By Kim Minugh
The Sacramento Bee
Copyright 2007 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Fire Department temporarily has suspended use of its two fireboats after last week’s trestle fire revealed several operational flaws.
Firefighters used the boats to help battle Thursday’s blaze, which destroyed about 1,400 feet of raised railroad trestle just north of the American River and west of Cal Expo.
It was the first major firefighting effort involving the boats since they were purchased with the city Police Department last year — and thus the first time use of the boats for this purpose could be critiqued.
The boats typically are used for water rescues, said fire Capt. Chad Augustin, and those missions will not be affected by the suspension. Sacramento police will continue to use the boats for patrol.
In reviewing last week’s incident, officials identified three major concerns, Augustin said.
• The department does not have standard operating guidelines to dictate how, when or why the fireboats should be used.
• The boats do not carry key pieces of equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatuses -- equipment particularly important in Thursday’s blaze because of thick smoke and fumes from the burning creosote-soaked wood.
• The boats were carrying gas cans onboard — a safety hazard — because the department did not have an account for firefighters to buy fuel at the Miller Park Marina, where the boats are docked. That issue already has been addressed.
Augustin said it likely will be a few weeks before the other concerns are addressed and use of the boats resumes.