Firefighters in new fire boats may have unnecessarily been put in danger while fighting a massive railroad trestle fire in Sacramento last week, officials said.
Until a safety protocol can be created, the two boats will not be used.
In addition, a 911 recording reveals initial confusion about the location of the fire.
Immediately after the Thursday blaze, fire commanders credited crews on the boats for saving a railroad bridge that spans the American River.
The boats sprayed water from the American River on the bridge and the burning wooden trestle.
But Ed Vasquez of Sacramento Fire Department said use of the boats has been suspended for now out of concern for crew safety.
Vasquez said the boats do not have oxygen masks and tanks on board and firefighters at the scene were exposed to potentially harmful smoke.
In addition, Vasquez said it is impossible for firefighters to properly wear life jackets when wearing all of the necessary safety gear.
Plus, on the evening of the fire, the starter on one of the boats failed. The other boat's water pump failed.
Vasquez said the current method for fueling the boats is hazardous. The fuel is stored in cans, which Vasquez said could spill and create more problems for crews.
Fire commanders are now working to create standard operating guidelines to get the problems addressed.
Officials estimate it will take at least three weeks to get the boats back on the water for use by firefighters.
The head of the firefighters' union said the changes must be made to ensure safety.
While the boats will not be used to fight fires, police will still use them for patrols.
Before the fire boats were called into action, dispatchers had trouble pinpointing the exact location of the blaze and what was actually burning.
Dispatchers received the first call reporting smoke north of the railroad bridge at 5:41 p.m.
The dispatcher asked if the caller was referring to the area of Ethan Way, located to the east of the actual fire.
The caller said he was on the Capital City Freeway and could see flames, but was not sure where the fire was burning.
The dispatcher said someone would be sent to check out the blaze and asked about the color of the smoke.
The caller, who claimed to be a former firefighter, said the smoke was darker than would normally be expected for a grass fire.
Another caller reported the fire as well. Dispatchers continued to work to pinpoint the fire's location and source.
A dispatcher asked if the fire was closer to Cal Expo, near the horse racing track.
Then City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy called in, adding that the blaze appeared to be in the Woodlake area.
The first engine arrived four minutes after the first 911 call. The crew reported that the fire was burning on about 200 feet of trestle.
Engine 19 was clearing a medical call on Ethan Way when dispatchers sent the crew to the fire. Crew members saw the smoke and just followed it, finding the blaze on their own.
Engine 19 was on its own until about six minutes later when a captain said a Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District engine arrived to help. Two more Metro engines followed within the next 10 minutes.
Access to the fire was difficult. A lack of hydrants nearby also posed a problem.
Crews ended up having to run hundreds of feet of hose to start pumping water on the blaze.
Since the fire, Union Pacific efforts to remove debris and replace the trestle have been continuing around the clock.
Pile driving has continued and more heavy equipment arrived on Tuesday. .
The goal, officials said, is to open one of the new trestle tracks by April 1. All work is set to be done by the end of May.
Officials said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Union Pacific has increased the reward for information to $10,000.
Previous Stories:
- March 20, 2007: Trail Advocates See Opportunity As UP Rebuilds Trestle
- March 19, 2007: Trestle Replacement Work Continues
- March 18, 2007: Crews Get Quick Start On Train Trestle Reconstruction
- March 16, 2007: Sacramento Trestle Fire Called Suspicious
- March 15, 2007: Massive Fire Burns Sacramento Rail Trestle
