Fires at petrochem facilities
In “Responding to Fires at Petrochemical Facilities” (November 2003), author Rick Haase does a great job pointing out the aspects and dangers of not only petrochemical fires but industrial firefighting as well. We as industrial firefighters have National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training standards that we must follow. Haase’s article just breaks the surface of this issue, and I would love to see more information published so we can help close the knowledge gap between the two organizations.
Most of the quality facilities will have an effective and highly trained emergency response team that has been trained to the industry standards. We also complete facility preplans just like the municipal fire service and include them in our facility emergency response plans. A first-arriving officer must understand some basic issues that I have encountered as a municipal firefighter and an industrial firefighter:
1. The firefighter may not be in charge of the response operations. The old adage that the first-arriving fire officer on-scene is the incident commander does not work in many industrial facilities because in the emergency response plans we have developed an incident command system and have made it flexible to become a unified command network; but, as the owner and responsible party, the industrial fire chief and/or plant management is the overall IC in these facilities. Why, you ask? Who better to be the IC than a person who understands the process operations and the hazards associated with the facility and how to safely suspend operations and mitigate the incident? Plus, we as the facility operators assume all responsibility for the incident unless a municipal jurisdiction wants to assume that liability if something goes wrong or a poor decision is made.
2. Unlike a structure fire where you can arrive, extinguish the fire, and depart in a few hours, most industrial fires can last hours and sometimes days. This type of event requires advanced skills and knowledge and an effective response plan. If you do not have one for facilities in your area, it may be wise to contact the owners and help them work out a plan for themselves. This will make any future response much easier to run.
3. Haase points out that the water requirements are different and can stretch a municipal operation to its extremes. I cannot stress how correct this is and how you need to evaluate your water resources. As industrial responders, we cannot just rely on a city water main for water. We must evaluate our worst-case scenario (i.e. tank fire or process unit fire) and develop and plan for alternate water sources. Not everyone is blessed with a river or lake nearby. In fact, our apparatus usually have at least a 2,000-gpm pump. In my facility, we have 1,500- to 3,000-gpm pumps and use lots of large-diameter hose.
4. Ensure that your department participates in the facilities’ monthly, quarterly, and annual training. By doing this, you can better understand their assets, capabilities, and methods. This also develops a relationship built on trust, and the fact that you are willing to training with them to help them makes for a smoother transition into the unified command system during an event. If a facility does not have a training plan, help it develop one as part of your fire prevention efforts.
5. Work with the facilities to test their emergency response plans. Many facilities purchase packaged programs from a company that designs and builds specific packages for that type of facility or develop their own to meet the minimum requirements. Test the plan, and make changes as you identify more response issues. Make sure it works for both of you.
6. I cannot stress enough the importance of developing and managing a quality mutual-aid organization. Groups such as the Sabine Neches Chiefs Association (SNCA) in the Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas, region and the Channel Industries Mutual Aid Organization (CIMA) in Houston, Texas, are more than 50 years old and have the knowledge and skills to help develop a program for your area. Many of these groups were developed after the Texas City disaster and have worked out many of the problems associated with their growth and are more than willing to help others build an organization.
Steven A. Stokely Sr., CFPS, LEMT-P
Fire Chief-HSE
Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
Detroit, Michigan
Blue-card firefighting
I’m almost always agreeing with Bill Manning’s editorial position, but “Blue-Card Firefighting” (Editor’s Opinion, October 2003) is a rare exception. Why not encourage the ongoing efforts of the national committee that is trying to blend the best of the two most popular incident command systems into one?
John D. Bergeron
Chief (Retired)
Wareham, Masachusetts
The October Editor’s Opinion was pretty uninformed in bashing the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In fact, the NFPA is not “masquerading as a fire service organization.” It is not a fire service organization. The NFPA is and always has been a public advocacy organization for fire and life safety. More than 25 percent of its 70,000-plus members are fire service connected. However, literally anyone can belong to the NFPA if they are interested in fire and life safety. This differs from organizations such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and so on—all of which have specific membership qualifications and are best characterized as trade associations or, in the case of the IAFF, a labor organization. All of these organizations do great work for us, including the NFPA.
