Communication Procedures Reviewed in Mississippi Close Call

JACKSON, Miss. --

When the call comes in, Jackson firefighters respond.

But does a standard communication procedure put firefighters in danger? That's what the Jackson Fire Department is trying to find out through an internal review.

JFD Chief Investigator Gregory Travis is taking part in the review, which was sparked by a fire last month at the abandoned McDowell Road Baptist Church.

Firefighter Richard Taylor suffered third degree burns doing a search of the building. He said he became disoriented and passed out all alone in the burning building.

"I just heard the crackling of the fire and I could see an orange glow in the distance," Taylor said.

Taylor was eventually rescued by a fellow firefighter.

"One of the things we're trying to make certain is that all the proper standard operating procedures were followed," Travis said.

Part of that procedure is that no firefighter should enter a burning building alone. At the time Taylor was injured, he was the only person in the building. JFD is looking into the possibility that Taylor didn't have a walkie-talkie which may have put him in danger.

Department policy states that only a captain should have a walkie-talkie when entering a building and his fellow team members then follow his lead.

"If he needs any type of additional equipment or call or action to be taken, he uses his resources and equipment," Travis said.

The practice is well within National Fire Protection Association protocol, which is the standard followed by fire departments nationwide. The policy states that firefighters operate in crews of two or more at a scene; with one required to have a portable radio. The rest should be equipped with a radio or other electronic communication device.

All Jackson firefighters are equipped with a Personal Alert Safety System that's used when a firefighter gets in danger.

The Ridgeland Fire Department follows the same guidelines, but it has equipped each of its firefighters with walkie-talkies, but only a group leader is to use them during emergency situations.

"We found that with lots of people talking over each other, a lot of communication is lost because of too much traffic," Deputy Chief Kendall Golden of the Ridgeland Fire Department said.

JFD officials said that there are no immediate plans to purchase walkie-talkies for every firefighter, because at a cost of about $5,000 dollars each, it's not feasible right now.

But the department acknowledged that if its internal review finds a walkie-talkie could have helped Taylor, the policy could change.

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