Bill Carey of Backstep Firefighter did a bang up job in discussing the similarities and differences in the 2005 Houston LODD and the 2009 Houston LODD’s. He really spent some time writing a fine article and bringing question to various points within the post.
He asked me my thoughts on the matter and I was unable to get them to him in a timely manner, so here they are.
I scanned over the recent report on the 2009 LODD’s of Captain James Harlow and Firefighter Damion Hobbs.
While I am not as in depth as Bill is, I offer my thoughts which came to mind. My thoughts are more National in thought than just on the Houston FD.
The report pointed to a couple of things:
- The lack of use of a thermal imaging camera (TIC)
- The firefighters leaving the hoseline
- The Captain not doing a 360 degree walkaround
- The Captain not taking his radio
1. The lack of use of a thermal imaging camera (TIC)
Most departments roll with a firefighter, an officer, and a driver. If the driver is pumping, two firefighters are going in. Two firefighters to make an attack on the fire with a hoseline. One on the nozzle pulling hose, the other helping drag hose and talking on the radio if need be.
Who is going to carry the TIC? If that is an issue, put more staffing on the apparatus. In the HFD LODD report, it does state that in this case there were 3 firefighters going in but one had issues with their mask. In my department that would be an imaginary firefighter…We run with 3 total.
I agree that TIC’s have their place in finding victims, the seat of the fire, or possible means of egress. However, it is not the end-all!
2. The firefighters leaving the hoseline
From what I could tell, this point was processed by where the hoseline was laying vs. where the two men’s bodies were found.
I can only imagine that their last minutes on this earth were sheer terror and panic. I like to think that if I were in their shoes I would revert to training, experience, and knowledge and throw my brother firefighter over my shoulder and walk out the front door. However, we both know that we have gotten tunnel vision, fought panic and anxiety in situations less as life threatening as this.
I cannot correlate their final resting spots as cause for stating that they left the hoselines for any other reason than they realized death might have been imminent had they not.
3. The Captain not doing a 360 degree walkaround
Ah…the 360 walk-around. That ever present topic/tactic in presentations, training, and literature. That thing that I have never seen a first arriving officer do. That thing that incoming Incident Commanders rarely do.
I will put stock in this one….with caveats.
In a perfect world, we would pull up past the house getting three sides of the layout on arrival. My 2 firefighters in the back (remember that never happens in my dept.) would pull a line and force the door while I checked out the Charlie Side. I would then get back to the front of the house with my firefighters and develop a quick strategy (meaning possibly changing the point of entry upon my view of the backside of the house)
If I didn’t, the next in companies would or at least the BC upon arrival.
The truth in my department (urban firefighting hydrants/apparatus/crews bountiful on fires) is that if I were to do a walkaround, the next in engine would put the fire out before I got back up front…hypothetically.
I guess in my perfect World, if it were more than a bread and butter/room and contents fire we would do a walk-around or the BC close behind would do one and relay any pertinent information to us prior to us getting in too deep.
4. The Captain not taking his radio
He forgot it apparently. I have no excuses on this one. For the company officer, having a radio is a must. We have all forgotten something at one time or another. Did it prove fatal in this case? Maybe, there is no telling that if he had it he would have been able to get firefighters to his crew quick enough to save their lives.
Be sure to check out Bill Carey’s breakdown of the LODD here as well.
Interesting article and interesting thoughts Rhett. I just have a few things to comment on.
1. I agree about the TIC….we have the same staffing level as you described and the TIC is typically just in the way.
2. Yea I dont know how accurate the report is going to be. I dont think they just arbitrarely left the hose line. I think it was live or die time and instead of sitting there waiting to die, or for someone to come get them they decided to try and fight for there lives. I hope I do the same.
3. I dont think people put enough stock in this vital task. On a recent fire that was a arson murder and the first person to to see side C was the 2nd due truck driver. There were security bars on the rear windows and the attic was completly off with 3 victims inside. Had something gone wrong and a rapid exit had to be made then it would have been bad. At the critique it was asked why the first due officer didnt do a walk around. He stated that he felt confident when he pulled up that he knew the layout of the house. When asked if he ever knew about the rear windows, he had no idea….again no one did until the 2nd due truck driver got a look at it and reported it to the interior crews. This was a rescue mode situation with 4 companies working interior and 2 hand lines it could have gone very bad had someone tried to remove a victim or themselves from the rear windows. In my opinon as an officer wether acting or its your permanent posisiton you have given up the right to be “in the action”. What I mean is it is your job to do a complete scene survey and risk benefit analysis, not to be the closest person to the fire. I am a firm beliver that everyone must be a soldier and everyone has a job…with out the officer of the first due rig doing his job then none of the other soldires can do theres properly. If you still wanna fight fire and be on the nozzle then you should give up the promotion.
4. Un accebtable….Its a mistake we all have made but it can be detrimental to the incident especially if you are lost and disoriented.
