Fatalities while searching for occupants
By Bill Carey
Originally published 30 August 2015.
The second part of this three part series looks at the fires and firefighters related to the fatality data in the time period discussed. To refresh, this series is looking at the details in the on-duty death data under the activity type “Search and Rescue” from 2010 to present. Only those that occurred inside a burning structure are being reviewed.
In the range of years selected here are the numbers of fatalities:
2010: 1
2011: 4
2012: 0
2013: 3
2014: 4
2015: 1, presently
The following is a brief look at each incident where a firefighter fatality occurred during a search. If available, NIOSH and/or department investigation reports are referenced linked to the details presented. Incident numbers only relate to data gathering for writing and are not related to date of occurrence. The listing of “Victims Involved in Rescue of Occupants” is done based on the investigative reports and news coverage of the incident. This is counted based on specific statements in the report or common sense, i.e. with a fire in a residential high-rise still occupied when fire companies arrived we can logically assume that the victim was searching for occupants still inside the structure. “Point of Problem” is listed as the initial moment that specific actions or events occurred that are directly related to the victim’s death and is not to be misconstrued as a contributing factor from the available reports. This writing looks at the moment the situation turned bad for the victim during his search.
Victim’s Company Assignment
- Engine Company: 5
- Truck Company: 3
- Rescue Company: 4
- Other: 1
Victim, Company Arrival
- First-Due or First-Arriving: 5
- Second-Due: 1
- Remainder of Initial Assignment: 3
- Additional Alarm: 3
- Working Fire: 2
- Fourth-Alarm: 1
- Self-Dispatched: 1
Victim, Company Staffing
Incident No.1: One Officer, One Engineer, One Firefighter
Incident No.2: One Officer, One Engineer, Three Firefighters
Incident No.3: One Officer, Five Firefighters
Incident No.4: Two Firefighters
Incident No.5: One Officer, Three Firefighters
Incident No.6: One Officer, Three Firefighters
Incident No.7: One Officer, Four-Five Firefighters
Incident No.8: One Acting Officer, One Chauffeur, Three Firefighters
Incident No.9: One Officer, One Fire Apparatus Operator, Two Firefighters
Incident No.10: One Officer, One Engineer, Two Firefighters
Incident No.11: One Officer, One Engineer, One Firefighter
Occupants
- Reported in Initial Alarm: 4
- Reported to Company Upon Arrival: 4
- Obvious Rescues Upon Arrival: 2
Victims Involved in Rescue of Occupants: 3
- 1 Victim searching for occupants before being overcome
- 2 Victims searching for occupants inside a residential high-rise
Actual Occupants Rescued: 6 or more
- Incident No.1: None
- Incident No.2: 1
- Incident No.3: 1 upon arrival
- Incident No.4: 1
- Incident No.5: Several located and removed by companies on the first- and second-alarm
- Incident No.6: None
- Incident No.7: Assumed; residential high-rise
- Incident No.8: None
- Incident No.9: At least three; residential high-rise
- Incident No.10: None
- Incident No.11: None
Mayday, Urgent or Radio Transmission Related to Victim
- Mayday by Victim: 4
- Mayday by Victim’s Officer: 3
- Mayday by Incident Commander or Other: 5
- Incident Commander: 1
- Firefighter in Victim’s Company: 1
- Nozzleman, First-Due Engine Company: 1
- Other Company: 2
Residential Structures
Incident No.1
Kansas – 22 May 2010 Single-Family Dwelling
2052 hours
Initial Alarm: Automatic Fire Alarm followed by multiple 911 calls and then upgraded
Initial Assignment: One Truck Company (1 Officer, 1 Firefighter); upgraded to 3 Engines, 1 Quint, 1 Battalion Fire Chief, 1 Medic
Victim Assignment: Firefighter on first-arriving engine company (1 Officer, 1 Engineer, 1 Firefighter)
Occupants: Reported inside to firefighters by neighbor
Fire: Inside downstairs garage with extension via interior stairwell. Heavy smoke on first floor upon entry
Actions: Command assigned victim’s company to search and rescue
Searching with a Hoseline? Yes Charged? No
Point of Problem: Contact with victim was lost on first floor after family dog was found and removed (NIOSH F2010-13)
Mayday/Urgent: Called by victim’s officer
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 9 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 14 minutes
Occupants Rescued? None Inside
Incident No.2
Maryland – 19 January 2011 – Garden-Style Apartment Building
1855 hours
Initial Alarm: Spreading kitchen fire
Initial Assignment: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Division Chief. Working Fire: 2 Engines, 1 Squad (Rescue), 1 Medic
