Author: Chris Ferrari

Jan. 9, 2023 The probes involved a firefighter who died after falling through a floor as well as two who perished after suffering medical issues.

By Susan Nicol Source firehouse.com

NIOSH has completed three investigations into firefighter fatalities that occurred in 2018.

The probes — released Monday — involved a firefighter who perished after falling through the floor of a house fire and two in which responders suffered cardiac issues.

Nathan Flynn

On July 23, 2018, Howard County, MD, Fire Lt. Nathan Flynn was working at a house fire in Clarksville when he fell through the first floor into a basement-level crawl space.

A fellow crew member called a Mayday on the tactical channel being used for the operation, while Flynn called a Mayday and relayed pertinent information on an unmonitored channel, according to the investigation.

He was trapped for 22 minutes before being rescued by a rapid intervention crew. He was rushed to a hospital where he died.

After interviews with firefighters, investigators determined the following factors:

• Lack of crew integrity
• Lack of complete scene size-up
• Below-grade fire
• Large area residential structure
• Lack of a defined incident action plan
• Inadequate fireground communications
• Missed critical incident benchmarks
• Member operating on the wrong radio channel
• Task saturation of the incident commander
• Lack of personnel accountability
• Wind/weather

NIOSH officials also suggested the following recommendations:

• Fire departments should ensure that crew integrity is properly maintained by visual (eye-to-eye), direct (touch), or verbal (voice or radio) contact at all times when operating in an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmosphere. The intent is to prevent firefighters from becoming lost or missing
• Fire departments should ensure incident commanders conduct a detailed scene size-up and risk assessment during initial fireground operations and throughout the incident including Side Charlie
• Fire departments should develop and implement a standard operating procedure/guideline (SOP/SOG) to identify below-grade fires and ensure that appropriate tactical operations are implemented
• Fire departments should ensure that a deployment strategy for low-frequency/high-risk incidents is developed and implemented for large area residential structures with unique architectural features
• Fire departments should ensure that incident commanders develop an incident action plan (IAP) that matches conditions encountered during initial operations and throughout the incident
• Fire departments should ensure that critical incident benchmarks and fire conditions are communicated to incident commanders throughout the incident. This is accomplished with effective fireground communications
• Fire departments should have a procedure to ensure all members operating in the hazard zone have their radios on the designated radio channel
• Fire departments should ensure all members and dispatchers are trained on the safety features of their portable radio, particularly the features useful during a Mayday
• Fire departments should develop a process to prevent task saturation of incident commanders during multi-alarm incidents
• Fire departments should ensure that the member assigned to the resource status and situation status function is not given other duties during an incident
• Fire departments should develop a formal training program that defines the job duties and functions for staff aides, incident command technicians, or staff assistants
• Fire departments should ensure incident commanders maintain control of situation status, resources status, and communications to ensure the completion of tactical objectives
• Fire departments should incorporate the principles of Command Safety into the incident management system during the initial assumption of command. This ensures that strategic-level safety responsibilities are being incorporated into the command functions throughout the incident
• Fire departments should review and/or develop SOG/SOPs to ensure that water supply is established during initial fireground operations, particularly in areas with limited or no hydrants
• Fire departments should ensure adequate staffing and deployment of resources based on the community’s risk assessment
• Fire department should periodically review and, if necessary, revise their SOP/SOG on the deployment of rapid intervention crews (RICs)
• Fire departments should use resources from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) to develop and revise operational procedures on fireground tactics and provide training in fire dynamics in structures for all firefighting staff
• Fire departments should consider having all members carry a wire cutting tool

Two other investigations were initiated after firefighters succumbed to cardiac issues, one at the scene of an incident and another following a training scenario.

Danny Lister

On Sept. 1, Queen Anne-Hillsboro, MD, Vol. Fire Co. Assistant Fire Chief Daniel “Danny” Lister was “operating on the scene of a motor vehicle collision with multiple patients” when he suffered a medical emergency.

