Advertisement

Previous Posts

Fire Engineering Board Blog

Bookmark This Page! (Ctrl+D)
Subscribe to an RSS Feed of this Blog.
<< Home


This Monday, December 8. an F/A-18D returning to Miramar Naval Air station from the USS Abraham Lincoln encountered some type of engine problem off the coast of San Diego, forcing the pilot to eject seconds before the jet slammed into a neighborhood just outside the airbase. The resulting explosion destroyed two homes and damaged three more. The most tragic result was the death of four members of one family, who were unfortunately home at the time. An additional 20 homes in the area were evacuated because of the smoke and heat.

Shortly after the crash, a politician said he wanted to conduct an investigation to ensure that this type of incident would never happen again. This type of comment, although understandable, clearly illustrates the lack of comprehension on the part of the general public to the dangers involved in high-risk occupations. We know that the United States Navy and Marine Corps provide excellent training, excellent maintenance, and demand all their pilots undergo the most rigorous training. All of this notwithstanding, the United States Navy and Marine Corps understand that failures will occur.

No system, no machine, no individual is perfect, and so one must anticipate the occasional failure, the occasional accident, and the consequences. The consequences are what must be mitigated. Now if this particular politician is going to ensure that no Navy jets ever fly again over a neighborhood in San Diego, then he can in fact have his dream come true. But barring a complete and total ban of naval aircraft over the San Diego civilian airspace, no one can guarantee there won't be another accident.

What can happen is this: The United States Navy and Marine Corps need to investigate this incident and look at all the systemic issues that came together tragically to cause this accident. We would hope that now, with all we understand about the systemic nature of accidents, the pilot is not identified as the cause. Unfortunately, this is all too often the case in air-related events. This represents the easiest way out, and therefore the most common way out, by some unmotivated investigator who is all too happy to say it was simply human error. Any event, especially transportation accidents that involve human beings as operators, pilots, or engineers, generally gets labeled as human error.

In order to understand how errors occur, how failures happen, and what really causes an accident, we need to let go of what Prof. Sidney Dekker, Ph.D, calls the old view. We must adopt what Prof. Dekker calls a new view of human error. Then and only then we recognize that the accident in this case a tragic plane crash is enmeshed in almost spiderweb of complex, interconnected, and yet independent causes. There is no root cause, there is no primal cause, it was not just human error--it was clearly a systemic failure.

In these events, firefighters are the first to be called and we must be ready. From the firefighter perspective, it's our job to be prepared for these events and not to assume that we can make them all go away. In that regard I would suggest that you read the drill on military aircraft located at this link:
http://www.fireengineering.com/display_article/213203/25/none/none/DRILL/Drill-of-the-Week:-Military-Aircraft-Emergencies?
Hold the drill this week. Connect the drill in context to this tragic event. Have your folks read the article in Fire Engineering. Have them look at the video, which is still available in our video section from the ABC news report. Bring this event to life in your training. Just because you do not happen to live underneath an airbase does not mean that you should not be prepared. These events can happen anywhere the United States; Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army , and Coast Guard aircraft, fly over every state in the union. You owe it to your residences in your town and you owe it to the outstanding pilots of those fine aircraft to be prepared to respond when they need you. Don't think about it. Do it. To quote Adm. Rickover, it's easy to talk about doing things. It's a whole a other matter to get them done. Firefighters get it done.

If you want to really do more to get prepared, read a great article by John Carr and Les Omans titled "Responding to Commercial Aircraft Hazmat Incidents." In this article, they address some of the issues with military aircraft. http://www.fireengineering.com/display_article/128427/25/none/none/Feat/Responding-to-commercial-Aircraft-Haz-Mat-Incidents

Just a few things to keep in the back of your mind when you're dealing with a downed military aircraft. Stay away anything painted yellow and black. Remember, these aircraft carry ordnance, weapons, and oftentimes have security systems. If you have a military base near your fire department, request training on what to do and who to contact in the event of a downed military aircraft. During my time at the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department, the members of the Kirkland Air Force Base were always more than willing to put on classes for us at any time as to what to do if one of their aircraft were compromised or had to make an emergency landing.

