WASHINGTON — Crew integrity and inadequate fireground communications were key contributing factors in the death of a Massachusetts firefighter, NIOSH investigators found.
Firefighter James Rice, of the Peabody Fire Department, died Dec. 23, 2011, while battling a three-alarm fire at a multi-unit building. The 42-year-old entered the fire apartment while the responding lieutenant went to a different apartment, losing contact with Rice, according to the report.
The lieutenant entered the fire apartment, attempted to knock down the fire, but the apartment flashed. At this time, the location of the victim was unknown. The lieutenant returned to the fire apartment with a thermal imaging camera but the image was featureless due to the amount of heat and fire.
Several firefighters stated they heard a personal alert safety system alarm sounding but were unable to determine the location. Another engine company entered the fire apartment, located the victim, and removed him with the help of two other firefighters. Despite receiving CPR and advanced life support outside the structure, in the ambulance, and in the local hospital’s emergency room, Firefighter Rice died.
NIOSH concluded that the physical stress of interior structural firefighting triggered a cardiac arrhythmia leading to his subsequent cardiac arrest.
Because crew integrity was a key factor, NIOSH recommends fire departments ensure that crew integrity is properly maintained by voice contact or radio contact when operating in an immediately dangerous to life and health atmosphere.
Departments should also ensure the incident commander communicates the strategy and incident action plan to all members assigned to an incident.
In order to extinguish a fire, departments should also make sure all personnel are trained in the proper application of fire streams. An engine company officer should consider total flow of water needed, length of stretch of hoseline, location and access of the fire and available staffing, according to the report.
NIOSH also stress fire departments should ensure that engine companies initiate a fire attack based upon size-up and the incident commander’s defined strategy and tactics.
This will provide and ensure that the engine company officer monitors the portable radio for critical information, such as ventilation delays, water supply difficulties, collapse potential and “mayday” or “urgent “ transmission, that may affect the engine company, according to the report.
