By William Shouldis
A civil lawsuit has recently haunted the City of Philadelphia and public safety officials. The litigation involved procedures, policies and practices. The “bottom line” was the proper sequence of actions for responders to verbal or automatic alarms. The debated topic circled around the justification for making forcible entry. The “high-profile” case centered on a murdered college student. The police had responded to an apartment complex, but did not hear screams, did not see any evidence of a crime, and did not have ample information on a serial rapist in the area. No witnesses stepped forwarded to guide law enforcement personnel, and ultimately police officers decided not break down any doors and downgraded the complaint. The response was documented, but when a young woman was found dead inside an apartment in the complex, finger pointing began. Unfortunately, the victim was unconscious but still alive at the time of the police investigation, according to a medical examiners report. The Shannon Schieber case gives all frontline emergency workers points and protocols to ponder.
The fire service is plagued by many “bells and smells” calls. They are less dramatic than a homicide, but can be equally detrimental to an organization’s reputation. Recommending forcible entry to every alarm activation call would be irresponsible and destructive. Yet, fire departments of any size or type have first-due members facing an escalating number of runs for medical emergencies, fumes, and detection devices that are triggered by sensitive alarms. Selecting the proper tactics for handling these types of common situations is a challenge, but having some simple guidelines can help ensure a balance between poor performance and good decision-making.
Some “Rules for Response” to consider when nothing is showing include:
- Entry is critical to completing an investigation. Examining the option that causes the least damage is a sign of professionalism.
- Risk dictates response actions and must be based on life-safety concerns. Upon arrival, the company supervisor must initiate an inclusive survey of the perimeter. Upon completion of the assignment, a full written report must be prepared.
- The size of the structure, configuration of the property, proximity of exposures, or history of malfunctioning alerts can be helpful in analyzing the circumstances. By laddering the building, a crew can scan the important rear and roof sections. Ground ladders raised to select windows can offer excellent observation points. Portable lights taken to the roof can often detect small signs of smoke at roof vents and around skylights.
- Interaction with dispatchers can provide up-to-date information and a possible phone number of a business tenant or landlord. A speedy follow-up visit to an authorized representative for the property, after a middle of the night or weekend response, can create a meaningful future action plan. Forming a partnership and developing trust are keys to providing quality service. Pre-incident plans should reflect the exact position of annunciator panels, information on fire protection systems, details on contents, location of occupants, and correct contacts with emergency cell phone/beeper numbers.
- Have legal counsel review the policy and procedure.
In most communities, response resources are thinly spread due to increased responsibilities and limited staffing. Public safety leaders have numerous financial, legal, and ethical concerns. Increasing safety and effectiveness is the top priority. Serving the community has many paths. Designing a practical procedure for various hazards, risks, and situations will increase the odds of favorable community support. Informal firehouse kitchen table talk and formal methods of data collections clearly indicate a national trend toward more and more alarm activations. Now is the time to develop individuals and put together a plan for field commanders.
William Shouldis is a deputy chief with the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department, where he has served for more than 29 years. He is an adjunct instructor for the National Fire Academy’s resident and field programs, teaching courses in fireground operations, health and safety, and prevention. Shouldis has a bachelor’s degree in fire science administration and a master’s degree in public safety. He is a member of the Fire Engineering editorial advisory board and a frequent FDIC speaker.