The fire service is all about relationships. We need to continue to foster good relationships with our partners, particularly with the military bases in our first due. For more good reading on aircraft emergencies, read "Fire Department Response to Helicopter Emergencies" by Jerry Knapp, Christopher Flatley, and Wayne Sutherland, available here: http://www.fireengineering.com/display_article/251463/25/none/none/Feat/FIRE-DEPARTMENT-RESPONSE-TO-HELICOPTER-EMERGENCIES
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the family who lost their lives on Monday. My thoughts and prayers and deepest condolences go out to the brave Marine pilot when sure did everything he could to direct that aircraft away from any homes prior to ejecting. Until next time, stay safe and remember, be careful out there.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
12/11/2008 06:39:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Thanks to the efforts of the fire service, the Residential Sprinkler Code (RB64) Proposal for 1 & 2 family homes passed yesterday at ICC final code hearings in Minneapolis. The fire service members in attendance along with building officials and the sprinkler coalition were able to override a committee decision to Disapprove. By a 2/3 majority vote off the floor was so moved as to modify the committee's decision so as to install sprinklers in new one and two-family (R3) homes. This herculean act is the single most important life safety code proposal that has passed and will be effective in reducing death and injuries for generations to come in our country's most deadly living environment, the home. Having said this, the sprinkler issue will be battled at the local level for years to come. In the meantime, they will continue to construct these houses with no protection.

The sprinkler code approval was one of many building, fire, and other code actions in which the fire service plays an important role. Although the passage of RB64 will impact our society, the importance of the fire service's full participation is much needed at this final code hearing and with each subsequent code cycle. Soon after the RB64 vote, we missed another code proposal measure to reduce firefighter death and injury by supporting the fire-rating protection for lightweight construction (RB68) which came to the floor. We had 500 voters leave right after the sprinkler vote and the vote on (RB68) was 703 voted for the proposal with 380 missing the 2/3 voting margin by 58 votes. Many of the fire service members spoken to later in the evening said they had no idea about the impact of RB 68.

All the life safety code efforts accomplished this past week must be continually monitored by the fire service if we are to achieve the greater public good and improve upon fireground safety.

Here are some other ICC Final Code Winners & Losers (click to enlarge chart):



F= FIRE CODE
E = MEANS OF EGRESS CODE
G = BUILDING CODE

AM = ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED
AS = ACCEPTED AS SUBMITTED
D = DISAPPROVE

FS54 & 55* (D) disapproved the ICC committee action to remove the elevator enclosure from the building code that was previously APPROVED as an enclosed elevator lobby above the 1st floor in 2007.

Go to the http://www.iccsafe.org/ Web site. On the main page, click on Final Action Hearing Results to review all the final code updates.

Be safe out there,
Jack Murphy
Sean DeCrane
From the "Taming the Fire Environment" Radio Podcast Show

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
9/22/2008 03:10:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Jack Murphy and Sean DeCrane for Taming the Fire Environment report on the ICC code hearings in Minneapolis:


For the past two days, the fire code hearings have pasted the following key proposals for the 2009 IFC Code:

Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (F87), which will require approved radio coverage for emergency responders within the building. This will apply for both new and existing buildings.
ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED

Sprinkler Riser Redundancy and Isolation (G46), which came out of the ICC Terrorism Resistant Buildings (TRB) committee, will require for buildings 420 feet an interconnected system with two water supply risers, etc.
ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED

Inspection, Testing and Operation (F105) of passive fire systems for visually inspecting annually, etc.
ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED

Group M - Occupancy (F135) for an automatic sprinkler system for the occupancy use that is primarily for the display and sale for upholstered furniture, etc.
ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED

Installation of photo-luminous exit path markings (F211) in existing building groups A, B, E, I and M, etc.
ACCEPTED AS MODIFIED

JUST IN--
Liquid Oxygen stored or used in home care in Groups I-1, I-4 and R occupancies, etc.
ACCEPTED AS SUBMITTED


Jack and Sean will have a full update on the results hearings on a future radio program. CLICK HERE to listen to their latest program regarding these hearings.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
9/18/2008 09:42:00 AM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Workers left hanging from the side of a 31-story building in Indianapolis, Indiana, were rescued by Indianapolis firefighters. Read more about the rescue and view photos by CLICKING HERE.

