The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is committed to reducing firefighter fatalities and injuries. As part of that effort the Safety, Health and Survival Section has developed “Rules of Engagement of Structural Firefighting” to provide guidance to individual firefighters, and incident commanders, regarding risk and safety issues when operating on the fireground. These rules are available in a poster which can be downloaded or ordered from http://fireservicebooks.com

Buffalo firefighters are better trained in how to issue a "mayday" call for help, now carry improved portable radios for operation in blinding smoke and practice more thorough tactics for fighting basement fires.

A year ago today (Aug. 24), when two firefighters perished in a Genesee Street fire, those enhancements were not in place. The deaths of Lt. Charles W. "Chip" McCarthy Jr. and Firefighter Jonathan S. Croom were a wake-up call for the city Fire Department.

The fire early on the morning of Aug. 24 started in the basement of Super Speedy Deli, which doubled as a secure warehouse for cigarette storage. By the time firefighters arrived at about 3:50 a.m., the blaze was burning fiercely, and civilians mistakenly told fire officials people were trapped inside.

Faulty electrical wiring has been mentioned as a possible cause, but a definitive ruling on what started the fire has never been issued.

Now all that's left at 1815 Genesee St., just west of Bailey Avenue, where the rambling 2 1/2-story, wood-and-brick structure once stood, is a vacant lot.

And a whole lot of hurt.

"The only thing we can do to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty is to try and get better at what we do and be there for each other," Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr. said.

There is no question, he added, that the Fire Department has made progress in becoming better prepared. In fact, the now-completed mayday training was under way prior to the fatal fire.

"We are absolutely a better department than we were then," Whitfield said. "But that does not mean another member will not get hurt. We had two guys fall off a ladder recently, and the week before that, a roof collapsed on several firefighters. Thank God nobody perished."

When McCarthy, 45, of Rescue 1, fell through a collapsed section of the deli's first floor by a rear row of coolers, other firefighters initially did not know who was screaming over the radio for help or the location.

Croom, outside the front of the deli, apparently was able to figure out that the mayday call was coming from somewhere inside the deli portion of the building and re-entered the structure as other firefighters were leaving.

Teaching 'self-rescue'

In the heavy smoke, the 34-year-old firefighter from Ladder 7 fell through the same hole as McCarthy.

The mayday training, department officials say, not only gives firefighters more direction about what to broadcast over their portable radios -- such as location, unit, name, assignment and resources needed to assist -- but teaches them how to "self-rescue and self-evacuate."

To do that, the firefighter tries to compose himself by regaining presence of mind, figure out what happened to put him in the perilous situation and remember how he entered the building.

"When you go into the structure, you have to size it up, then you have to determine a means of egress, if the environment is compromised," Whitfield said. "You need a preplan on how to exit. These are things we do normally, but we're reinforcing it on a daily basis."

In addition, the commissioner said the department is purchasing new portable radios and has retrofitted others that let firefighters know what channel the radio is set to, even when visual confirmation is impossible because of heavy smoke.

"Our radios now have an audible alert that tells you what channel you're on," the commissioner said. "Also, the dial, at the front and back, is the same first four channels. If you are trying to find one of those channels in a blind situation, you turn your dial all the way right or all the way left and you know you are on channel one. Channel one is our main channel."

Despite these changes, Dan Cunningham, president of the union representing city firefighters, said the radio enhancements fall short of what's needed.

Better communication

"Enhancing would make the radio equipment more powerful," Cunningham said. "Our alarm office can only track six radios at a scene. The equipment at the alarm office holds the last six transmissions, identifying the individuals with those six radios. What about the other 20 radios at a scene?

"If you want to enhance the system, there is technology out there that can keep track of substantially more transmissions from different radios."

Other improved technology, Cunningham added, can rapidly identify the name of a firefighter who presses his "man-down" button on the portable radio.

