This week’s featured report presents a situation that is encountered frequently on the fireground. The sound of an activated PASS device does not elicit an immediate emergency response by firefighting personnel on the scene. An extended portion of this week’s featured firefighter near-miss event narrative appears below.
“Fire department units responded to a reported residential fire [just after midnight]. Size up indicated heavy smoke showing with confirmation of the residents being out of the structure. The residents also reported that the fire appeared to be in the basement laundry area, around the dryer. Entry was made into the structure simultaneously with some ventilation underway. Further ventilation operations were ordered following reports from inside.
The basement stairway was located next to the main floor kitchen, with the seat of the fire located directly below the kitchen in the basement. The incident progressed as expected through the first twenty-minute PAR. Water supply was established, utilities were ordered for disconnect, RIT team was established, and ventilation was well underway.
About thirty minutes into the incident, a request was made from interior crews to have someone bring another 1 ¾” line in through the garage to access the basement. The RIT team was assigned to perform this task and then stopped, as the garage was too packed full of stuff to even make their way inside. That crew was then outside the structure, but had not reassembled for RIT assignment (IC’s call).
The IC was making another 360 to check on a utility worker when dispatch notified IC of the forty-minute operational mark. During this PAR, command heard a PASS device activate and yelled in the direction of the activation, thinking that someone might have been standing still and it activate. The PPV fan was still operating so the noise level was elevated. Soon after hearing the PASS device, dispatch also reported the radio emergency alarm activation of a radio. IC was on Side “A” looking in the open front door of the structure and could see the faint blinking of the PASS strobe in the direction of the sounding PASS device.
Immediately, one of the personnel originally assigned to RIT was told face- to-face to get that person out of the building. At the time, IC was extremely unhappy, thinking that somebody had just let their PASS device activate and didn’t bother to stop it. The RIT member followed the hose line in a short distance, approximately thirty feet, toward the strobe and dragged the downed firefighter out. Upon exiting the structure, he was helped to his feet, immediately assessed for injury, and then relocated to the ambulance for further evaluation. Subsequently, he was transported to the hospital, as a precaution, for further testing.
In interviewing the [downed firefighter], he stated that he was with his crew member in the basement on fire attack, along with another two-person crew. His low-air alarm had activated and he continued to work, thinking he had plenty of time. After a time, he told his partner that he was going to run outside and get another bottle. He then left his partner and headed out of the laundry area in the basement, following the hoseline around the corner and up the stairs. Part way up the stairs, he completely ran out of air. In a condition of “high motivation,” he started to hurry. Staying low and following the hoseline, he became disoriented and ended up reversing his direction. He then fell back down the stairs, knocking his face piece off…”
PASS devices activate so frequently (“false alarms”) they have become an often ignored signal except for a chorus of “reset that noisy $&%*!.” We fail to take into account that the device is functioning exactly as designed. The SCBA is immobile for a specified period of time; the PASS device sounds a warning. If the wearer doesn’t react to the warning, the device goes into full alarm. The device is not programmed to sense danger, just lack of motion. We, on the other hand, don’t always sense danger, and too often stand immobile on the scene, causing incorrect responses to the properly operating technology.
Once you have read all of the featured report (CLICK HERE), review the following questions with your group or members:
1. How often do PASS devices activate on your incident scenes?
2. What type of response does an activated PASS device generate on your incident scenes?
3. Are your PASS devices calibrated periodically to ensure they are still set to manufacturer’s specifications?
4. Who conducts your PASS device activation response training and how often is the training conducted?
5. How many different suggestions can you generate to avoid or reduce the number of “false” activations of PASS devices?
Has a PASS device saved your life? Submit your report to www.firefighternearmiss.com today so everyone goes home tomorrow.
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.
