RIT Team Not Present at Pennsylvania Blaze After Cuts

Scranton's Fire Department did not have a "rapid intervention team" at the ready to rescue hurt or trapped firefighters during Monday's fire in West Scranton, fire officials said Tuesday.

The arrival of the first engine company at the blaze at 1518-1520 Swetland St. five minutes after the fire was reported also was one minute longer than the initial arrival time recommended by a fire-prevention advocacy organization, according to John Judge, president of the city's fire union, Local 60 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Layoffs and brownouts, or temporary firehouse closures due to manpower shortages, have compromised the safety of firefighters and the city, rank-and-file firefighters say.

Mayor Chris Doherty and Fire Chief Tom Davis say safety has not been compromised, and the city does not have money to hire back any laid-off firefighters. The force has been reduced due to the city's budget crunch to 100 members, which is 50 less than existed before 2011.

A rapid intervention team initially should consist of two firefighters who monitor a working structure fire and, in the event that another firefighter goes down, are responsible for his rescue, Mr. Judge said.

"Unfortunately, at the staffing levels we were at (Monday) and the magnitude of the fire, an RIT was not implemented at the start of incident and was not implemented until quite some time into the incident," said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Floryshak, the incident commander on Monday.

Use of RITs became a standard operating procedure after Capt. James Robeson died in January 2008 responding to a Hill Section fire that killed an elderly couple, Mr. Judge and Mr. Floryshak said. Mr. Robeson was electrocuted when the ladder truck bucket he was in came into contact with an overhead power line.

The RIT policy "was a great accomplishment for firefighter safety," Mr. Floryshak said. "Now that the game has changed, you tell me where I was supposed to get the folks to fill that RIT function (Monday), because I don't have an answer for that."

Chief Davis said the fire was fairly quickly declared a defensive operation, with firefighters ordered out of the structure at 9:22 a.m., 14 minutes after arrival.

"We're trying to do the best we can. You can't do more than that," Chief Davis said.

The blaze was reported at 9:03, and the first company arrived at 9:08. However, Mr. Judge notes that the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, which calls itself the world's leading advocate of fire-prevention codes, standards, research, training and education, recommends that a first company arrive within four minutes. Mr. Davis said the NFPA is a recommendation, and a fire company could not have arrived any quicker on Monday.

Asked if the city is safe in terms of fire protection, Mr. Doherty said, "Yes, it is." Chief Davis added, "We're not going to let the city burn down."

The mayor also raised the issue of the cost of firefighter benefits, saying, "If they (firefighters) were truly concerned about their safety, they would start paying for their health care, and that would allow us to bring back more men. If they want more men, they should give back and pay for their health care."

Mr. Judge replied that it was the Fire Department that offered a few years ago to contribute to their benefits, but the administration said no and took the fight to court. Last year, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the union regarding arbitration awards that officials have estimated could cost the city $20 to $30 million in back and future pay. Mr. Judge said his union still would negotiate, to lessen the financial blow to the city from the court award.

"We were always trying to negotiate, up to the day of the Supreme Court award. We always felt like we were Charlie Brown and he (the mayor) was Lucy holding the football," Mr. Judge said. "I welcome any negotiations with them for cost savings. Tell the mayor to name the place and time."

McClatchy-Tribune News Service