Whitfield, in making his case that improvements are occurring on multiple fronts, said firefighters also are receiving training in effective communications, so that the incident commander "gets good information with which to make his decisions."

An independent investigation of the fatal fire found that the incident commander had received some misinformation about the status of the basement.

The department, at the recommendation of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, also has adopted a standard operating procedure (SOP) for dealing with basement fires, which are known to be treacherous.

New tactics in place

"We now have an SOP for basement fires. It's been reviewed and tweaked. We adhere to certain tactics and strategies, not that we didn't have them, but they needed to be reinforced," Whitfield said.

At the deadly blaze, firefighters were entering the building long after the first floor had been structurally compromised. Flames were venting through a section of the flooring, and other sections were reported to be spongy. In fact, a third firefighter fell through the floor but was able to stop himself from plunging into the basement.

Another equipment improvement that will be in place by the end of the year calls for outfitting the department's more than 700 firefighters with new self-contained breathing apparatuses. The units will replace ones that are a decade old.

When the remains of McCarthy and Croom were recovered from the store's basement, their breathing units were empty. The two men had died from inhaling super-heated gases, autopsies later confirmed.

Though there was no indication something went wrong with their breathing apparatuses, Whitfield said it is time to buy new ones.

More help needed

Cunningham, president of Local 282, Professional Firefighters Association, hopes the department will adopt a routine maintenance schedule for the units, which, he claims, does not now exist.

"Currently we have Firefighter Larry Parker as our only certified repair specialist for the self-contained breathing apparatus," Cunningham said. "We did have two full-time people, but one has advanced to deputy commissioner, so when Larry is on vacation, if we have a rash of breakdowns, who is going to do the work on them?"

Another improvement made by the department, Whitfield said, requires every fire company responding to a blaze to carry a thermal-imaging camera to assist in searches of burning structures.

As for confusion and misinformation at the Aug. 24 fire scene -- it took three head counts before it was determined Croom also was missing -- the commissioner said he is looking into providing state-sponsored training courses for the department's upper command.

Whitfield disputes claims that there was any more confusion at that fire than is normal at a major fire.

What about the national institute's recommendation that incident commanders at fire scenes should have an aide or command technician to assist them in keeping track of firefighters and rapidly changing conditions?

"We have an assigned accountability officer to keep track of the whereabouts of our members at every fire," the commissioner said in countering that suggestion.

Cunningham, however, says that the accountability officer also doubles as the emergency medical service officer, coordinating first aid to injured firefighters.

"We need a full-time accountability officer. Right now he has two jobs, and he is one person with no relief," Cunningham said of the distractions the officer can face.

On overall staffing for training firefighters, Cunningham said additional dedicated training staff is needed.

"Normally we have four lieutenants on duty training, and now we have one," he said.

And while the commissioner and union president do not agree on very much, they are in solidarity when it comes to extending continued heartfelt expressions of concern to the families of Croom and McCarthy.

"Not only are those families in the department's prayers, but all who have lost someone in the line of duty," Whitfield said

An alleged drunken driver ran into a Pawtucket fire truck that was blocking traffic at the scene of a single-car crash early this morning.

The rig was positioned on the shoulder of I-95 North to protect firefighters who responded to the scene at approximately 1 a.m.

A driver -- who was suspected to be driving while drunk -- came around the corner and hit the rear right corner of the fire truck, according to Chief William J. Sisson.

The fire truck is currently in the shop but is expected to be a total loss.

Sisson said the area of the highway where the crash occurred is an S-curve and can prove difficult for drivers.

"It's a treacherous area," he said "We have numerous accidents all the time."

It had rained for a good part of the night, which is believed to have contributed to both collisions.

The man was transported to the trauma unit at Rhode Island Hospital and Sisson said he was last reported in critical condition.

The chief said that the fire truck most likely saved the lives of three of his men, the trooper and a tow truck driver who were behind it.

"It was a horrendous accident," he said. "The car almost got through. Thank God for the truck and the Jersey barrier."

