Captain Pete Dern’s Crew Battles Rooftop Fire

Firefighters are resting after climbing on the roof of a home in South Fresno to put out a fire. Some of the firefighters worked alongside Captain Pete Dern when he was severely injured. He’s still recovering from his injuries after falling through a roof at a house fire last month.

during Tuesday’s fire crews spent most of their time on the roof ripping out shingles and mopping-up hot spots in the attic.

Fresno firefighters worked 289 structure fires last year and after a busy day Tuesday they’ve already worked 90 since the beginning of the year.

Firefighters say what happened to Captain Dern is still fresh in their minds, but working the roof of a structure fire is an important part of the job.

Fresno firefighters say the purpose of climbing up on the top of a burning building or home is to create a vent for fire and smoke to escape.

"If we don’t create that chimney that hole, that chimney, that fire and that smoke is going to continue to burn in that home and it is just going to continue working down onto the

firefighters that are working inside," said Pete Martinez of the Fresno Fire Department.

Sticking with their fire fighting strategy the Fresno Fire Department says at nearly every structure fire they try to get a crew on the roof.

They believe the decision to embrace this dangerous task is something Captain Dern is proud of.

"Everyday we’re thinking about pete and so for us to continue to do our job it’s just doing what Pete would want us to do anyway," said Martinez.

The Fresno Fire Department says the decision to go on the roof is a team effort. It says if anyone of the fire crew believes it’s not safe they have an obligation to speak up.