Why the same old risk analysis dressed up is no good compared to the wrecking ball.


While not exactly scientific it will be interesting to see where popular opinion lies in Detroit Fire's Facebook poll.
- Bill



First allow me three disclaimers on this subject.
1. I do not advocate the reckless abandon of safe, knowledgeable firefighting simply because a building is on fire and we must be inside in order to extinguish said fire.
2. I do not advocate the overly cautious to a fault degree of safety at a building on fire, which completely and without allowance, states anyone and everyone inside said building is already dead or has no hope of survival.
3. I strongly advocate the smart, knowledgeable fireground sizeup that when combined with education and experience recognizes and capitalizes on opportunities to work for the positive outcome of any persons who might be trapped inside while minimizing property loss, working in manner of reduced risk and supporting the general public expectation.

Detroit's new fire commissioner Donald Austin has appeared on one the the local news stations promoting a plan to protect his firefighters. Unfortunately Austin's plan is high on presentation, low on substance and includes a loophole for both he and his firefighters.


WDIV states Austin's new plan is one that will not allow firefighters to go inside vacant buildings unless there are clear indications that someone is inside. "Just to assume that a vacant building always has a squatter or a homeless person in there is kind of a false assumption," Commissioner Austin stated this as well as describing his plan as a paradigm shift. Unfortunately his new plan has already failed by mention of this brief statement:

"Austin said he'll be spreading the word to his chiefs to use caution, but ultimately the fire leader at the scene will have the final decision on whether to send firefighters into the building or not."

A paradigm shift is basically a complete change in a belief or fundamental way in which things are done. For example, when you wake in the morning if the first thing you routinely do is shower, then a paradigm shift in your routine would now have you eating breakfast first. Unfortunately, we have misused 'paradigm shift' as well as wrongly defined it. Thomas Kuhn, a physicist and philosopher most closely associated with paradigm shift, originally held the opinion that paradigms are not defined in strict terms by beliefs or notions but are fluid and shifting, and are contrary to linear changes. Kuhn also believed that these changes are competitive and open to subjectivity.

So what does this mean for Detroit?

If Commissioner Austin's plan were truly a paradigm shift, then the plan would state "there is to be no interior firefighting in vacant, abandoned structures whatsoever."

It is not because of the loophole, "- ultimately the fire leader at the scene will have the final decision on whether to send firefighters into the building or not." Allowing for total cards on the table honesty, is there anyone in the country who believes that starting today Detroit firefighters will not be going inside to fight a vacant building fire if the situation allows it? No, because such action is contrary to our nature and sub cultures and the plan is open to subjective interpretation.

Every fire is different and presents a different sizeup. Delivering a plan that says "firefighters will only go into a burning building if there's a clear indication that someone is inside" and then allowing the incident commander (company officer, battalion chief) to determine if firefighters should go in is contrary to the plan. If a rescue of a squatter is made at a fire, then we say the plan is wrong. If a firefighter is injured or killed at a fire, we say the plan is right. It cannot be both fixed and fluid in order to succeed.

There is only one way to keep firefighters safe from vacant and abandoned building fires and it is done by removing the structure. During the beginning of this year Detroit was on target for Mayor Bing's planned demolition of 10,000 homes before his term ends.


Take this vacant building fire simulation and see if you can implement the new Detroit plan.
Remember, you're supposed to look for clear indications that someone is inside.
The clock is ticking and the fire is progressing.


Related
"Detroit Has New Plan To Protect Firefighters", WDIV
"Detroit’s new commissioner sets policy on fires in vacants. Austin..., STATter911
"Five Detroit Firefighters Injured in Collapse at Vacant Building F..., Firefighter Nation
"Detroit On Target For Demolishing 3,000 Vacant Homes", Firefighter Nation
"'Destroying Detroit': City to Demolish 10,000 Homes", ABC
"Destroying Detroit (in Order to Save It)", GQ


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Bill Carey is the Online News/Blog Manager for Elsevier Public Safety and a former Prince George's County (MD) volunteer fire officer.

Read more of Backstep Firefighter and others at FireEMSBlogs.com.