And Fire Engineering Technical Editor Glenn Corbett talks to a Cincinnati news outlet about reopening the investigation into the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire. Read the story HERE and visit Glenn's new group on the Fire Engineering Training Community.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
8/15/2008 11:26:00 AM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton got a chance to talk to magazine regular Larry Collins yesterday. Larry describes some of the action he saw on the front lines of the California firefight. You can listen to the interview on the Web HERE.

Our thoughts go out to the firefighters out there, and to everybody in California affected by this disaster.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
10/25/2007 10:57:00 AM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Below are comments from Fire Engineering Contributing Editor Jack J. Murphy regarding this article from Engineering News (subscription required):


The ink is not yet even dry on the IBC final code hearing in Rochester this past summer where one of the 30 NIST/WTC recommendations on high-rise building was made into a code. Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) need to take into consideration that all-hazard emergencies other than fire will require various evacuations to safeguard the occupants. Some of the types of all-hazard evacuations are: internal building relocation, partial or full building evacuations. The need for a third stair in a mega high-rise building (420 feet) is more prevalent today because of the potential threats, whether man-made or natural. Each type of evacuation will depend on the incident situational awareness to the building and how to best act accordingly to an all-hazard threat. OSHA is also advocating that all large occupied buildings participate in emergency preparedness beyond just fire.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
10/16/2007 02:57:00 PM

Post a Comment

2 Comments:

Blogger Bruce Lacillade said...

I strongly support the third stairwell in a highrise building. As a retired Fire Prevention Inspector(Burlington,Ontario)
I was involved in the retro-fitting of a number of high-rise(>7 stories)residential bldgs.
Even though a Retro-fit Section was added to the Ontario Fire Code in the 1990's we still had to, at times, be rather creative in achieving compliance and at times go with meetint the 'intent'of the Code. A third stairwell will not only add to the safety of the evac. of the occupants but also aid in fire suppression.

Wed Oct 17, 10:23:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Peter Prochilo said...

Comments below by George H. Potter:

Forty plus story hgh rises are extremely complicated structures. Thousands of persons, some, few or many, could be disabled or handicapped. The evacuation of these occupants and possible visitors is extremely complicated, and if free flowing access by fire and rescue responders is hampered by the flow of evacuees, the results could be disastrous. There are projects in the USA and world-wide for buildings surpassing 100 floors, hinting at occupancies of possibly 10,000 persons per building.

If builders and promoters oppose a third, or more stairwells, their utter disregard for life safety is obvious. It also indicates their total lack of respect for humanity. A point to ponder, how many of these grand and enlightened businessmen have their offices or corporate headquarters above the 10th floor?

George H. Potter
Fire Protection Specialist
High rise operations instructor

Fri Oct 19, 08:34:00 AM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home



In addition to the lack of even the most basic of firesafety measures at the Deutsche Bank at Ground Zero in NYC, the building was (and continues to be) full of plywood. Even though it is accepted practice to construct asbestos removal "containment" partitions of plywood in a building of a few stories, why is it acceptable to use this material (and plastic as well) in a 40 story high-rise under demolition (with torches and the like)? It was reported yesterday that only weeks before deadly fire that killed two firefighters, that a fire was noted by environmental inspectors as they did their inspection and the FDNY was never called. You could not build a new high-rise with plywood walls and partitions - why does it make sense to allow it in a building under demolition? Why does the US EPA allow such dangerous practices? Why does the EPA think that the use of plywood is even a good containment method when fire is a distinct possibility? The photo shown was taken on 9/11/07.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Glenn Corbett
9/18/2007 01:28:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Yesterday, the New York Times ran this story about first responders' families having a hard time collecting claims from the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, expanded benefits the U.S. government authorized in 2003 to cover deaths of of "nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material response, emergency medical services, prison security, disaster relief, or other emergency response activity" or a training exercise involving "nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity."

The Times story is nothing new--various firefighting orgs have called on the Justice Department to quit stalling and award these benefits--but it's good to see this reporting cropping up in a major media outlet.

Hat tip: www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
8/09/2007 11:16:00 AM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Chief Rich Gasaway and Assistant Chief Tim O'Neill of the Roseville (MN) Fire Department, who were involved in the response to the I-35 highway bridge collapse in Minneapolis last night, took some time to talk about the status of the response now and how events unfolded last night. You can listen to the interview HERE with your Windows Media Player, or download the file to your computer.