A veteran Burlington firefighter died yesterday morning after he went into cardiac arrest while on duty a week earlier, according to The Burlington Free Press.


 


 

Lt. Steven N. Costello, 46, was discovered by fellow crewmembers on the floor of Station 2 at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 23. They attempted to resuscitate him before transporting him to Fletcher Allen Health Care.


 

He would re-gain his pulse, but was admitted to the intensive care unit and remained there until he died Friday morning


 

The 23-year veteran of the department leaves behind his wife and two children.


 

Chief Mike O'Neil told the newspaper that his death has been difficult for his co-workers.


 

"To respond to an emergency on one of their own, a co-worker, and do the job that they did is pretty amazing, and it is well above and beyond the call of duty for the folks who were working that night.


 

"He was a well-respected public servant. He had immense pride in his occupation; he has immense pride in his family, as well. You couldn't find a better person to deal with."


 

Funeral arrangements are still pending.

1.      Revising and updating the Rules of Engagement for Structural Fireground Operations.

 

2.      Participating on various organizational health and safety committees/work groups.

 

3.      Participating on an IAFC task force to develop recommendations for achieving an annual medical exam for all firefighters in North America.

 

4.      Planning and implementing the annual Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week.

 

5.      Developing national implementation strategies for Prince William County (VA) LODD report recommendations.

 

6.      Assisting in the selection of health and safety-related educational sessions for FRI.

 

7.      Developing partnerships with other organizations interested in firefighter safety.

 

8.      Fulfilling the health and safety goal included in the IAFC’s strategic plan.

 

9.      Assisting the IAFC in the development of policy statements related to health and safety.

 

10.  Promoting new NFPA standards for Ambulance Design Safety, Confined Space Rescue Response, Personal Protective Equipment, and Heath and Safety.  Several SHS members are currently serving on and/or leading the applicable NFPA committees.

 

11.  Working on development of a standard definition for LODD and LODI.

 

12.  Revising and updating the two-year Strategic Plan for the SHS Section.

 

 

 

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - Two Bridgeport firefighters have died in the line of duty while battling a house fire this afternoon.

Spokeswoman Elaine Ficarra of Mayor Bill Finch's office says the firefighters died Saturday afternoon while at the scene of the fire at 41 Elmwood Avenue.

The fallen firefighters have been identified as Lieutenant Steve Velezquez and second  year rookie Michel Baik.

Many people are posting their thoughts and prayers on the Bridgeport FD's Facebook page .

During a news conference Saturday night, a solemn Mayor Bill Finch said, "The other firefighters, we believe, heard two May Days and when they responded, they found the two officers who were overcome with whatever it was that overcame them. The matter is going to be investigated by the State Fire Marshal on the scene."

Deputy Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli says the two men were found unconscious on the third floor of the three-story house after the fire was extinguished. Petrucelli says they were taken to hospitals and later pronounced dead.

Fire Captain Ed McCann says three or four other firefighters were treated at Bridgeport and St. Vincent hospitals for their injuries and released.

McCann says firefighters were called to the three-story house at around 3:30 p.m. He says no residents were injured.

The Bridgeport Fire Department says they believe the fire started on the third floor.

The American Red Cross and crisis workers are working with the Bridgeport Fire Dept. to help them deal with this tragedy. As well, mutual aid support has come from every community around the Park City, including Milford, Fairfield and Westport.

Bridgeport has not lost a firefighter in the line of duty since 1999.

Firefighters with Northwest Fire/Rescue District in Arizona can consider themselves pioneers or trail blazers.

The members of IAFF Local 3572 have signed the National Seat Belt pledge.

"This is the first IAFF union to achieve 100 percent," said Burt Clark, who established the seat belt pledge in honor of a former National Fire Academy student who was killed in a fire truck crash in Texas.

Clark said he was delighted when he learned about the effort of Erik Jones, an engineer with the department near Tucson.

