CINCINNATI — The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety release an investigative report Tuesday surrounding the death of Cincinnati firefighter Daryl Gordon.
The report echoed the findings of an investigation report published late June by the Cincinnati Fire Department, and agreed with many of the recommendations included.
Both reports state Gordon died March 26, 2015 because he walked into a faulty elevator that should have been locked and marked.
The NIOSH report noted that the fire “could have been delayed if the patio door had remained intact as the fire would have reached a ventilation limited state.” However, firefighters, under orders from a superior, broke the glass patio door, which caused more air to fuel the fire.
Moreover, the report points out that the “delay in getting water onto the fire contributed to the smoke conditions on all floors of the five-story apartment building.” The CFD found that it took over 20 minutes after arriving on scene to spray water inside the building.
NIOSH highlighted a list of communication, coordination and training issues that need improvement. Cincinnati firefighter union president Matt Alter said both reports will be reviewed and used to make improvements.
“Here at Local 48, we look at that and saw we have to do whatever we can in our power to make sure the tragic events of March 26, 2015, are never repeated. If that means having enough people on the truck to make sure that we can keep citizens as safe as possible, and the firefighters as safe as possible, then that’s what has to be done,” Atler told cincinnati.com.