SC OSHA issues report on Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire
The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of Occupational Safety and Health (SC OSHA) has released its investigation report covering the June 18, 2007, Sofa Super Store fire that claimed the lives of nine Charleston Fire Department members. The report summary notes that they died of smoke inhalation.
The fire department was assessed penalties for the following alleged violations:
1 Willful violation: Employer knew or should have known that the command system does not provide for the overall safety of emergency personnel and other activities. Penalty assessed: $7,000.
2 Serious violation 1: Standard operating procedures were not developed to cover the special hazards associated with fighting and attacking a fire involving a metal truss roof. Penalty assessed: $900.
3 Serious violation 2: Body protection was not required to be worn by nine firefighters involved in interior structural firefighting at 1807 Highway on or about June 18, 2007. Penalty assessed: $900.
4 Serious violation 3: Self-contained breathing apparatus was not required to be worn at all times by four firefighters exposed to smoke and toxic substances while fighting fire at 1807 Savannah Highway, on or about June 18, 2007. Penalty assessed: $525.
No violations were charged against other fire departments responding to the fire.
The Sofa Super Store was charged with a willful violation for having the exit doors on the front and rear of the warehouse padlocked, two sets of double-hung exit doors on the left side of the casual showroom locked with sliding bolts on the top and bottom, and the exit door on the right side of the décor showroom padlocked. Penalty assessed: $29,400.
The store also was cited with a serious violation for three fire doors on the wall between the main showroom and the décor showroom that were not in proper working order. Penalty assessed: $2,500. Another serious violation cited was the lack of an emergency action plan for employees. Penalty assessed: $875. The report is at http://media.charleston.net/pdf/OSHAreport.pdf/.
USFA issues Fires and Exposures report
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) special report Fires and Exposures examines fires that led to exposure fires. The data, developed by the USFA’s National Fire Data Center as part of the Topical Fire Research Series, is based on the 2004 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
Among the information contained in the report is the following:
- An estimated 12,100 fires spread beyond their boundaries and caused an estimated 18,600 additional (exposure) fires.
- The source and exposure fires resulted in an estimated $803 million in direct losses, 875 injuries, and 275 fatalities.
- Forty-nine percent of all source fires occurred in structures, 28 percent were vehicle fires, and 21 percent were outside fires.
- Structure source fires have more than seven times the fire death rate, more than five times the loss rate, and more than four times the fire injury rate than the average structure fire.
U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade stresses that exposure fires can be prevented by controlling fire spread and that sprinklers are critical for preventing fire spread. A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/reports/index.shtm/.
DHS adopts NFPA standards for emergency responders
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has adopted 11 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for emergency responders. Federal, state, and local agencies will use the standards as guides when procuring equipment and services for emergency responders in the areas of professional qualifications, occupational safety and health, fire apparatus, personal protective clothing, powered rescue tools, and other equipment.
The following standards were adopted: NFPA 1000, Standard for Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation and Certification Systems; NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1006, Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program; NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments; NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus; NFPA 1906, Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus; NFPA 1912, Standard for Fire Apparatus Refurbishing; and NFPA 1936, Standard on Powered Rescue Tools.
The DHS had previously adopted the following 14 NFPA standards: NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs; NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles; NFPA 1852, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA); NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Operations; NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting; NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services; NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services; NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS); NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents; NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations; NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Flash Fire; and NFPA 2113, Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Flash Fire.
APCO applauds FCC for positive public safety actions
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for adopting its prior request that accuracy of caller location information provided with wireless 911 calls be measured at the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) level, which, APCO says, will dramatically impact the 911 call taker’s ability to locate and send appropriate resources to callers using wireless phones. The FCC also took important steps to expedite the completion of the 800-MHz rebanding process designed to prevent dangerous interference to public safety radio communications. APCO International President Willis Carter described these issues as “extremely important” for the public safety communications community.
IAFC board adopts SHS recommendations for NIOSH reporting program
At its August 2007 board meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Board of Directors approved recommendations offered by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival (SHS) section for improving the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP). A summary of the recommendations follows. All recommendations are to be implemented in conjunction with the other fire service organizations; some will be done also with additional agencies, as indicated.
1 Develop an advisory board to work directly with NIOSH and the FFFIPP. The advisory board should represent the fire service’s interests much “more actively than the current stakeholder systems.”
2 Develop a working group to augment the information contained in the NIOSH reports. There have been concerns that current reports go only “so far” and need to include significantly enhanced command and control and tactical recommendations. Also, the working group should specify the resources that will be needed to achieve the recommended outcomes and performance benchmarks (investigation team response times and investigation report publication timelines, for example).
3 In conjunction also with NIOSH, identify the need for statutory changes, additional resources (staffing and funding), and enhanced capabilities to facilitate the FFFIPP mission. In addition, develop marketing and lobbying strategies to successfully promote the implementation of those changes.
4 In conjunction also with NIOSH, integrate, in administrative and on-site response roles, fire service subject matter experts into the NIOSH-FFFIPP investigative process.
5 Formulate written criteria to identify incidents that require or merit the more in-depth investigations discussed above.
6 Establish a method for funding and conducting these investigations. This may be done through an expansion of the U.S. Fire Administration significant incident program or some other effort.
7 In conjunction with the other fire service organizations and NIOSH, implement the expanded investigations program.
8 In conjunction also with NIOSH and industry representatives, develop a program to collect, analyze, and disseminate information regarding problems and failures relative to personal protective clothing. The working group should also identify the most appropriate agency for housing this program and look for potential funding sources.