Jones, who delivered a framed poster-size pledge to Clark on Friday, admitted he was on a mission to gather the signatures of his fellow union brothers and sisters.

"I talked to people personally, explaining what it was and why it was important," he said.

The IAFF logo is the only fire service organization symbol not represented on the national pledge.

But, that didn't stop the veteran firefighter. He forged ahead, and he wants other unions follow his local's lead.

"This is about looking out for each other."

Jones said he feels it's only right that they took the first step for safety rather than have the department dictate it.

Clark said he believes the Arizona effort sends a powerful message to the fire service. "It shows solidarity."

When he started the mission 15 months ago, he met with his chief, Stephen (Jeff) Piechura, as well as the fire board.

"I received overwhelming support," he said adding that he gave his chief one of the large pledge posters.

While his department has not suffered a line-of-duty crash death, Jones felt it was unacceptable that firefighters are being killed or injured because they didn't buckle up.

"Many of the crashes are career-ending," Clark added.

A silhouette of two firefighters operating on Ladder 31 is depicted in the background of the pledge that the Arizona firefighters signed.

Jones also made a special trip to Amarillo to present one of the large pledge posters. "They were very happy to get it."

The National Seat Belt Pledge is named in honor of Brian Hutton, an Amarillo firefighter who was killed after being ejected from a fire truck.

Jones said while his local effort has concluded, he's not finished.

He's offered to help spread the word to other IAFF unions.

Three Idaho firefighters were injured Saturday after a fireworks display exploded while being set up on a golf course.

The most seriously injured Mountain Home firefighter suffered burns to his upper body when a shell detonated in his hand, according to the Mountain Home News.

There was no word on his condition.

The incident occurred as one of the firefighters prepared to place one of the firework shells in a launch tube on the northeast side of the golf course, police told the newspaper.

The two other firefighters also injured in the initial explosion were released after treatment at Elmore Medical Center.

The explosion caused the remaining fireworks to detonate, starting a fire that spread to a nearby ridge. City firefighters used a brush truck to quickly contained and extinguished the flames and contained the damage to an area around the blast site, the newspaper reported.

Initial reports at the scene indicate the blast and subsequent fire destroyed the city's scheduled $30,000 display.

Crews blocked off the area around the scene in case some of the remaining shells were intact.The accident marked the first time the fire department ever had an accident of this type since moving the display from Eastside Park to the golf course in the mid-1990s, a police officer told the reporter.

A team of fire investigators from Boise were dispatched to determine what caused the explosion.

Two firefighters were injured in an explosion on Thursday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Houston Fire Department officials said they were called out to a fire on Jensen Drive near the East Freeway shortly before 7 a.m.

Firefighters couldn't find a fire, so they went into investigative mode.

While checking things out, something exploded, officials said.

One firefighter suffered a broken arm and another suffered minor facial burns. Both firefighters were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and were expected to recover.

Officials have not said what exploded.

About a dozen firefighters were injured while battling a four-alarm fire on Milwaukee's south side Friday night.

The fire was first reported at 7:41 p.m. in the attic of a vacant house in the 2400 block of S. 8th St., but spread to a house to the north and quickly escalated. The vacant house was destroyed, and 12 people living in three units in the second house were displaced.

About 100 firefighters responded to the fire, along with at least 16 ladder trucks and engines and five paramedic units, according to Salvatore Santoro Jr., 4th battalion fire chief.

It was hot and sticky Friday night, with temperatures in the 80s.

Firefighters worked in rotations, fighting the blaze for 15 minutes and then taking half-hour breaks to rest and rehydrate, Santoro said.

Some of the minor injuries suffered were related to firefighters falling off water-laden equipment, he said. While the dozen firefighters were taken to local hospitals, none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening, he said.

"It was mostly bumps, bruises, scrapes and strains, but the heat certainly didn't help," Santoro said.

Besides the sweltering weather, Santoro estimated the temperature inside the burning structures was about 800 degrees.

