Mass-Casualty Incidents
As the military saying goes, “Prior planning prevents poor performance.” This phrase can be applied to preparing for mass-casualty incidents (MCIs). The FireRescue1 MCI resource page details best practices for significant incidents, including active shooter and terrorist events, transportation incidents like bus crashes or train derailments, and other incidents that could involve many victims.
An independent review says incident command wasn’t formally established until 25 minutes after the shooter was in custody and fire crews were dispatched late
343 FDNY firefighters, plus one New York fire patrolman, were killed in the terrorist attacks, along with dozens of other public safety personnel
Mislabeling public safety K-9s creates confusion, liability and access issues during high-stakes deployments
Security footage shows the moment the overpass collapsed, sending train cars and debris onto the road below
At least eight people were injured in the crash that left one vehicle hanging off the side of a bridge
Rescuers pulled seven people from the water and rescued one from a cliff after the boat broke apart
Investigators found that I-35W was treated for ice 44 hours before the crash
Officials said about 500 people were at the house and emergency vehicles were hampered by a large number of parked cars on the street
The FBI said it had previously questioned the gunman, a 19-year-old former employee
The 71-year-old driver, who is now in custody, was heading through a tunnel when he drove his Volvo station wagon onto the sidewalk
Firefighters struggled to maneuver apparatus and calls were made to deliver sand and kitty litter for the roads
The Chicago Fire Department called an EMS Plan 3, dispatching 15 ambulances, a district chief and chief paramedic
An SUV packed with 25 people pulled in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer on a two-lane highway, killing 13
Breaking down police, fire rescue, EMS roles in a traffic incident management system
Officials said that most of the deceased victims succumbed to burn injuries at the scene
At least 36 people were transported from the pileup on an icy road near downtown Fort Worth
Police arrested a local man who had been unhappy with the healthcare he received there, officials said
First responders attended to victims in an impromptu triage area outside the Ontario plant
Hall County officials said firefighters found a large number of employees gathered outside the poultry plant with several experiencing medical emergencies
A Facebook post by the Glen Echo Fire Department detailed how its members treated officers who were beaten and seriously injured
The captain of the dive boat Conception could face federal manslaughter charges for alleged safety violations
Fire Chief Marc Bashoor speaks with Loveland (Colorado) Division Chief Greg Ward about the department’s unique tactical firefighting teams
Officials said two chemicals used to clean equipment leaked and combined
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It’s not always the big incidents that cause safety problems for fire service personnel
Four primary lifesaving missions that fire service leaders need to manage mass violence
Reviewing the impact of civil unrest, the need to coordinate with other agencies, plus training on active shooter and fire as a weapon
Fire crews must work with EMS, police and other agencies to prepare and prevent independent operations that could compromise responder safety
A funeral was held for Beirut Fire Brigade Paramedic Sahar Fares, 24, on Thursday; Beirut’s governor said nine other firefighters were killed
4 steps to prepare for a fire involving hazardous or potentially explosive materials
Firefighters must plan the tactical needs for all high-hazard environments in their response area
Former Chief Jeff Payne, who retired in January, says he is “very proud” of the resiliency first responders have shown
Members of the El Paso Fire Department reflected on their response to the shooting that killed 23 people