Mayday Monday: Evacuation

Lessons learned from tragic Boston firefighter line-of-duty deaths

Welcome back for another edition of the Mayday Monday Firefighter Survival Campaign. This month we remember a tragic incident from Boston, Massachusetts. On March 26, 2014, firefighters were sent to a large rowhouse in the Back Bay section of the city. They encountered a fire in the basement of the house that had extended from the rear yard into the structure. As they advanced in to extinguish the fire, the crew was faced with a wind-driven flow path, creating extreme conditions. Adding to this deadly scene, the attack hose was damaged during the advance and was unable to flow water.

Due to the rapid changes in the fire condition and the lack of water to fight the fire, two firefighters, Lieutenant Ed Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, attempted to locate a safe area but were overtaken by the fire. In addition, firefighters from second-due Engine 7 were burned as they attempted to enter the inferno. This crew’s hose was also damaged as they entered and exited.

You can read more about this incident in these two reports:

This was a very rapidly escalating event. Initial companies reported smoke showing and were searching for the seat of the fire when conditions deteriorated. Engine 7 reported: “The extreme conditions drove them away from the top of the stairway and caused them to scramble to evacuate the first floor.” At one point, the incident commander ordered an evacuation of the first floor. What do you do when ordered to evacuate? Are you prepared to execute an emergency evacuation from a fire floor or building?

May Their Sacrifices Not Be in Vain: Boston (MA) LODDs Case Study

This month’s skill/drill is to practice an emergency evacuation. The IAFC has included this in its Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival:

Withdrawal from a life-threatening position must occur early enough to allow a safe exit from the building or to relocate to a safe location. Firefighters should understand that an emergency exit from a building often takes longer than it took to get into the interior operating position and conditions will be worse. No hesitation should occur, as seconds can mean surviving or dying.

Extend a hoseline from the engine into a burn building or other training structure. Order an evacuation and practice this life-saving skill. No one wants to evacuate but when it is needed, we cannot waste anytime. Here is some guidance from the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival program:

When backing out, consideration must be given to the firefighter at the tip. If all members on the line begin pulling the line toward egress, the firefighter at the tip risks losing control of the nozzle. The tip firefighter may want to keep the nozzle in his or her possession while backing if the water stream is needed for protection during retreat. In other cases a firefighter may leave the nozzle, turn 180 degrees, and follow the hoseine outside. In either case, the movement of the hose must be dictated by those positioned at the tip.

Please go practice this skill…it could save your life. It is not a “cool” skill to train on, but it is necessary. Also, check out our podcast with Boston Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Shaffer. Thanks for visiting.