The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the line of duty death report from Texas of a fire captain who suffered a heart attack during a house fire and died two days later.
Read the Report
Captain Suffers Heart Attack During Fire Suppression and Dies Two Days Later
On February 19, 2015, a 56-year-old male career Captain was dispatched to a house fire. At the scene, the Captain and a fire fighter, both wearing full turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), stretched a 1¾-inch hoseline to a window and sprayed water through the window’s burglar bars.
After another crew opened the burglar bars on the front door, the Captain and other fire fighters entered the house to continue fire suppression. After approximately 10 minutes, the Captain exited the house, remarking that he could not breathe and was having chest pains. After sitting on Ladder 46’s bumper, he removed his SCBA and turnout gear. When moved to a stretcher, he became unresponsive, and lost his pulse and respirations. On scene ambulance paramedics provided advanced life support (cardiac monitoring, intravenous [IV] line placement, IV medications, and rescue airway) which continued en route to the local hospital’s emergency department (ED).
The ambulance arrived at the ED at 1945 hours where an acute heart attack with complications of cardiogenic shock was confirmed. Despite 24 hours of life support, the Captain suffered irreversible anoxic brain damage.
In consultation with the family, life support was removed and the Captain died on February 21, 2015.
Key Recommendations:
- Provide annual medical evaluations to all fire fighters consistent with NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, to identify fire fighters at increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Perform symptom-limiting exercise stress tests (ESTs) on firefighters at increased risk for CHD and sudden cardiac events
- Ensure that fire fighters are cleared for duty by a physician knowledgeable about the physical demands of fire fighting, the personal protective equipment used by fire fighters, and the components of NFPA 1582
- Perform an annual physical ability evaluation
- Phase in a mandatory comprehensive wellness and fitness program for fire fighters.