The fire was under control by late Friday night. Water used to extinguish the flames came from as far as two blocks away, Santoro said. Smoke hung over the entire neighborhood.

Francisco Donan, 37, said his mother and 11 relatives lived in three units in the house where the fire had spread.

"They lost everything," Donan said.

Linda Lyndanicely, spokeswoman for American Red Cross, said the 12 displaced people were being helped by the Red Cross.

FIRE/EMS Stand Down: Priority Survival Notification
Confined Space and Technical Rescue

Fairfax, Va., June 1, 2010... The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) through their Safety, Health and Survival Section are urging all fire chiefs and officers to immediately issue a stand down in their departments due to two separate, but similar confined space rescue incidents that nearly took the lives of several firefighters. During a stand down, personnel are directed to postpone non-emergency tasks to focus on critical safety training.

In addition to federal, state and local laws, the IAFC Safety Health and Survival Section has identified a number of online resources for fire and emergency service leaders and personnel to use in this stand down and in their ongoing efforts to educate personnel on technical rescue operations.

"In recent weeks, incidents involving confined space rescues in both Ohio and Indiana left initial civilian victims dead and firefighters critically injured," stated Chief Billy Goldfeder, chair of the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section. "In both cases, while heroic attempts were made to save the victims, firefighters ended up becoming victims themselves."

During the stand down, chiefs are requested to have all personnel immediately review and discuss applicable departmental policies and procedures to minimize the risk to firefighters in confined space and related technical rescue incidents.

"Confined space and similar technical rescues are high-risk, but low-frequency events," said Chief Jeff Johnson, IAFC president. "The rarer the incident type, the more likely that fire and EMS personnel may be unaware of, unprepared for, or even forget proper procedures as they race to rescue a victim. I urge fire and emergency leaders to immediately take action to review the dangers and proper procedures for confined space rescue operations."

-end-

FIRE/EMS Stand Down: Priority Survival Notifications are the red alert/lookouts for major emergency safety issues that arise during the year. It is the third component of the comprehensive IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section's Fire/EMS Safety Support System.

Two people were killed in a fire early Saturday morning in East Boston, Boston fire officials said.

Seven others were injured in the fire at 64 Gove Street.

Firefighters found one man dead on the first floor of the building. A woman was rescued after suffering from cardiac arrest but she later died at a hospital.

"There were thick, black smoky conditions before we got water on the fire. The firefighters got the people out," said spokesman Steve McDonald.

Two other residents suffered burns and smoke inhalation. They were rescued from the upper floors.

Three firefighters were treated on scene for smoke inhalation. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with a shoulder injury.

11 people, including two children, were displaced because of the fire. Officials said they are staying with family and friends.

The Boston Fire Department did not immediately release the names of the victims who died in the blaze.

The IAFC along with the Safety Health and Survival Section would like to assist you in completing monthly safety briefings with Take 5 safety drills. A component of the new Fire/EMS Safety Support System, the Take 5s come with an Instructor and Student handout designed to help you deliver a short 5 minute safety message to your crew members. A new Take 5 will be posted here each month, so pass on this new program to others to help improve firefighter safety.
 

Six Edgerton firefighters were injured in a explosion during a controlled burn last night, according to The Edmonton Journal.

One man was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital, while five others were taken to the health centre in Wainwright for treatment. The extent of the firefighters' injuries was not known.

The vacant structure had been used several times by the department for training purposes, according to the report.

"This time the owner of the house asked if they wouldn't mind burning the house completely down because he wanted to get rid of it," Wainwright Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Douglas said.

He stated that crews took every precaution to the secure the house, that was set on fire at approximately 8 p.m.

"The house was fully involved for approximately 15 minutes when there was a huge explosion," he said. The force of the blast was strong enough that debris were thrown in every direction.

Douglas said there shouldn't have been any fuel in the house that would have caused an explosion. Investigators have not determined a cause and will continue their investigation today.