Fire Chiefs Respond to MSNBC's PASS Alarm Investigation

MSNBC published yesterday and today a two-part investigative report covering what reporter Bill Dedman turned up after looking into claims that in recent years, firefighters have died at fires where rescuers weren't given a chance to find them quickly because of PASS alarm failure.

Part 1: Flaws found in firefighters' last line of defense

Part 1: MSNBC Interactive Media

"Tests by federal and independent labs show that some PASS alarms can fail to perform as intended if they get too hot or wet -- a serious problem for people who rush into burning buildings with water hoses. And federal investigative reports reviewed by MSNBC.com show that 15 firefighters have died since 1998 in fires where a PASS, or Personal Alert Safety System, either didn't sound or was so quiet that rescuers weren't given a chance to find the firefighter quickly."

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The second part of the report looks into the function of CDC's NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program and their investigation of firefighter deaths.

"MSNBC.com found that the CDC delays sending investigators to the scene of firefighter fatalities. Although its investigation manual calls for a site visit within three weeks, the typical or median delay is actually 33 days, according to investigative reports studied by MSNBC.com. The longest delay was 266 days, or just about nine months."

Part 2: CDC's fire investigation unit: the "No Go Team"

Following MSNBC's investigation, members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs joined the firefighters union in calling for "more vigorous investigations of firefighter fatalities," reporter Bill Dedman wrote.

The group stressed that the government should no longer delay sending investigators to firefighter fatalities, and should improve the depth of its inquiries.

Part 3: Fire chiefs call for action on firefighter deaths

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