He was stricken after he helped extricate a person from the vehicle.

Lister went into cardiac arrest and was rushed into the Cath lab at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health at Easton, but he did not survive.  

The cause of death was identified as hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

NIOSH noted that the fire department does not require preplacement medical evaluations for applicants or offer periodic evaluations for members. They also don’t have a wellness or fitness program available.

However, if they have a serious injury or illness, they must provide a medical clearance from a physician to participate again.

To reduce the incidents of sudden cardiac events, NIOSH recommends all departments

• Ensure that all firefighters receive an annual medical evaluation consistent with NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments.

• Ensure firefighters are cleared for duty by a physician knowledgeable about the physical demands of firefighting, the personal protective equipment used by firefighters, and the various components of NFPA 1582.

• Consider incident scene rehabilitation (rehab) during rescue operations as dictated by weather conditions and the work performed.

• Phase in a comprehensive wellness and fitness program for firefighters

Joshua Eugin

 The same recommendations were made following an investigation of the Oct. 17 death of a 36-year-old probationary firefighter who collapsed after participating in a search and rescue training evolution.

Saint David Fire District, AZ Firefighter Joshua Eugin was in full turnout gear and SCBA for the drill. 

When he fell ill and went into cardiac arrest, there were no ambulances on standby at the site. There were four transport units on duty in the county: two BLS and two ALS units. When the transport unit was requested, only one BLS unit was available, and it was approximately 25 minutes away, investigators learned.

Eugin was treated by a firefighter/medic until the ambulance arrived.

He was transported to a hospital and was pronounced dead after approximately two-and-a-half hour resuscitative efforts.

The death certificate listed the cause of death as coronary artery atherosclerosis with dilated cardiomyopathy and obesity as significant contributing conditions.

As in the previous case, NIOSH said it’s essential for departments to screen personnel prior to any strenuous activity.

Other recommendations include:

• Fire departments should have ALS with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and all ALS required medications on board during training exercises.

• Implement a mandatory wellness and fitness program for fire department members consistent with NFPA 1583, Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members, and the International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFF/IAFC) Wellness-Fitness Initiative.

• All formal training exercises, especially those involving multiple agencies, should utilize a written Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Jan. 9, 2023 The Streetsboro medical control physician and medics provided immediate ALS care.

Source Firehouse.com News

A fire department physician did more than lecture Streetsboro firefighters Monday morning.

The medical control director and medics jumped into action when the firefighter collapsed during the training.

The unnamed Streetsboro responder received advanced cardiac life support and was taken to University Hospitals Portage Medical Center (UHPMC). 

Jan. 9, 2023 Syracuse firefighters rescued a person who had fallen off a bridge onto the rocky bank of the creek below.

Source Firehouse.com News

Syracuse firefighters responded to a call that a person had fallen from the Dickerson St. bridge into the Onondaga Creek.

Firefighters from Station 1 (900 S. State St.) and Station 6 (601 S. West St.) were on scene in less than 2 minutes.

On arrival, firefighters found the patient had landed on the rocky bank of the creek and was unable to escape due to injuries.  

Additional units and equipment were requested to the scene to assist with rescue efforts.

Rescuers made their way to the victim, assessed injuries and packaged the patient.

They then used ropes, a specially designed stretcher, and a stokes basket to carefully lift the victim up a steep embankment, to a waiting ambulance.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, their condition is not known at this time.

In total, 17 firefighters responded to the scene, including command and support staff. 

Jan. 9, 2023 Maurice Yarbrough’s alcohol level was three times the legal limit, according to court documents.

Source Firehouse.com News

The man driving the vehicle involved in a crash that killed Memphis Firefighter David Pleasant last year had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, court documents indicate.

Pleasant was driving a truck to a house fire when the Aug. 10 crash occurred. Three other firefighters were injured.

Maurice Yarbrough was arrested on Dec. 15 and charged with vehicular and reckless homicide (intoxication), disregard of a red light, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, driving without a license and registration, failure to exercise due care, and violation of financial law, ABC 24 reported. 