NFPA members, along with many nonmembers, devote countless volunteer hours to develop the national consensus codes and standards that have helped to make a huge difference in the safety and effectiveness of the fire service. Are things that NFPA members work on controversial? You bet. Few things that are truly worthwhile are not controversial. Projects that deal with firefighter safety, public education, training, fire service deployment, emergency planning, fire alarms, sprinklers, building safety, and many other facets of fire and life safety are extremely important whether they are controversial or not.
One last point, when speaking of the NFPA, think about to whom you are referring. Probably a good percentage of the readers of this excellent magazine and their fire departments are dues-paying members.
Douglas P. Forsman
Chief
Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority
Greeley, Colorado
MemberNFPA Board of Directors
Dedication
I recently had the chance to attend a ceremony honoring an individual for his dedication and service to the fire and rescue profession. The individual is Dr. Alfred Page, a 71-year-old old chiropractor and volunteer firefighter. “Doc,” as he is known, has been involved in the fire and rescue services for more than 53 years and was honored just for being “dedicated.” He has no intention of quitting or retiring anytime soon and always looks forward to going on runs and learning new things.
Speakers at the ceremony included representatives from the state fire marshal’s office and the local fire chief. Throughout the evening, I had this feeling of heartfelt warmth for this gentleman whom I have had the opportunity to know only a few short years. Hearing about his history of dedicated involvement to the fire and rescue services and his constantly striving to learn and educate, I was reminded of one thing I learned from my father many years ago: This is the best profession in the world. What makes this profession the best is the dedicated people who devote their lives to serving people in the realm of public safety. What I have learned from “Doc” Page and my father could never be bottled, canned, or wrapped up in some package.
What is dedication? To me, it is the selfless commitment to our profession that never ends. I only hope the fire service can learn from “Doc” Page’s dedication and from the dedication of the countless professionals, active and retired, who continue to learn, serve, and educate for the betterment of the service and citizens.
I can only put into words what I believe dedication in today’s fire service is.
First, it is the dedication to show up, in sound mind and physical shape. If you are seriously sick, mentally impaired, or injured, take care of it before coming to work—for your sake and the people you work with. If you are at risk for heart or health problems, start taking steps to limit your risk. The impact of health problems in this profession hurts everyone. Encourage and become an example for dedication to physical fitness and mental wellness.
Second, once you start learning, don’t stop. Constantly strive to learn more and to refresh old ideas. Take the time to pick up a book or magazine and read about new ideas and old topics. Take opportunities to attend training drills and sessions, seminars, and conferences to increase your knowledge. Realize that it is possible to learn everything; it just takes the proper amount of dedication. Encourage your peers to constantly learn and review material to better serve the citizens.
Third, pass on that knowledge. When you attend training sessions, seminars, or conferences, pass on that newfound knowledge to your peers. Share your experiences, good and bad—doing so may help save a life someday. Realize that what you may have learned, someone else might want to know. Encourage others to share their experiences and knowledge as well; you might learn something new.
Fourth, do what is right and what is best. We are in public service—pillars of the community, idols, and heroes to a great many people. We need to act like it. If it feels like the right thing to do morally, it probably is. Be humble, and realize that you are always there to help people in need.
Finally, never forget those who came before, those who will follow, those who served, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Remember those who have laid the foundations that we have evolved into. Rejoice and celebrate those who have dedicated their lives to get us to where we are. Pass on that dedication to those who will become the future of this profession. Learn from those who have served, and talk with them about their experiences. Immortalize those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Pay tribute to them by constantly learning safer ways to do our job.
I learned from my father long ago through his dedication that this is the best profession in the world. “Doc” Page has reminded me why—because of the many dedicated people who have given their lives to public service. Many individuals in this profession epitomize what it takes to be dedicated to public service. I only hope we—the past, present, and future of the fire service—can idealize this dedication and continue it. The next time you go to the fire station, think of “Doc” Page and the countless others who have been role models in dedication for the fire and rescue service.
Josh Thompson
Battalion Chief
Avon (IN) Fire Department
