In 2001, the U.S. fire service lost 442 firefighters, most of them from the terror attack at the World Trade Center. As I've said time and time again, we must learn from the past to keep our firefighters safe while they perform our mission to save life and protect property. That life also means us, the fire service.
Recently, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced that 102 firefighters died while on duty in the United States in 2002. The severe wildfire season of 2002 led to a number of wildland firefighter deaths. Last year, 20 firefighters died in wildland firefighting incidents. Most of the firefighter fatalities related to wildland fires occurred in California and Colorado, where the fire season was especially severe.
During the months of June, July and August, 17 firefighters died in eight wildland fire incidents. Six of those deaths were the result of three wildland firefighting aircraft crashes. Two central New York firefighters were killed when they became trapped in the basement of a burning house; two St. Louis firefighters died when they were trapped in the interior of a burning business; three New Jersey firefighters were killed when a burning residential structure collapsed as they searched the building for victims; and three Oregon firefighters were killed when they became trapped in the interior of a burning business after a structural collapse. Two Florida firefighters were killed during a training exercise in July.
There were 77 single-firefighter fatality incidents. Fifteen firefighters died as they responded to or returned from emergencies; many of those deaths involved vehicle collisions. Twelve deaths occurred during training. Six firefighters died in separate incidents when they were struck by passing vehicles while working near roadways. Three of those firefighters were killed as they assisted on the scenes of motor vehicle crashes, one died at a vehicle fire, one on the scene of a wildland fire and one during training. Heart attacks continue to be a leading cause of firefighter deaths, killing 31 firefighters in 2002. Those 31 deaths represent almost one-third of the 2002 total.
As the above statistics show, trouble can occur at any time on the fireground. Many firefighters get into trouble right in the beginning of an incident. It seems like more and more departments are realizing the importance of rapid intervention teams. These teams are now training realistically and practicing this vital aspect of saving our own.
Phoenix found out that one team may not be enough when dealing with a large structure or difficult conditions. Remember, the time to call for a rapid intervention team (RIT) is upon receipt of a working fire, not 10, 20 or 30 minutes later. If you are the person making the request for a RIT, consider how you would feel if you yourself were trapped. Wouldn't you want to have a team standing by on the scene, ready to come to your aid immediately?
To illustrate this important point, on page 70 we present a story on a Los Angeles County fire where rapid intervention teams were needed to rescue a fire captain. The team standing by on the scene assisted in saving the captain's life.
Speaking about additional lessons learned, following this month's installment of Close Calls, we present a special look at the Mary Pang fire in Seattle, at which four firefighters were killed. Seattle firefighter Paul Andrews recalls his 115th shift on the job when he responded second due with his engine company to a fire that would change many lives forever. Eight years later, Andrews helps himself and other firefighters by sharing the lessons learned at this tragic incident to any firefighters who will listen. Firefighter Andrews sums it up saying, "I hope none of you have to experience anything like this."
Many of the writers in this issue will present programs at the Firehouse World Show in San Diego, CA, Feb. 18-20. To better educate the fire service, three programs on operating in the street will be presented at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, MD, July 24-26: Safe Parking - Avoiding Firefighter Fatalities on Highways; Operation Safe Passage - Preventing Apparatus Intersection Accidents; and Life (or Death) in the Fast Lane. We have to reduce these deaths and injuries while operating on or near roads and highways.
