United States (Tennessee) - A firefighter is recovering at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center today after suffering a heart attack while battling a house fire Tuesday night, according to a Knoxville Fire Department spokesman. Knoxville Fire Department Capt. Robert Roche underwent stress tests on his heart after being transported by ambulance from the fire at 2225 Virginia Avenue near the Mechanicsvile area, said KFD Capt. D.J. Corcoran.

"Roche had gone to the back of the house to gain entry," Corcoran said. "He had knelt down to put his air mask on and started feeling a pain in his chest."

He said Roche, who is in his late 40s, proceeded despite the pain, entering the rental home amid dense smoke and flames. He only decided to exit later, once he was confident the fire was under control.

"He's just got a die-hard type of attitude, doesn't want to leave his guys or the public hanging," Corcoran said. "For him to say something was wrong, it had to be serious."

The fire, reported just before 9 p.m., was brought under control within a half-hour. The residents -- a mother, her 3-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son -- escaped without injury when they saw smoke.

No other injuries were reported, although there was considerable damage to the house.

KFD Assistant Chief Jim Arnold said when firefighters got to the scene "at least 50 percent of the house" was burning.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Corcoran said.

Corcoran added that injuries such as Roche's are all too common among firefighters nationally, as the adrenaline and excitement of the job can take its toll.

"A lot of times you're going from zero to 60 in a matter of seconds," he said. "The No. 1 leading cause of firefighter deaths is heart attacks."

Written by Knoxville News-Sentinel