The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has recently posted the results of their investigation of the deaths of two New York firefighters on March 7, 2002.
John "Gino" Ginocchetti, 41, was President of Manlius Professional Fire Fighters Local 3316 and a veteran firefighter/paramedic of 12 years with the Manlius Fire Department. Timothy J. "T.J." Lynch, 28, had been a career firefighter/paramedic with the Fayette Fire Department for a couple of years. He was also a volunteer with Manilus. They were killed while fighting a fire in Pompey, New York.
http://www.firehouse.com/lodd/2002/ny_mar8.html
Each investigation of this nature by NIOSH contains a thorough discussion of the incident with photos and illustrations and recommendations that might have avoided the serious results of the incident.
Full report:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200206.html
First-Floor Collapse During Residential Basement Fire Claims the Life of Two Fire Fighters (Career and Volunteer) and Injures a Career Fire Fighter Captain - New York
SUMMARY
On March 7, 2002, a 28-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (Victim #1) and a 41-year-old male career fire fighter (Victim #2) died after becoming
trapped in the basement. Victim #1 manned the nozzle while Victim #2 provided backup on the hand line as they entered the house. After entering
the structure, the floor collapsed, trapping both victims in the basement. A career fire fighter captain joining the fire fighters near the time of the
collapse was injured trying to rescue one of the fire fighters. Crew members responded immediately and attempted to rescue the victims; however, the heat
and flames overcame both victims and eliminated any rescue efforts from the garage entrance.
In fiscal year 1998, Congress recognized the need for further efforts to address the continuing national problem of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths, and funded NIOSH to undertake this effort.
The overall goal of this program is to better define the magnitude and characteristics of line-of-duty deaths and severe injuries among fire fighters, to develop recommendations for the prevention of these injuries and deaths, and to implement and disseminate prevention efforts. A five-part integrated plan, centered around the field investigation of fire fighter fatalities, is outlined below. This plan will remain flexible as results from field investigations become available.
Two other recent NIOSH investigation reports are available to the public.
Detroit Firefighter Steven Olander died February 8 from injuries received while he was operating at a hotel fire in January. Olander was a 13-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department assigned to Ladder 21, one of the busiest in the city.
http://www.firehouse.com/lodd/2002/mi_feb8.html
Full NIOSH report:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200214.html
Civilian Jumps From Fourth-Story Window of Burning Apartment Building and Strikes Career Fire Fighter - Michigan
SUMMARY
On January 10, 2002, a 39-year-old male career fire fighter (the victim) was injured from being struck by a civilian who jumped from a fourth-story window of an apartment building. The victim and two other fire fighters were raising a 35-foot extension ladder to a fourth-story window of the involved structure to rescue two trapped civilians when the incident occurred. The victim was bracing the base of the ladder when the first civilian jumped and
landed at their feet. The second civilian jumped immediately thereafter, striking a van and the victim simultaneously. The victim was knocked to the
ground but was able to continue rescuing trapped occupants and finished his shift. The victim experienced severe head, neck, and back pain from this incident and was admitted on January 26, 2002, to a hospital, where he lapsed into a coma until his death on February 7, 2002.
Christopher Kangas, an eighth-grader at Northley Junior High School and a junior fireman in Brookhaven, died early yesterday morning at Children's Hospital from multiple head traumas as a result of being struck by a 16-year-old driver while answering a fire call on his bicycle Saturday.
http://www.firehouse.com/lodd/2002/pa_may5b.html
Full NIOSH Report:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200221.html
Junior Fire Fighter Killed While Responding to Fire Alarm on His Bicycle - Pennsylvania
SUMMARY
On May 4, 2002, a 14-year-old male junior volunteer fire fighter (the victim) was fatally injured while responding to a fire alarm on his bicycle. He was on his way to the fire station and crossed a "T" intersection without stopping and was struck by an automobile.
