Into the Fire: A Father’s Day Fall, a Firefighter’s Fight Back

By Matt Sleet, Engineer – Boles Fire Protection District, Labadie, MO

A FATHER’S DAY I’LL NEVER FORGET

Every firefighter brings their past to the fireground—experiences, close calls, and the people who shaped how they show up. On Father’s Day, those memories surface harder and faster. For me, June 19, 2022, became one of the most defining days of my 23-year career.

Twenty years earlier, I lost my dad. He was a committed firefighter—humble, skilled, and respected. A photo of him hangs in my locker: he’s holding the 1997 Firefighter of the Year award after rescuing a civilian from a burning apartment. That image is more than a keepsake—it’s a benchmark. I’ve tried to earn that standard every tour.

So when I stepped into a working structure fire on Father’s Day, I wasn’t thinking sentimentally—I was thinking tactically. But when the floor dropped out from under me, what followed tested not just my training, but everything I’ve learned about teamwork, decision-making, and resilience.

THE CALL: LIGHT SMOKE, STANDARD RESPONSE

Just before 0900, tones dropped for a reported kitchen fire in a single-story residence with a walkout basement. Twenty personnel responded, spread across six apparatus, with support from a duty officer and a medic unit.

The first-arriving engine reported light smoke from the front and completed a 360. Fire was confirmed in the kitchen, with no visible basement involvement.

I arrived on the second engine. A preconnected handline was charged and advancing through the front yard. Smoke showed lightly from the Charlie side. My officer coordinated directly with the initial crew—fire attack was already assigned. Our role would be primary search.

As we masked up, I noticed the attack line had no one feeding it at the threshold. I made the call to hold my partner at the door to manage line movement. It was a basic adjustment—but it optimized our setup and eliminated a potential choke point.

SEARCHING & OPENING UP

The interior was tenable but visibility was deteriorating. I advanced on the search without a line, relying on audible cues from the stream striking walls to orient my progress.

A radio call came in:
“Fire’s in the attic—if we can pull some ceiling, we can knock it down.”

I had the only tool available. I paused the search and started opening up. One strike. Two. Three. On the fourth, the floor collapsed beneath me.

I dropped through into the basement, landing hard on my SCBA. The impact disconnected my air supply instantly. In the disorienting seconds that followed, I fumbled for my mic to declare a Mayday—only to hear it already coming over the radio:
“…ayday, basement.”

The officer and nozzleman above had seen the fall and acted immediately. While holding the line on the attic fire, they swept water periodically over the area I had just dropped through.

BASEMENT CONDITIONS & RESCUE

The basement wasn’t burning but was charged with smoke. I landed near a small 4×4 window and broke it to create an egress point. I tried to climb out, but pain in my back made it impossible to generate the strength needed.

Meanwhile, the fourth-arriving crew had just rounded the Charlie side. They spotted me at the window. Their captain moved in fast and tried to pull me through while another team forced the basement door.

Seconds later, daylight cut through the smoke. I was supported and walked out—injured, but alive.

DIAGNOSIS & RECOVERY

At the hospital, I was diagnosed with an L1 vertebra compression fracture. The attending physicians gave me a four-to-six-month recovery window and warned I might not return to full duty.

But I had every intention of coming back. Through focused rehab and daily progress, I was cleared in under four months. I returned to duty with a reinforced respect for the job and a mindset sharpened by experience.

OPERATIONAL TAKEAWAYS: WHAT YOU CAN USE TODAY

1. HOSE LINE MANAGEMENT IS MISSION-CRITICAL
– Match hoseloads to your local building stock.
– Drill full stretches with your crews regularly.
– Always assign someone to manage the door—especially early.

2. MAYDAY TRAINING MUST BE IN YOUR TOOLKIT
– Adopt and drill the WWW method:
  • Where you are
  • What happened
  • Who you are

3. CONDUCT AARs THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE INCIDENT
– Share department-wide, not just with the incident crew.

4. MENTORSHIP IS PART OF THE JOB
– Train new members intentionally. Clarify gear, tactics, expectations.

5. STAY ENGAGED WITH INJURED MEMBERS
– Regular check-ins during recovery have significant impact.

6. TAKE THE STAIRS

FINAL THOUGHTS: EXPERIENCE SHARED IS EXPERIENCE MULTIPLIED

I walked out of that fire with a broken back—but also with perspective, trust in my crew, and a renewed commitment to sharing the hard stuff.

This job is built on performance, preparation, and peer-driven learning. When something goes wrong, don’t waste it—teach it. The story you share might be the scenario someone else survives.

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Matt Sleet has dedicated 23 years to the fire service and currently serves as an Engineer with the Boles Fire Protection District in Franklin County, Missouri. Over the course of his career, he has held multiple roles, building a deep well of experience in fireground operations and technical rescue. Beyond his work at Boles FPD, Matt is a member of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Missouri Task Force 1, where he is rostered as a Hazardous Materials Specialist. He is also a Hands-On Training (H.O.T.) Instructor and a past lecture presenter with County Fire Tactics, specializing in engine company operations. With a passion for firefighter training and operational readiness, Matt remains committed to both teaching and continuous learning—bringing real-world experience and a lifelong dedication to the craft of firefighting.