Victim Assignment: Acting Officer, Squad on Working Fire
Occupants: Obvious upon arrival; one in window threatening to jump
Fire: Inside ground floor apartment kitchen; out sliding glass door and extending up second floor balcony and interior stairway upon arrival
Actions: Search third floor and downward
Point of Problem: Cutoff by fire conditions on third floor (NIOSH F2011-02)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Called by victim
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 11 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 12 minutes
Occupants Rescued? Yes
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.3
Massachusetts – 8 December 2011 – Three-Story (triple-decker) Multi-Family Dwelling
0421 hours
Initial Alarm: Fire reported inside a residential structure; EMS on scene with occupant rescues
Initial Assignment: 4 Engines, 3 Trucks (1 as RIT), 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief
Victim Assignment: Firefighter in Rescue Company
Occupants: EMS crew on scene rescued one occupant and reported others still inside
Fire: In rear of structure with extension upward into decks and into floors above
Actions: Officer directed company to second floor to search for occupant reportedly still inside according to EMS
Point of Problem: Caught in collapse during secondary search as building began deteriorating (NIOSH F2011-30)
Searching with a Hoseline? Yes. Charged? Yes. Hoseline was left in place at point of first evacuation
Mayday/Urgent: No. Incident Commander called for an evacuation after Safety Officer reported collapse
Time from Arrival to Mayday: Approximately 30 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: Approximately 20 minutes
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.4
Maryland – 24 April 2013 – Three-Story Victorian-Converted Apartment House
0109 hours
Initial Alarm: Residential structure fire with occupants trapped
Initial Assignment: 4 Engines, 1 Truck, 2 Squads (Rescue), 1 Battalion Chief, 1 EMS Officer, 1 Medic; 1 Special Unit (self-dispatched)
Victim Assignment: Firefighter on Special Unit
Occupants: Occupants reporting a person trapped on second floor
Fire: Smoke showing from the rear; IC finds heavy fire in rear first floor extending to second floor
Actions: Victim and firefighter in Special Unit entered ahead of first engine company to search second floor for reported trapped occupant.
Point of Problem: Separated from partner; radio left in vehicle (NIOSH F2013-13)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Yes. Mayday called by engine company nozzleman after hearing PASS device activation and having no response from victim.
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 10 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 2 minutes
Occupants Rescued? Yes. 10 minutes after Mayday
Victim Involved? Yes
Incident No.5
Texas – 20 May 2013 – Three-Story Condominium Complex
0251 hours
Initial Alarm: Automatic Fire Alarm
Initial Assignment: 1 Engine, 1 Truck. Upgraded after report of fire showing by first truck: 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 2 Rescues (EMS)
Victim Assignment: Firefighter on Fourth-Alarm truck Company
Occupants: Occupants found and removed by from various locations by companies on the initial alarm and second-alarm
Fire: Fire through the roof at the A/B corner of the complex
Actions: Company assigned to search first floor of Building 5 in complex. NOTE: both NIOSH and Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office report having conflicting information regarding the Incident Commander’s directions.
Point of Problem: Structural collapse; master stream/defensive operations (NIOSH F2013-17) (TX FFF FY 13-07)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Yes, called by victim’s officer
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 39 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 11 minutes
Occupants Rescued? Yes
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.6 (Two Victims)
Ohio – 26 January 2014 (2) – Two-Story Mixed-Use structure, Apartment over Store
1447 hours
Initial Alarm: Apartment fire with people still inside
Initial Assignment: 5 Engines, 2 Rescues (EMS; staffing as the engine companies), 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief
Victim Assignment: Firefighters on first-due Engine Company
Occupants: Reported still inside in dispatch; all accounted for to Incident Command four minutes after arrival
Fire: Smoke showing from first floor
Actions: Company assigned to “Fire Attack” by Incident Commander. No access to second floor, company advanced a line over ladder to second floor and began operating.