9 In conjunction also with NIOSH and industry representatives, promote the rapid development of enhanced capabilities with the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) to evaluate and test personal protective clothing and equipment involved in firefighter fatalities and other incidents where performance deficiencies or failures are suspected.
The IAFC Board has allocated $10,000 for the continued work of the task force. The funds will be used to develop an implementation plan, in coordination with NIOSH and other national fire service organizations, that addresses each of the recommendations. A copy of the Task Force report may be downloaded at www.IAFCSafety.org.
USFA releases school fires report
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) School Fires report explores the causes and characteristics of school fires. Developed by the National Fire Data Center, the report is part of the Topical Fire Research Series and is based on 2003-2005 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data. All school fires, including those occurring outdoors on school property, are included.
Between the years 2003 and 2005, according to the report, an estimated annual average of 14,700 fires occurred on school properties and caused $85 million in annual property loss and an estimated 100 civilian injuries. No fatalities were reported. Forty percent of school-related fires occurred outdoors on school property, and 43 percent of fires on school properties were structure fires. An additional six percent were vehicle fires.
The leading cause of school structure fires was incendiary or suspicious activity (32%), followed by cooking (29%), and heating (9%). Fires in preschool and day cares were predominantly caused by cooking. Incendiary or suspicious activity was the leading cause of fires in middle and high school structures. The three leading areas of fire origin in school structure fires include restrooms, kitchens, and general assembly areas.
A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v8il.pdf/.
FPRF lists FEMA research grant projects
The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), an affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), was awarded a $990,000 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the Emergency Preparedness Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct the following research projects:
1 The effectiveness of enforcement relative to complying with fire safety codes. FPRF will develop a refined methodology for measuring fire prevention inspection effectiveness relative to meeting the needs of today’s state and local fire prevention personnel.
2 Firefighting tactics under wind-driven conditions. This information will be especially useful when dealing with large structure fires, like those in high-rise buildings.
3 The thermal capacity of firefighter protective clothing. Firefighter protective clothing is designed with a series of layers and air gaps to prevent the energy of the fire environment from being transferred to the firefighter. When protective layers are compressed, the energy is sometimes transferred to the user and can cause burns. Information learned through this research will pave the way for future enhancements in testing and designing firefighter protective clothing.
The projects are expected to be completed by July 2008. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org/foundation.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
August 29. Firefighter Paul Cahill, 55, Boston (MA) Fire Department: injuries sustained while inside a working structure fire.
August 29.Firefighter Warren Payne, 53, Boston (MA) Fire Department: injuries sustained while inside a working structure fire.
September 9. Engineer George Crotts, 70, Willow Grove (PA) Volunteer Fire Company: injuries sustained when he fell and struck his head while loading an antique pumper onto a trailer to be taken to a parade.
September 9. Firefighter Jared W. Zimmerly, 20, Prairie Township Fire Department, Holmesville, OH: accident in private vehicle while responding to a mutual-aid call for a residential fire.
September 9. Captain Michael Dean Stanfield, 35, Anderson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Burlington, NC: motorcycle accident while returning to the station from the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
September 12. Chief Leonard Bailey, 56, Elizabeth (PA) Volunteer Fire Company: apparent heart attack.
September 14. Firefighter Kelly Page, 38, Lowell (MA) Fire Department: cause to be determined.
September 14. Firefighter-EMT Jerry W. Stucker, 53, Loss Prevention Department, Dow Corning Corporation, Carrollton, KY: apparent heart attack at a hazmat incident.
September 15. Fire Police Captain William D. McDaniels Sr., 51, Mocanaqua Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Shichshinny, PA: apparent heart attack at the scene of a reported fire in a high-rise.
September 24. Lieutenant Bryon Wayne Johnson, 32, Sedgwick County Fire District #1, Wichita, KS: result of a severe shock after coming in touch with a live wire while fighting a wind-whipped grass fire.
September 25. Firefighter John Lietzke, 47, Olivet (MI) Fire Department: injuries sustained while en route to the station in his privately owned vehicle in response to reported power lines down as a result of strong storms.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
Resources
Incident Management Team All-Hazard Position Task Books. For All-Hazard Incident Management Team (IMT) members and others who may serve in these roles. The books, developed by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) in cooperation with the Incident Management System Division/National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), are similar in concept and design to the existing position task books used by NWCG.
The authority having jurisdiction may use the book to certify individuals who have demonstrated the competencies and behaviors required by the NIMS Integration Center. These books are used in the USFA’s All-Hazards IMT Technical Assistance Program.
The Command and General Staff task books available for download at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/incident/imt/imt-training.shtm are as follows:
- All-Hazard Incident Commander,
- All-Hazard Operations Section Chief,
- All-Hazard Planning Section Chief,
- All-Hazard Logistics Section Chief,
- All-Hazard Finance/Administration Section Chief,
- All-Hazard Safety Officer,
- All-Hazard Liaison Officer, and
- All-Hazard Public Information Officer.
Additional information is at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/incident/imt/index.shtm, or e-mail FEMA-AHIMT@dhs.gov or call (800) 238-3358, ext. 7888.
• The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Fire Fighters and EMS Responders. The report is based on a comprehensive literature review of fatigue and sleep deprivation primarily in the transportation and medical fields and includes applications to the fire and emergency services. It also contains mitigation strategies and a resource section. It was produced by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the USFA with the assistance of the faculty of Oregon Health & Science University. The report and related training materials are available at www.iafc.org/sleep and www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/safety/sleep_deprivation.shtm/.
• Fire in the United States, 14th edition, is available from the USFA. It covers the 10-year period from 1995 to 2004 and provides an overview of the fire problem in structures, vehicles and other mobile properties, and outside and other properties. It can be downloaded at www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-311.pdf/.
