Firehouse.Com News
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has
released two new reports. The first report details results from the
investigation of a March 3, 2000, Michigan apartment building fire that
claimed the life of volunteer firefighter David Sutton, 27, and seriously
injured firefighter Robert Kokko. The second report summarizes the October
29, 2000, townhouse fire that seriously injured assistant fire chief Kevin
Eichinger and resulted in minor injuries for firefighters Abel Schall and
Ray Johnson Jr.
Report F2000-16
On March 3, 2000, firefighter David Sutton died and firefighter Robert Kokko
was injured attempting to rescue an elderly woman in a Michigan apartment
building fire. Sutton entered the burning apartment building with Kokko to
rescue a woman trapped in her upstairs apartment. They were carrying the
woman to the back entrance of the apartment when they were met with extreme
heat and fire. The two firefighters decided to abort the rescue attempt.
The two firefighters tried to exit (without the woman) through a bathroom
window. They were unable to escape through the window because no ladder was
available on the scene. Sutton was found and pronounced dead at a nearby
hospital. Kokko suffered from smoke inhalation and third-degree burns on
30% of his upper body.
NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar
occurrences, fire departments should:
- establish and implement an Incident Command System (ICS) with written standard operating procedures for all fire fighters
- ensure that accountability for all personnel at the fire scene is
maintained
- ensure that fire fighters who enter hazardous areas-e.g., burning or
suspected unsafe structures-are equipped with two-way communications with
incident command
- ensure that fire fighters preplan an escape route when entering a
hazardous environment
- ensure that adequate fire control forces and fire suppression equipment
are on the scene and available for deployment for fire control activities
- ensure that Rapid Intervention Teams are established and in position
- consider providing fire fighters with a Personal Alert Safety System
(PASS) integrated into their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Report F2000-43
On October 29, 2000, assistant chief Kevin Eichinger and firefighters Abel
Schall and Ray Johnson Jr. responded to a Delaware townhouse fire. The
firefighters entered the house and began attacking the fire in the back
bedroom. Eichinger leaned out the bedroom window to attack a fire on the
outside of the building at the top of the chimney. He noticed fire coming
from the window below him and proceeded to the bedroom door. Eichinger
yelled for Schall and Johnson to exit the house, and they descended the
stairs on their knees. Eichinger got to his feet at the bottom of the
stairs and believed he was outside due to cooler air temperatures. Upon
removing his facepiece, helmet, and hood, he realized that he was still
inside the house. He used his helmet to break a window and began climbing
out. He was taken to a level 1 trauma center before being life-flighted to
the regional burn center. Schall and Johnson were transported to the
hospital and treated for injuries.
NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar
occurrences, fire departments should:
- ensure that the department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are
followed and refresher training is provided
- ensure that fire fighting teams check each other’s personal protective
equipment (PPE) for complete donning
- ensure that a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) stands by with equipment,
ready to provide assistance or rescue
- ensure that the Incident Commander conducts a complete size-up of the
incident and continually evaluates the risk versus gain during operations at
an incident
- ensure that fire fighters report conditions and hazards encountered to
their team leader or Incident Commander
- ensure that team continuity is maintained
- ensure that a separate Incident Safety Officer (ISO), independent from the
Incident Commander, is appointed
- ensure that the assignment of a tactical channel is established by Central
Dispatch prior to personnel entering a hazardous environment
- consider providing fire fighters with a Personal Alert Safety System
(PASS) integrated into their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
- ensure that ventilation is closely coordinated with the fire attack
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