Summary
On Oct. 10 2006 a 40-year-old male career firefighter was fatally injured during a residential structure fire. At 0222 hrs dispatch reported a residential two-story row-house structure fire with possible parties trapped. Battalion Chief 1 was the first on scene and assumed incident command (IC). Squad 11 (SQ11) arrived followed by Engine 41 (E41) as heavy black smoke poured out of the front of the residence. A civilian jumped from an A-side second-story window and another confused civilian was walking around on the sidewalk; both were attended to by firefighters.
Two E41 firefighters (the victim and FF 1) led a Squad-11 firefighter (FF 2) into the residence with a 1 ¾ attack line. They entered a narrow hallway and passed through a door to the foot of the stairs that led to the second floor. The E41 lieutenant entered the structure and requested the building be vented due to the heat.
At 0228 hrs Battalion Chief 2 (rear IC) arrived on scene and reported to the C-side of the structure per the request of the IC. The victim advanced to the top of the stairs when conditions became extremely hot. Shortly after hearing that the fire’s origin may be in the basement causing the crew to back out the victim feeling the intense heat ran by FF 1 and into FF 2 (from SQ11) knocking them both to the floor with the front door closing behind them and pinching the hoseline. FF 2 struggled to get his arm out of the crack of the door while FF 1 tried to get the victim off of FF 2.
Officers and firefighters outside tried to pull the firefighters out and were able to get FF 1 and FF 2 out through a partial opening of the door. The victim could not get out until the door was removed. FF 1 and FF 2 were pulled out at 0232 hrs and the victim was removed at 0235 hrs. Immediately paramedics on scene attended to the two firefighters and the victim. The victim was given CPR and transported to the hospital. FF 1 and FF 2 were transported to the hospital and treated for severe burns.
Cause of Death
The coroner listed the causes of death as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Soot was present in the victim’s airways and his heart blood carboxyhemoglobin saturation was 26 percent. Thermal injuries were present over approximately 30 percent of the victim’s body. Affected areas were the head chest hands forearms and lower back.
Recommendations
NIOSH investigators concluded that to minimize the risk of similar occurrences fire departments should:
– Ensure that thermal imaging cameras (TIC) are used during initial size-up;
– Ensure that ventilation is coordinated with the interior attack;
– Ensure that tools such as door wedges are utilized to prevent water flow and escape problems;
– Ensure that a rapid intervention crew (RIC) is on scene prior to an attack crew entering a hazardous environment; and
– Ensure that department policies and procedures are followed.
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