and equipment along the walls reduced the room to an aisle only twenty-eight inches wide.

Firefighter Enters Through Window Climbing Over Down Firefighter

At the end of the aisle was an exterior window with a drop of 42 inches from sill to floor. Firefighters entering through the window had to crawl over Langvardt, who lay face down with his head against the wall below the window. There was only room for one rescuer to attempt lifting the victim to the windowsill and this, after multiple efforts, proved impossible. Firefighters recovered Langvardt nearly an hour later after breaching a wall to remove him, but the rescue came too late to save Langvardt’s life.

The Rescue Begins

The Denver Drill was designed in response to this tragedy and is taught in fire schools throughout the United States. One rescuer positions himself behind the downed firefighter and acts as a ramp in order to ease the removal of the injured firefighter from the window.

The 2nd Rescuer Enters

A second rescuer enters the room in the same manner as the first (head first through the window and over the injured firefighter) to assist with the removal of the injured firefighter through the window. This is a joint effort between the two rescuers and requires much coordination and training to effectively perform this live saving technique.

The Firefighter is Removed

Once the coordinated effort on the interior of the structure is complete, additional rescuers are positioned outside of the window to assist in the complete removal of the injured firefighter. This scenario alone proves how vital the proper number of personnel are at an emergency operation.