Firefighter dies after being trapped

UPLAND, Ind. -- A volunteer firefighter who was injured when a floor collapsed beneath him in a burning home died Friday, fire officials said.\nSidney Hall, a member of the Upland Volunteer Fire Department, became trapped in the basement of the burning house on Wednesday. Seven other firefighters suffered lesser injuries rescuing him, authorities said.\nState Fire Marshal Roger Johnson said it was difficult to take the loss.\n"It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life to be there today with the family as this moment approached and we knew the end was near," Johnson said. "My heart just went out."\nHall was taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne in critical condition after the fire.\n"Sid was a valuable member of our family and department and will be greatly missed," the Upland Fire Department said in a statement.\nHall's wife and two sons, along with members from the fire department, had been with Hall at the hospital Thursday, the department said.\nHall was an Indiana certified first-class firefighter who was trained in arson investigation, the department said. He had been part of the Upland department for about 10 years as secretary and training coordinator.\nHall worked as a maintenance worker for Taylor University from 1977 to 1997 and was working with Building Control Systems in Fort Wayne before he died. Scott Bragg, a maintenance supervisor at Taylor, said Hall was always ready to help others.\n"He would just bend over backward to help you out," Bragg said.\nThe fire was at a rural home in Grant County, about midway between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. The home belonged to Eddy Miller, a Marion firefighter. Miller was on his way to the hospital to visit Hall on Friday when he learned of his death.\n"It's definitely a terrible day for the fire departments of the county," Miller said.\nFred Sumpter, assistant chief of investigation for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said the fire started in the basement with bad wiring in a light socket near the ceiling.\nAuthorities said Hall was the first one to enter the home, which was owned by a Marion firefighter.