EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. — An internal investigation by the Eureka Springs Fire Department showed that firefighter Rod Wasson’s SCBA experienced a mechanical failure that led to his injuries.
Wasson was part of the interior crew battling a mobile home fire Aug. 29 when he had to be rescued. He suffered critical respiratory burns and spent more than a week on a respirator, according to the report.
The report said Wasson’s partner went to free a stuck hose line and heard Wasson yell for help when he returned. The firefighter found Wasson down with air rushing from his SCBA mask.
The incident investigation team included the Eureka Springs fire chief and assistant chiefs, the fire marshal, Arkansas Department of Labor and Arkansas State Police. SCBA manufacturer, Scott, also sent a technician to assist with the investigation.
Wasson was using a mask assigned to another firefighter, which is common practice on the department, as part-time personnel do not have their own gear. The mask did not show signs of failure.
Investigation of the SCBA pack showed three points of failure.
The low-air alarm was set below the minimum standard and the transfer switch from low-pressure to high-pressure was one point below the minimum standard.
Also, the pack did not produce adequate air volume or pressure to support heavy respiration; it did produce enough for a firefighter at rest.
While the report said that Wasson’s bypass valve worked, there was not sufficient positive pressure to keep smoke and gasses out of his mask.
The SCBA pack Wasson used was made 12 years ago; the carbon-fiber bottle has three years of service life left. His pack had passed a quality-control test in 2014.
In his statement to investigators, Wasson said he did not strike his mask or SCBA on anything. He said that he couldn’t get air and had feelings of suffocation, which led to feelings of panic.
The investigators advised the department to replace all of its 44 SCBA packs and 88 cylinders, citing that they were years past their expiration date, according to the report.