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Washington D.C. Sprinkler Demo Burns Firefighter; Video Shows Members on Fire
STATter911.com
WUSA9
Republished with Permission
View STATter911.com's FFN page
DC Fire & EMS officials now say a sergeant from Engine 6 (on the left with his helmet on fire) was burned on the cheek and hand during the sprinkler demonstration. He spent Wednesday night in the MedStar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center and was released Thursday morning.
Usually the biggest worry for a fire chief who has gathered the public and the press together for a sprinkler demonstration is whether the sprinkler head is going to activate as promised. Livingston Fire Protection Inc. made sure that wasn't a problem during Wednesday's demonstration using two side by side mock dorm rooms at Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia. It operated at just 12 seconds into the fire.
It was the fire on the unsprinklered side that occurred minutes earlier that caused a little excitement and had Chief Dennis Rubin asking for someone to put out the firefighters. At about 3:10 on the video below you will see a plastic barrier melt and drip down in a large flaming clump on the three firefighters who were extinguishing the fire.
It was much more obvious to the audience than the firefighters themselves that something was amiss. All three had plastic burning on their PPE. It took a little more than 30 seconds before the fires were put out.
On Friday, DC Fire & EMS Department officials confirmed that a sergeant from Engine 6 was burned on the cheek and hand. He spent the night in the MedStar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center and was released on Thursday.
WUSA9
Republished with Permission
View STATter911.com's FFN page
DC Fire & EMS officials now say a sergeant from Engine 6 (on the left with his helmet on fire) was burned on the cheek and hand during the sprinkler demonstration. He spent Wednesday night in the MedStar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center and was released Thursday morning.
Usually the biggest worry for a fire chief who has gathered the public and the press together for a sprinkler demonstration is whether the sprinkler head is going to activate as promised. Livingston Fire Protection Inc. made sure that wasn't a problem during Wednesday's demonstration using two side by side mock dorm rooms at Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia. It operated at just 12 seconds into the fire.
It was the fire on the unsprinklered side that occurred minutes earlier that caused a little excitement and had Chief Dennis Rubin asking for someone to put out the firefighters. At about 3:10 on the video below you will see a plastic barrier melt and drip down in a large flaming clump on the three firefighters who were extinguishing the fire.
It was much more obvious to the audience than the firefighters themselves that something was amiss. All three had plastic burning on their PPE. It took a little more than 30 seconds before the fires were put out.
On Friday, DC Fire & EMS Department officials confirmed that a sergeant from Engine 6 was burned on the cheek and hand. He spent the night in the MedStar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center and was released on Thursday.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter Walther on
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one thing i noticed about this video that bothered me, is how long it took to put water on the guys, did they not have backup hoses? im just curious
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yeah, i agree with that
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Permalink Reply by Todd on
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The plastic isn't the problem....they didn't put the fire out above them before they advanced. I've done this demonstration several times, and have never had anything remotely close to this happening. I hate to be critical of brothers, but this is a case of the crew not paying attention to their surroundings.
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Permalink Reply by Capt.Alex Arnold on
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AMEN
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Permalink Reply by Tim Carroll on
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They should put the fire above them out first before walking under it. They were also SOL with that hot plastic dripping on them.
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Permalink Reply by Steven on
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It took a by-stander who was not in turnouts to point out the fact that their backs were on fire... That's a little scary,
You're right, there should have been another team of ff's with a second line or AT LEAST a few in turnouts watching.
Tunnel vision comes to mind right away. You're performing for the TV, media in a controlled situation. I actually doubt that would have happened to them in a working fire, their guard would be higher.
Safety officer... Not in the thick of it, a step back, keeping watch.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dudan on
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The one thing I question would be the attack of the fire and water use itself.I understanding the special circumstances of the three walled burn room and the cameras, but where were the firefighters' instincts to attack high and 'pencil the ceiling' in a flashover situation?
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Permalink Reply by Mac Conant on
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Yup same comment. They seemed like they were..well..showing off a little. (NO Disrespect my brothers!) Like others have said, they could have put that thing out from where they were. They didn't need to advance.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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A good PR person might turn this incident around to illustrate another benefit of fire sprinklers. Firefighter safety.
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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
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I have been there when a guy is yellin "LOYD YOUR ON FIRE" i didnt know but it sure was funny as hell ill have to find out who has that video
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