Thanks to the chief and others in the Roseville department for providing these astounding photos, and to Deputy Chief of Personnel Jean Kidd and Cam Haugland of the Minneapolis FD for the other pics.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
8/02/2007 03:16:00 PM

Post a Comment

1 Comments:

Blogger Tatunka said...

Just to clarify, Dep. Kidd and Cam both work for Minneapolis Fire. Also the interview was nice but why not interview the people who were in charge of the collapse including MFD Training Chief Dick Christenson (Act. Dep. day of) Asst. Chief John Fruetel, and CoD Jim Clack. But thats just my opinion.

Mon Aug 20, 03:46:00 PM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home

On January 28, 1981, LAFD Apparatus Operator Thomas G. Taylor was killed in a fire set by Mario Catanio. Eight other firefighters were injured in that fire. Inmate Catanio (CDC No. 77711) was convicted of murder, arson and fraud in the conspiracy to burn down the restaurant where Thomas Taylor died. It is inconceivable to me to think that Inmate Catanio could soon be released back into society. When considering the circumstances of the crime it is an affront to all firefighters that this "firefighter killer" could be let out to enjoy his life. Thomas Taylor was not given this opportunity, on January 28 1981 his life was taken from him. None of his friends or family were able to enjoy him or time with him again. Arson which kills a firefighter must be a life sentence. Cop killers and firefighter killers should never see the outside world again ever.

The LAFD and all of his brothers and sister across the United States will always remember the courageous service of Apparatus Operator Thomas G. Taylor while remaining vigilant to protect society from and each other individuals who commit such heinous crimes. On August 17, 2007, the California Department of Corrections (CDC) Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) will convene to review lnmate Catanio's suitability for parole. As such, the Department in collaboration with United Firefighters of Los Angeles has begun an aggressive letter writing campaign to appeal to both the BPH and Governor Schwarzenegger opposing Catanio's parole.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/26/2007 03:11:00 PM

Post a Comment

1 Comments:

Blogger RN/EMT said...

I agree. This inmate should NEVER be allowed to be released. We, as Firefighters and Medics are there to save lives and property. Our lives are precious to us and our family and friends. When someone kills one of us, it deprieves our family and friends of us. Our families should never have to worry about a firefighter/medic/cop killer being released back into society to possibly repeat this same action.

Fri Aug 03, 01:00:00 AM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home

The Senate is scheduled to debate the FY08 Homeland Security appropriations bill, S.1644, on the floor the week of the 23rd of July. This bill proposes setting spending levels for the Fire Assistance Grants program at $560 million as well as Staffing Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program at $140 million for the coming fiscal year.

It is very important that you contact your senators in Congress and explain how vital the Fire Grants program is to protecting and equipping the fire service. Call your senators as soon as possible to convey your support of the Fire Grants program.

If you do not have their direct telephone number, you can visit the Senate web site at www.senate.gov to obtain this information. The Senate operator can be reached at 202-224-3121.

In the FY2008 budget released in February, the White House proposed cutting funding to the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program by almost half, to $300 million from the $547 million appropriated for the current fiscal year of 2007. The House bill, HR.2638, funds the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program at $570 million, an increase by $23 million over last year. The House bill also funds the SAFER program at $230 million, an increase by $115 million over last year. The bill passed the House by 268 to 150. The Senate is also proposing to increase funding for these critical programs as well. Contact your senators to express your support for the Fire Grants program.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/22/2007 03:53:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

"We all saw this coming: now Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers employed by American Medical Response (AMR) throughout Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire voted 92% Wednesday to walk off the job in response to the AMR corporations repeated violations of federal labor laws and their proposal to cut employee wages and benefits. I know our firefighters in the area are getting ready to fill in for these EMS folks, who are just trying to make a living working for AMR. Read the whole story here.
http://download.pennnet.com/fe/misc/20070720emsstrike.pdf

I hope someday all emergency medical services in the United States is run by the local FDs (wherever that is possible). I do not care how the departments set it up. I just know fire departments run EMS better than private companies do. And that opinion is shared by some of the best doctors in America-- read their thoughts here.
http://download.pennnet.com/fe/misc/200706fdemsresponse.pdf
I am positive we treat each other better. We do not call ourselves brothers and sisters because it sounds good: we mean it."

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/22/2007 03:23:00 PM

Post a Comment

1 Comments:

Blogger ILOVE911 said...