Point of Problem: Altered dispatch assignments; size-up errors; communication errors (NIOSH F2014-02)
Searching with a Hoseline? Yes Charged? Yes
Mayday/Urgent: Yes. One by Victim 1; Two by Victims’ officer; Second by Victim 1, all within approximately one minute
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 10 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 14 minutes for one victim; 16 minutes for the other
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.7
New York – 5 July 2014 – 21-Story High-Rise Apartment Building
2110 hours
Initial Alarm: Smoke reported on 21st floor, followed by fire reported on 19th floor
Initial Assignment: 6 Engines, 3 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad, various additional chiefs and support companies (approximate)
Victim Assignment: Officer of first-due Truck Company
Occupants: Assuredly inside; no initial reports of occupants trapped. One victim removed from 21st floor apartment
Fire: Fire inside 19th floor apartment
Actions: Search per department guidelines
Point of Problem: Caught in flashover, per official department statement (No report available)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Yes
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 22 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 12 minutes
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.8
New York – 19 December 2014 – Two-Story Single-Family Dwelling
0400 hours
Initial Alarm: Mutual aid house fire response (details unavailable)
Initial Assignment: Details unavailable
Victim Assignment: Firefighter on mutual aid Truck Company
Occupants: Details unavailable; none noted in narrative from state
Fire: Details unknown; likely a basement fire
Actions: Search, after checking in with Incident Commander, via the first-floor rear of the structure
Point of Problem: Poor accountability; unable to account for victim during withdraw search area (NYS PESH Investigation Narrative)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Yes
Time from Arrival to Mayday: Unknown
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: Unknown
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.9
Ohio – 26 March 2015 – Five-Story High-Rise Apartment Building
0531 hours
Initial Alarm: Fire in a second floor apartment; details unavailable
Initial Assignment: Details unavailable
Victim Assignment: Fire Apparatus Operator on Rescue Company
Occupants: Assuredly inside; reports of occupants trapped on floors above
Fire: Fire inside a second floor apartment; details unknown
Actions: Search of the floors above
Point of Problem: Presumably faulty elevator door contributed to victim’s fall (No NIOSH or department report available)
Searching with a Hoseline? No
Mayday/Urgent: Yes
Time from Arrival to Mayday: Unknown
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: Unknown
Occupants Rescued? Yes
Victim Involved? No
Commercial Structures
Incident No.10
North Carolina – 28 July 2011 – Six-Story High-Rise Office building
1228 hours
Initial Alarm: Automatic Fire Alarm
Initial Assignment: 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Squad. Upgraded after on-scene report of smoke showing with 1 Engine, 1 Rescue, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Division Chief, 1 Safety Officer, 1 Fire Marshak
Victim Assignment: Officer of Rescue Company
Occupants: Evacuating upon arrival of fire department
Fire: Top floor A/B corner
Actions: Secondary search
Point of Problem: Disorientation related to poor fire attack (NIOSH F2011-18)
Searching with a Hoseline? Yes Charged? Yes. Problems with standpipe, supply and hoselines
Mayday/Urgent: Yes
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 45 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 21 minutes
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
Incident No.11
Texas – 15 February 2013 – One-Story Public Assembly Structure
2319 hours
Initial Alarm: Assembly hall fire; unknown if anyone is inside; no cars parked outside
Initial Assignment: 3 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Medic, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 EMS Officer
Victim Assignment: Officer of First-Due Engine Company
Occupants: None
Fire: Fire through the roof of the A/B corner
Actions: Initial attack
Point of Problem: Became separated from firefighter during withdraw (NIOSH F2013-04)
Searching with a Hoseline? Yes Charged? Yes
Mayday/Urgent: Yes
Time from Arrival to Mayday: 16 minutes
Time from Mayday to Finding Victim: 30 minutes
Occupants Rescued? No
Victim Involved? No
The final part will review contrasts between USFA data and NIOSH reports, summarize the findings and present items for further discussion and investigation.
Photograph courtesy of Unsplash.
Data Not Drama 
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