By Amanda McHenry
National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System
An excerpt from this week’s highlighted near-miss report chronicles an incident that reminds us of the need for effective fireground communication and a warning to pay attention to our surroundings. The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System currently contains 52 reports that mention “kitchen fire” or “kitchen.” However, as the report below indicates, where the fire is reported to be may not be the true location of the fire.
“My engine company was the third or fourth to arrive…We had heavy smoke showing while enroute and the first units on scene initiated a fire attack…the crew I was with…was assigned a fire attack designation. When we started to enter, a crew was coming out stating it was too hot. We advised command and were ordered to make an attack. We entered and were met with moderately high heat and medium smoke conditions. Flames could be seen straight ahead down a hallway. We started to advance and opened the line. It appeared to make headway. Continued to advance and more flames. Opened line and knocked down flame again. After the third or fourth time we could no longer advance due to high temperatures. I was in the front and advised it was too hot and to back out. The crew backed out and immediately exited the doorway. As I took my second step out the doorway, while still standing on stoop, the entire interior of the house…”
Fires that “fight back” can draw crews into a decision-making chain that fails to see the bigger picture. This draw, known as “fixation,” blocks out other factors that are apparent, but do not register. There is a projection that we are going to make the situation better if we keep applying water because that has worked in our past experience. Ultimately, and fortunately, the crew of this particular report is driven out of the structure by high heat. Had the floor they were operating on been made of more substantial layers, they may have continued to attack the fire that repeatedly darkened and re-appeared until it was too late. Consider the following:
- When do you give your on scene report (i.e., at arrival, after a 360, etc.)?
- Using this week’s narrative as a reference, which mode of attack (offensive or defensive) would you expect the company in the basement to be operating under?
- What are your “benchmarks” for progress when attacking a fire?
- Given the description that fire was darkening then re-appearing and heat conditions were not improving, how long would you continue your attack?
- Why wouldn’t command have known there was a fire attack going on in the basement?
Had a near miss that occurred due to a communication error? Submit your report to www.firefighternearmiss.com today to get everyone home next week.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
