SUMMARY
On Feb. 4, 2007, a 27-year-old male career firefighter (the victim) and a 38-year-old male career firefighter were trapped under a canopy that collapsed off of a burning residential garage. The victim was pinned under the canopy debris, and was found not breathing while still wearing his SCBA and SCBA mask. The second firefighter received injuries requiring time off from work.
As the firefighters pulled the hoseline from the garage, the canopy, which was connected to the garage roof rafters by long metal bars, fell on both firefighters, trapping them underneath. The designated rapid intervention team (that had just arrived on scene) worked for approximately 10 minutes to extricate both firefighters. The victim and injured firefighter were sent to the local hospital by ground ambulance. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.
CAUSE OF DEATH
According to the coroners___ findings, the cause of death for the victim was asphyxiation due to entrapment under a collapsed roof.
RECOMMENDATIONS
NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should:
__ Review and follow existing standard operating procedures for structural firefighting to ensure that firefighters follow a ___two-in, two-out___ policy.
__ Ensure that an adequate number of staff members are available to immediately respond to emergency incidents.
__ Establish a collapse zone when structures become unstable.
__ Ensure that the incident commander (IC) continuously evaluates the risks vs. gains when determining whether the fire suppression operation will be offensive or defensive.
__ Ensure that the first-arriving company officer does not become involved in the firefighting effort after assuming the role of the IC.
__ Ensure that a thermal imaging camera is used during size-up.
__ Ensure that a separate incident safety officer, independent from the IC, is appointed at each structural fire.
