By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Easton city officials are evaluating staffing, inspections, and emergency response procedures following a federal investigation into the February 20 Hotel Hampton fire that killed no residents but injured a Wilson Borough firefighter.
- A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report on the incident prompted city leadership to identify staffing shortages and recommend three full-time fire inspectors to conduct more frequent inspections of high-risk buildings.
- Approximately 730 high-risk buildings exist in Easton; only 133 have fire pre-plans and 129 have received rental inspections, leaving nearly 500 properties unaddressed.
- The city approved a contract with National Fire & Safety Inspection Consultants to administer the fire safety inspection program and maintain inspection records and compliance activities.
- Fire Chief Henry Hennings reported new department-wide training on Mayday procedures, air management, and emergency protocols, with joint bailout kit purchases and training exercises planned with four neighboring fire departments.
EASTON, PA — City officials are implementing personnel and operational changes after a federal investigation revealed significant gaps in fire prevention and response procedures during a February 20 fire at Hotel Hampton, a 462-unit rooming house on Northampton Street, according to the Easton Fire Department.
Although all occupants of the building were evacuated safely, a Wilson Borough firefighter suffered serious injuries including a broken back and ankle during the incident. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted the investigation and released findings that prompted city leadership to address staffing and inspection deficiencies.
During a city council committee meeting Tuesday, Fire Chief Henry Hennings told officials that Easton does not currently employ a dedicated, fully certified fire inspector and recommended hiring three full-time inspectors with geographically divided responsibilities. Hennings noted that comprehensive inspections of large facilities can require substantial time and resources; a hospital inspection could take two inspectors one to two weeks, while Easton City Hall could require several days depending on findings. Dwayne Tillman, director of planning and codes, reported that fire safety inspections at high-risk buildings largely ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to staffing reductions and the city’s transition to new software systems.
The city identified approximately 730 high-risk buildings citywide, including commercial, mixed-use, and rental properties. Of those, only 133 currently have fire pre-plans and 129 have received rental inspections, leaving nearly 500 properties to be prioritized. On Wednesday, city council approved an agreement with National Fire & Safety Inspection Consultants to administer the inspection program, maintain records, coordinate compliance, and collect inspection fees.
Fire Chief Hennings reported that the department is reinforcing training on air management and emergency procedures, with all firefighters receiving instruction to immediately declare a Mayday when low-air warnings activate. The NIOSH investigation found that an injured firefighter was running out of air but did not declare a Mayday early enough. Hennings said mayday procedures, air management, and firefighter survival training will now be conducted semiannually department-wide. Easton, Forks Township, Palmer Township, and Wilson fire departments jointly purchased approximately 127 bailout kits through a cooperative purchasing agreement, reducing costs by $12,000, with joint training exercises planned.
The NIOSH report also found that two firefighters became separated during the Hotel Hampton incident, violating the two-in/two-out protocol. Hennings said the department enforces the policy and is reinforcing compliance through training with both Easton firefighters and mutual-aid companies. The chief noted that volunteer departments can have varying response times and staffing levels, and firefighters from different departments may have different training backgrounds, complicating coordinated interior operations.
Fire Chief Hennings reported that Easton is beginning a regionalization study, funded through a 2025 grant, examining potential consolidation with Wilson Borough, with a long-term vision of a countywide fire and EMS system. The department continues to rely on neighboring departments for air-filling capabilities and is pursuing a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to replace the fire department’s stationary cascade air system. Planned next steps include continued post-incident reviews with mutual-aid departments and a July meeting with utility companies and emergency responders to standardize electrical shutoff procedures.