BOBBY,BOBBY,BOBBY !!!

Look at the statistics Bobby !!!

Private companies run 2-3 times the # of ALS and BLS transpots at the FD, and with only a quarter of the lawsuits !!

Of Course, Bobby, you Hero's have capped your negligence claims to a few hundred thousands, and the local newspapers, not wanting to offend " The Hero's" do not publish your acts of negligence !

Wed Jul 25, 09:52:00 PM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home

Wildfire season is in full swing, and the U.S. Fire Administration has released this paper on risk management in wildland operations. You can take a look at the paper HERE.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Peter Prochilo
7/19/2007 01:50:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Our friends at the National Fallen Firefighters are calling on us to step up and help our brothers families in Charleston. I spent some time down there and the families as they entered the memorial took your breath away. The number of children our nine brothers left behind as well moms and other dependents saddened us all.

Please check out this link:
http://downloads.pennnet.com/fe/misc/20070712nfffcharleston.pdf...

It's all about family, our family.

Thanks,
Bobby

Labels: ,


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/12/2007 12:21:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

The death of recruit firefighter Racheal M. Wilson is still being investigated, and the fallout politically has not stopped. "Goodwin has remained in his position as chief, however, and not everyone is happy about that," according to the article linked below. Where does the buck stop--when are we responsible and when are we not? This training incident is far from over in regards to lesson learned and how the Baltimore FD is going to proceed in the future. Should Goodwin stay or go?

http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=13835

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/11/2007 04:59:00 PM

Post a Comment

2 Comments:

Blogger Tom Rinaldi said...

Lets not destablize and continue to demoralize an entire department. There needs to be a focus on past practices, learn of the mistakes and make changes. First responders in all disciplines get complacent and its time to tighten up on the execution of policies and procedures or write some new ones. He's on probation, he needs to take positive action.

Thu Jul 12, 01:35:00 PM EDT  
Blogger John Buckman said...

Bobby
I believe the Chief should stay until it can be shown that the Chief was aware of the obvious lack of concern for following procedures.
There is always a rush in many of these type of incidents to point finger and place blame.
In this case there is plenty of evidence that more than one person is responsible for this horrendous event.

Sun Jul 15, 09:15:00 PM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home

Charleston and Wills

We want to be aware of our safety all the time but, being ready for the worst on or off the job is really important. CLICK HERE to read about how the Charleston nine's families are trying to cope with the lack of wills to address their estates.

The best way to insure your family is treated the way you want is to maintain a Firefighter Emergency Contact Form. The information that you provide is only to be used in the event of your serious injury or death in the line-of-duty. Every firefighter should have one filled out fully and accurately because the data will help your department take care of your family. The forms should be updated anytime you feel it is necessary, but reviewed annually. This information is considered highly confidential and must be restricted for emergency use only. It should at a minimum contain personal information about your family--wife, kids, mom, dad, brothers, and sisters--names and contact information. List several who you want to be contacted first, best friend, chief, union president to notify your family. It should identify your religious preferences, donation wishes, veteran status, funeral wishes and the location of your will.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/11/2007 04:46:00 PM

Post a Comment

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

I am on the road again. I spent today with some great firefighters in Spokane, Washington. Tonight I am in Pasco, Washington, the town adjacent to Kennewick, where firefighter Eric Lyons died on Friday. Everyone here speaks very highly of this good firefighter, whose cause of death is still undetermined. Eric was found unresponsive in the station following a busy shift involving several brush fires.

They will lay Eric to rest with full honors on Thursday. As more information on why we lost this fine firefighter becomes available, I will pass it along. We will post the funeral information on this link as soon as it is finalized. The entire Fire Engineering family is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and wish to express our condolences to Eric's family.

The conditions in Washington have the entire state under a red flag warning. Firefighters here are expecting a very active fire season. To read more about the fires raging across the West, CLICK HERE.

Labels:


Read more...

posted by Bobby Halton
7/09/2007 11:04:00 PM

Post a Comment

1 Comments:

Blogger Ellen said...

Great to see you this week Bobby! Thanks again for taking the time to visit the SFD and speaking at our State Chief’s Conference. The passion that you have for the Fire Service is admirable and contagious. We all enjoyed having you in the Pacific Northwest and please remember that you are always welcome. –Brian

Wed Jul 11, 11:53:00 AM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home