He posted the $50,000 bail.

Stephney Martin, Pleasant’s daughter told a WVLT reporter last week: “Just absolutely insane. I’ve never heard of a blood alcohol level being that high.”

She wants Yarbrough to be held responsible for the wreck that changed lives forever. 

“If that’s what we have to do to make sure this doesn’t happen to another family and there were other firefighters injured too. I think there should be charges for them too. You shouldn’t have to die just to receive justice,” said Martin.

Yarbrough is due back in court on January 24.

Jan. 9, 2023 The show implied that there are safe infant surrender boxes at Chicago fire stations, which is not true, according to fire officials.

By Zareen Syed Source Chicago Tribune (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

On Wednesday’s episode of NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” a storyline involving an infant safe surrender box sounded the alarm for both the Chicago Fire Department and an advocate for abandoned children, who called the plot “misleading.”

In a scene from the most recent Season 11 episode, the character Sylvie Brett, a paramedic, opens up a delivery containing a large temperature-controlled device, and explains it as “a place for people to safely and anonymously drop their newborns under the state safe haven statute.”

Although Illinois has had a Safe Haven Law for newborns since 2001, it does not have a baby box system like other states such as Indiana. Illinois requires that babies who are surrendered are handed over to a person.

“The scene concerns us because it’s not realistic. We just don’t do that here. The law is not written that way,” Larry Langford, spokesman for the Fire Department said Friday. “And we understand that a lot of the TV show is fictionalized and it’s loosely based on us. But we prefer they not do something that may cause someone to misunderstand, misinterpret and do something that might be detrimental to an infant.”

The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act, also referred to as the Safe Haven Law, gives the families of newborns legal protection from prosecution if they bring a child to a police station, firehouse or hospital. And the law states that an unharmed baby up to 30 days old can be turned over to a staff member at a safe haven location. Mothers or family members handing over a baby to someone aren’t required to answer any questions and can remain anonymous.

Dawn Geras, an executive chairperson for the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation, a Chicago nonprofit instrumental in getting the Safe Haven Law passed in Illinois, said the law works as it’s written, but the “Chicago Fire” episode might mistakenly lead a mother to a firehouse looking for a baby box.

“It’s wrong and misleading, and I don’t know what kind of consequences that will bring,” Geras said. “There are a lot of people that watch the show. What are they going to do when they don’t find a box?”

There are several reasons why baby boxes are “vehemently opposed” by the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation, Geras said. For one, the interaction between a mother and another human at a safe haven location could lead to a number of support services, she said.

“Typically a fireman or a nurse will see a woman in distress and they’re going to say, ‘Would you like help?’ And in almost 30% of the cases, the moms accept help, be it medical help or counseling,” Geras said. “Given that supportive service, they can also choose to make a parenting plan or make a traditional adoption plan.”

Langford said all firehouses in Chicago have safe haven signs, with additional signage to indicate that personnel should be present when a person hands over a baby.

Citing a case from 2022 when a baby was found dead in a duffel bag on Orleans Street near a firehouse door, Langford said some firehouses are not staffed 24 hours a day. And in the Orleans Street case, they don’t know whether someone tried to ring the doorbell first.

He said someone recently tried to leave a child at the back door of a firehouse on the Southwest Side and slip away, but one of the firefighters saw the incident through the window.

Most of the time, the back doors are unattended or seldom used for entry, Langford said. “It’s possible you could leave a child there and we wouldn’t even know it,” he said.

Langford and Geras fear people might assume the events of the “Chicago Fire” episode are based in reality.

“‘Chicago Fire’ is shot at an actual firehouse and a lot of people know where that is. And I can’t think for anyone, but someone might think, ‘Oh yeah, that firehouse on Blue Island where they shoot the show has a baby box now,’” Langford said. “You might say that’s a stretch for someone to think that, but you don’t know what people think. We’re just better off not having this situation at all.”

NBC could not be reached for comment.