Interesting article and interesting thoughts Rhett. I just have a few things to comment on.
1. I agree about the TIC….we have the same staffing level as you described and the TIC is typically just in the way.
2. Yea I dont know how accurate the report is going to be. I dont think they just arbitrarely left the hose line. I think it was live or die time and instead of sitting there waiting to die, or for someone to come get them they decided to try and fight for there lives. I hope I do the same.
3. I dont think people put enough stock in this vital task. On a recent fire that was a arson murder and the first person to to see side C was the 2nd due truck driver. There were security bars on the rear windows and the attic was completly off with 3 victims inside. Had something gone wrong and a rapid exit had to be made then it would have been bad. At the critique it was asked why the first due officer didnt do a walk around. He stated that he felt confident when he pulled up that he knew the layout of the house. When asked if he ever knew about the rear windows, he had no idea….again no one did until the 2nd due truck driver got a look at it and reported it to the interior crews. This was a rescue mode situation with 4 companies working interior and 2 hand lines it could have gone very bad had someone tried to remove a victim or themselves from the rear windows. In my opinon as an officer wether acting or its your permanent posisiton you have given up the right to be “in the action”. What I mean is it is your job to do a complete scene survey and risk benefit analysis, not to be the closest person to the fire. I am a firm beliver that everyone must be a soldier and everyone has a job…with out the officer of the first due rig doing his job then none of the other soldires can do theres properly. If you still wanna fight fire and be on the nozzle then you should give up the promotion.
4. Un accebtable….Its a mistake we all have made but it can be detrimental to the incident especially if you are lost and disoriented.
The truth in my department (urban firefighting hydrants/apparatus/crews bountiful on fires) is that if I were to do a walkaround, the next in engine would put the fire out before I got back up front…hypothetically.
And you doubtless aren't the only officer with such concerns. So, is what's necessary a cultural change (since the staffing probably won't be getting better anytime soon)? Do we need to decide that everyone going home is more important than who gets to put the fire out?
Cultural changes! Definitely. I have said it before and agree with you totally. What will be the catalyst for that change? I am not sure. I certainly hope that it isn't a firefighters life. I work for a very aggressive department. Aggressive and tactfully efficient. We are blessed with having great firefighters and great company officers (We do have some idiots though).
Change in our department comes from the bottom. It isn't very easy to come by either.
As for #3, no not enough stock is put into it.
Our department typically gets to the incident quick. We rely on the 2nd due engine or BC to take command and at the very least do a walk around.
It doesn't always happen though.
Yea we have the luxuary of being in a 2 company house so if we arrive at the same time as the truck we let the truck driver do the 360 becuase he is the one thats going to be solving the problem anyway. However if we arrive alone or are at a single company house waiting on help the first in officer has to do it. If he doesnt who will? and will it be to late when someone does do it?
I just think it has to be done….countless LODD reports have pointed it out, and I dont think it is a coincidence.
http://thecompanyofficer.com/2010/03/05/360-deg…
Cultural changes! Definitely. I have said it before and agree with you totally. What will be the catalyst for that change? I am not sure. I certainly hope that it isn't a firefighters life. I work for a very aggressive department. Aggressive and tactfully efficient. We are blessed with having great firefighters and great company officers (We do have some idiots though).
Change in our department comes from the bottom. It isn't very easy to come by either.
As for #3, no not enough stock is put into it.
Our department typically gets to the incident quick. We rely on the 2nd due engine or BC to take command and at the very least do a walk around.
It doesn't always happen though.
Yea we have the luxuary of being in a 2 company house so if we arrive at the same time as the truck we let the truck driver do the 360 becuase he is the one thats going to be solving the problem anyway. However if we arrive alone or are at a single company house waiting on help the first in officer has to do it. If he doesnt who will? and will it be to late when someone does do it?
I just think it has to be done….countless LODD reports have pointed it out, and I dont think it is a coincidence.
http://thecompanyofficer.com/2010/03/05/360-deg…
Cultural changes! Definitely. I have said it before and agree with you totally. What will be the catalyst for that change? I am not sure. I certainly hope that it isn't a firefighters life. I work for a very aggressive department. Aggressive and tactfully efficient. We are blessed with having great firefighters and great company officers (We do have some idiots though).
Change in our department comes from the bottom. It isn't very easy to come by either.
As for #3, no not enough stock is put into it.
Our department typically gets to the incident quick. We rely on the 2nd due engine or BC to take command and at the very least do a walk around.
It doesn't always happen though.
Yea we have the luxuary of being in a 2 company house so if we arrive at the same time as the truck we let the truck driver do the 360 becuase he is the one thats going to be solving the problem anyway. However if we arrive alone or are at a single company house waiting on help the first in officer has to do it. If he doesnt who will? and will it be to late when someone does do it?
I just think it has to be done….countless LODD reports have pointed it out, and I dont think it is a coincidence.
http://thecompanyofficer.com/2010/03/05/360-deg…