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NIOSH Investigation Report: Massachusetts
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The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the investigation report of the line of duty deaths of two Boston firefighters during a fire in a restaurant.
(Photo courtesy of fire department.)
(Photo courtesy of fire department.)
Read the Report
Two Career Fire Fighters Die While Making Initial Attack
On August 29, 2007 a 55-year-old male career fire fighter (Victim #1) and a 52-year-old male career fire fighter (Victim #2) died while conducting an interior attack to locate, confine, and extinguish a fire located in the cockloft of a restaurant.
Upon arrival, fire was showing through the roof with negligible smoke and heat conditions in the main dining area.
Victim #1 was on the nozzle flowing water on the fire in the ceiling area above the exhaust hood and duct work for the stove/broiler in the kitchen. His officer and the officer from the first arriving ladder company provided back-up on the 1 ¾-inch handline.
Victim #2 was in the main dining area searching for fire extension above the suspended ceiling.
Approximately five minutes after the first crew arrived on the scene, a rapid fire event occurred. Victim #1 was separated from his crew and was later found on the handline under debris with trauma to his head.
Victim #2 had a lapel microphone with an emergency distress button which sounded a minute after the rapid fire event, likely from fire impingement. He was found in the area of the dining room where he was operating just before the rapid fire event occurred.
The death certificate listed the causes of death for Victim #1 and Victim #2 as thermal injuries and asphyxia.
Note: There have been media reports of alleged substance abuse that were discovered during the toxicological screening of both victims. NIOSH repeatedly requested a copy of the autopsy reports through the fire department, district attorney’s office, and representatives of the families, but did not receive any toxicology reports; therefore, NIOSH is not able to comment on the alleged condition of the victims.
Key contributing factors identified withinh this report are:
- Insufficient occupational safety and health program.
- Ineffective incident management system at the incident.
- Insufficient incident management training and requirements.
- Insufficient tactics and training.
- Ineffective communications.
- Delay in establishing a rapid intervention team.
- Inadequate building code enforcement and development.
- Inadequate turnout clothing and personal protective equipment.
The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the investigation report of the line of duty deaths of two Boston firefighters during a fire in a restaurant.
(Photo courtesy of fire department.)
(Photo courtesy of fire department.)
Read the Report
Two Career Fire Fighters Die While Making Initial Attack
Upon arrival, fire was showing through the roof with negligible smoke and heat conditions in the main dining area.
Victim #1 was on the nozzle flowing water on the fire in the ceiling area above the exhaust hood and duct work for the stove/broiler in the kitchen. His officer and the officer from the first arriving ladder company provided back-up on the 1 ¾-inch handline.
Victim #2 was in the main dining area searching for fire extension above the suspended ceiling.
Approximately five minutes after the first crew arrived on the scene, a rapid fire event occurred. Victim #1 was separated from his crew and was later found on the handline under debris with trauma to his head.
Victim #2 had a lapel microphone with an emergency distress button which sounded a minute after the rapid fire event, likely from fire impingement. He was found in the area of the dining room where he was operating just before the rapid fire event occurred.
The death certificate listed the causes of death for Victim #1 and Victim #2 as thermal injuries and asphyxia.
Note: There have been media reports of alleged substance abuse that were discovered during the toxicological screening of both victims. NIOSH repeatedly requested a copy of the autopsy reports through the fire department, district attorney’s office, and representatives of the families, but did not receive any toxicology reports; therefore, NIOSH is not able to comment on the alleged condition of the victims.
Key contributing factors identified withinh this report are:
- Insufficient occupational safety and health program.
- Ineffective incident management system at the incident.
- Insufficient incident management training and requirements.
- Insufficient tactics and training.
- Ineffective communications.
- Delay in establishing a rapid intervention team.
- Inadequate building code enforcement and development.
- Inadequate turnout clothing and personal protective equipment.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ART on
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This is a BIG ONE for me I need your help to get this out to ALL INSPECTORS. I work for a kitchen exhaust cleaning company and I have been in the fire service for 22 years. The company that I work for are members the Interantional Kitchen Exhust Cleaning Association( IKECA ) This Association has help Boston fire department with NFPA 95 and coming up with the new criteria for Exhaust Vent Cleaning and Inspectors working in the CITY OF BOSTON. And they are working with other departments and states to help them. So if you need the help or you have questions about what IKECA CAN DO FOR YOU CALL Tim Shaw at 301-230-0099 ext.12 or E-Mail him at tshaw@ikeca.org
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