By Ken Robinson
FireRescue1 associate editor
DETROIT — Insufficient risk-versus-gain analysis and an inadequate accountability system contributed to the death of a Detroit firefighter, according to investigators.
Firefighter Walter Harris died on November 15, 2008, after being crushed by a roof collapse in an abandoned building, a NIOSH fatality report issued Thursday said.
After initial knockdown of the vacant house fire, fire crews were performing overhaul on the second floor when the roof collapsed, trapping three firefighters.
Two firefighters self-extricated, but firefighters had to cut through roofing materials to reach Firefighter Harris, who was found unconscious and unresponsive.
Firefighters transported Firefighter Harris to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
As a result of the findings, NIOSH recommends fire departments ensure the incident commander continually conduct risk-versus-gain analyses prior to committing to interior operations in vacant or abandoned structures.
“The first arriving officer reported that he performed a walk around prior to allowing crews to enter the structure and the building appeared intact, but he would not have known of the alterations to the interior roof system and the removal of critical structural members,” the report said.
“Interior condition and roof condition reports might have revealed the burned-through area of the roof, and tactics could have been altered to keep fire fighters off the roof and out of the structure.”
The report also mentioned that crews inside the structure did not fully report dilapidated conditions, including the exposed roof assembly and possible removal of rafter connectors.
Citing an average of 4,500 firefighters injured at vacant building fires annually from 2003 to 2006, the report warns that vacant buildings post a distinct threat to firefighters.
In this incident, investigators found the structure had been the site of a previous fire within the past year, which further contributed to dilapidated conditions.
“Structural hazards can occur when building owners or salvage workers remove components of the building such as doors, railings, windows, electric wiring, utility pipes, etc.,” the report said.
To address these risks, the report recommends considering requiring exterior placards or markings on abandoned and vacant structures to warn firefighters and identify possible hazards.
Investigators also found that no accountability system or riding lists were in place, and the incident commander did not have any personnel assigned to assist with accountability.
The report recommends all departments develop and standardize a system for all incidents, and offers several example methods, including individual tags assigned to each firefighter, a riding list provided by the company officer, an SCBA tag system, or an incident command board.
A malfunctioning PASS device also likely delayed efforts to locate Firefighter Harris, the investigation found.
To avoid similar incidents, NIOSH recommends fire departments:
• Ensure that the incident commander conducts a risk-versus-gain analysis prior to committing to interior operations in vacant/abandoned structures and continues the assessment throughout the operations
• Ensure SOPs are developed for fighting fires in vacant/abandoned buildings
• Ensure that the incident commander maintains close accountability for all personnel operating on the fireground
• Ensure that a separate incident safety officer, independent from the incident commander, is appointed at each structure fire
• Ensure that a respiratory protection program is in place to provide for the selection, care, maintenance, and use of respiratory protection equipment, including PASS devices
In addition, investigators say municipalities and local authorities should develop strategies for arson prevention and the prevention and remediation of vacant and abandoned buildings.