Florida Firefighter Training Tragedy Examined

July 25, 2004
A number of errors are highlighted in Miami-Dade County Office of Safety's report on the live-fire training exercise in which Wayne Mitchell died on Aug. 8
Errors highlighted in Miami-Dade County Office of Safety's report on the live-fire training exercise in which Wayne Mitchell died on Aug. 8:

The training scenario was too complicated for recruits going into a live-fire exercise for the first time.

The plans for the exercise were incomplete and included no safety plan.

No safety officer was designated to attend the training exercise.

The recruits were not given a walk-through before the start of the exercise.

Supervisors ignited a second fire inside the building to make it hotter.

There was no group of firefighters, known as a rapid intervention team, waiting outside to rush into the building in case of an emergency.

There was no ambulance at the scene to provide advanced life support in the event someone was injured.

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