The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health issued a line-of-duty-death report that examined the causes of an incident where an out-of-control motorist struck and killed a Calif. fire captain.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 a.m., Feb. 29, 2012, on a six-lane highway an hour after a hailstorm. Capt. Mark Ratledge,35, and one other firefighter from the Cottonwood (Calif.) Fire Protection District responded to two vehicles that had gone off the road. A police officer was also on scene.
While the firefighters were investigating the incident, a driver lost control of a pickup truck, striking and killing Capt. Ratledge. Police said excessive speed and unsafe turning movement for the conditions caused the driver to lose control.
Capt. Ratledge had nine years on Cottonwood, the last six as captain. He rose through the ranks of the combination department from volunteer to career captain. He had also served as a wildland firefighter and was an EMT.
NIOSH recommended that departments have standard operating procedures and pre-incident plans that cover roadway incidents. At the time of the incident, Cottonwood did not have such an SOP.
NIOSH also recommended that all personnel be trained on roadside response, that includes positioning department vehicles at 30- to 45-degree angle in any lane or shoulder where personnel are working.
The report said that firefighters should maintain situational awareness, conduct scene size ups, wear high-visibility apparel and know the proper way to establish advanced warning and transitional areas for motorists near a highway incident.
NIOSH also said it is important that all fire apparatus have highly visible chevrons and reflective markings.