FIRE LOSS MANAGEMENT
Part 22: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CONTINUED
We will continue our discussion of federal functions relevant to fire loss management. There are several agencies of interest that are under the Department of Transportation.
The U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard assists in maritime fires. In the past there have been problems as to who is in control. A good example is the fire aboard the Scandinavian Sea at Port Canaveral, Florida in 1984. (See “Cruise Ship Fire in Port Canaveral, Florida,” Fire Journal, May 1985. The article gives a detailed discussion of the problems of fighting a ship fire at pierside. It was indeed fortunate for the passengers that the ship was close to port when the fire broke out. Any fire department with the potential for ship fires should study this article and especially the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Report PB85-916403 “Fire Aboard the M/V Scandinavian Sea, Port Canaveral, Fla. 3/9/84” very carefully.)
Particularly when a ship operates out of a port regularly a comprehensive plan involving all interested parties should be developed. Further information can be found in the NFPA’s Fire Protection Handbook, 16th edition, Section 13, Chapter 5, pages 13-55. Concerned fire departments should get “Recommended Practice of Land-Based Fire Fighters Who Fight Marine Vessel Fires” from the NFPA. The NTSB has recommended that the Coast Guard provide this document to all concerned.
As a onetime commander of a Navy seagoing mobile firefighting unit, I developed a healthy respect for ship fires. Ships represent a very special type of structure. Structural fire experience is of limited value.
Few fire officers have much experience in fighting ship fires. The typical foreign passenger ship is built to standards that permit a great deal of combustible trim; U.S. standards do not. U.S.-registered ships are expensive to build and to run so there aren’t many. International legal principles give the U.S. no real control over the construction of foreign ships calling at U.S. ports. In my experience, ships’ crews were poorly trained if trained at all. (The crew of the Scandinavian Sea carried 19 different passports, the only document required by the Bahamian government —the country of registry —to serve as crew on a ship.)
A Navy fire party was fighting a fire in the hold of a ship. The foreign crew was adamant in refusing to help. We discovered 500 sacks of open registered mail (the plastic straps had melted). I asked the Coast Guard cutter alongside for an armed guard for the mail. When two Coast Guardsmen armed with submachine guns came aboard, there was a tremendous attitude adjustment on the part of the crew.
Information, even from the officers, is often inaccurate. The Scandinavian Sea reported that the fire was believed to be “under control.” In my experience this phrase often means that the fire has not extended to any other vessel. A ship in port may have licensed port officers on duty to relieve the regular officers who are on leave. Such officers usually know little or nothing about the ship. The first mate loads the cargo and thus has the best information as to what is in the holds and where.
Delayed alarms are a recurring problem at ship fires. Any shoreside people in a position to observe ships at anchor or at piers should be strongly encouraged to call the fire department at the first sign of fire aboard ship.
The question of command of a fire aboard a naval vessel at a pier was resolved at the naval base at Norfolk many years ago. If the captain of a ship insisted on his prerogative of being fire chief, the tugs would tow the ship to a Hampton Roads anchorage where it would not be a hazard to the naval base. Otherwise the base fire chief was in charge.
Federal Railway Administration. This agency conducts research and develops standards relative to tank cars and transport of hazardous materials by rail.
Materials Transportation Bureau. The Office of Pipeline Safety is responsible for pipeline standards.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This develops standards such as for car fuel tanks and flammability of vehicle interior materials.
OTHER AGENCIES
The National Transportation Safety Board. This is not part of the Department of Transportation but is an independent agency. The board issues comprehensive reports and recommendations on transportation accidents including such equipment as local gas distribution systems. However, it declined to report on the Kingman, Arizona propane tanker car disaster in which 12 firefighters were killed. The tank car was on a siding, and thus it was considered not to be in interstate commerce, which the Constitution empowers the federal government to regulate. This case should be researched by any fire department concerned about the parking of propane tank cars on sidings in hazardous locations. The argument that the fire department has no jurisdiction has been contradicted by the federal government.
Treasury Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is heavily and capably involved in fighting arson.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. This department is responsible for standards for federally insured housing and mobile homes.
Department of Commerce. The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), formerly the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), houses the Center for Fire Research. It conducts research necessary to address current fire problems and to provide the technology needed to advance the cause of fire safety.
Department of Health and Human Services. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health tests and certifies equipment such as breathing apparatus.
Department of Labor. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for employee safety. If state agencies meet federal requirements, they enforce standards.
Federal Aviation Agency. The FAA sets standards for airport crash fire protection. At the scene of a disaster, operations can be seriously hampered by news agency and sightseeing helicopters and light planes. All dispatch centers should be aware of procedures to call the FAA to get air traffic restricted over a disaster site.
Consumer Products Safety Commission. The commission regulates hazards of products sold directly to consumers. Two of the statutes that it is charged with enforcing are the Flammable Fabrics Act and the Hazardous Substance Act.
Federal Communications Commission. The FCC allocates all radio frequencies. Commercial interests seeking additional channels may make it difficult or impossible for fire departments to get vital channels. (Note: Many fire departments have found cellular phones very valuable in fireground operations. At the multifatality Amtrak collision in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, news organizations called their offices and kept the lines open to provide information to editors. This used up all the available lines. Fire departments take heed: Get there first. Open a line to headquarters and keep it open.)
US. Fire Administration. The USFA accomplishes its mission through four programs:
- Public education in subjects such as smoke detector use and maintenance and residential sprinkler protection.
- Firefighter health and welfare — specifically, improvement of personal protective gear.
- Arson control —providing funds
- to local arson control groups, developing guidelines to help prosecutors, and maintaining a clearinghouse on arson-related topics.
- The National Fire Incident Reporting System (FIRS), which collects and analyzes data on fires.
National Fire Academy. Through its courses and programs the NFA works to enhance the ability of the fire service and allied professions to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies.
I was astonished to learn from the U.S. Fire Administration and the Congressional Fire Caucus that there is no central listing of federal agencies charged by law with the responsibility of enforcing specific statutes relating to fire protection. This is probably related to our national myth that problems are solved by passing laws. I understand that the forthcoming (July 1991) 17th edition of the NFPA Handbook will contain this information.
