Mesa firefighters have narrow escape after barbecue fire spirals out of control

Mesa, Arizona: Several firefighters are recovering after a harrowing experience during a house fire on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred near Greenfield and University, where fire crews were inside a home when the roof partially collapsed, trapping them inside.

The fire, which started as a barbecue, quickly escalated when a woman, who was grilling in her backyard, left the patio unattended for a brief moment. Upon her return, she found the entire patio engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived promptly and managed to extinguish the initial barbecue fire, but not before the flames had spread into the home's attic.

Ten firefighters were inside the house, working to contain the fire when the unexpected occurred. "We poked a hole in the ceiling. We applied a lot of water. It didn’t seem like we were making any progress," one of the firefighters told 12News. It was at that moment that the roof collapsed, trapping the firefighters and injuring at least three of them.

Faced with high heat and low visibility, the firefighters quickly realized they had to evacuate. "We made the decision that we had to get out. I got my firefighters out, and then I followed behind them," the firefighter added. Fortunately, all of the firefighters made it out alive.

As the fire intensified, the operation shifted from an offensive to a defensive attack. Neighbors watched as the roof, which had been intact when they arrived, collapsed under the intense flames. Adding to the difficulty of the situation, the firefighters also had to contend with an excessive heat warning. Crews were rotated every 20 minutes to cool off and check their vitals.

In the midst of the chaos, the woman who lived in the home and her dog managed to escape without injuries. However, the house is now considered a total loss. While the fire's origin was traced to the backyard, investigators will conduct a thorough examination to determine the exact cause of the blaze.