Firewhirl: Safety Archives

Static Electricity Flash Fire at Gas Pump

I've never seen a flash fire at a gas pump caused by static electricity, although I've read the safety signs posted at the pumps. Courtesy of LAFD News and Information, here is a short video of just such a fire.

Video of Static Electricity Flash Fire at Gas Pump

The person in the video actually handles herself pretty well.

Be sure to check out the safety tips at the above link to learn how to avoid this kind of fire.

Cost to Outfit a Firefighter

Warning! This post is an unabashed attempt to improve firefighter safety.

Check out the picture at the top of the page at FirefighterCloseCalls.com. Its priceless.

Here is an easy way to improve your safety:
Do you have someone on your department that is always getting hurt or finding themselves in dangerous situations? Make sure that you don't stand too close to them at the fire scene (hehehe).

Fireworks Safety

Are you planning on shooting some fireworks with your family over the holiday? Here are some safety tips from the USFA.

Fire Safety Campaign for Babies and Toddlers

The USFA has a new fire safety campaign emphasizing babies and toddlers. It covers things like smoke detectors, matches, and home escape plans.

Everyone with children should spend some time at this web site. Good info!

2006 Safety Stand Down

Today is the start of the 2006 International Fire Fighter Safety Stand Down. Be sure to do something in your department over the next week or two to emphasize firefighter safety.

Click here to go to the Safety Stand Down web site for info and ideas.

Seat Belt Pledge

Do you have the courage to take the Seat Belt Pledge?

Dr. Burton A. Clark has developed this pledge to honor Firefighter Christopher Brian Hunton. Firefighter Hunton fell from his truck and died two days later from his injuries. He was not wearing his seat belt.

Check out Dr. Clark's article here (from Firehouse.com).

Here is the link to the pledge (pdf). Print it out, sign it, and then fax it to the appropriate number listed at the bottom of the form.

Task Force Releases Hydrogen Cyanide Report

A couple of months ago, I posted about an incident in Providence, RI, where firefighters were exposed to hydrogen cyanide. The chief of the department formed a task force to study the problem and they have released their report. Here are some interesting points (from The Providence Journal).

The report contains 16 recommendations for the fire service, the medical community and the public. The task force advocates training firefighters about the risks and to consistently wear their air masks, educating the medical community to routinely test smoke-inhalation victims for cyanide poisoning, and teaching the public that there's no time to spare in getting out of smoky buildings.

Above all, the task force is pressing to end the traditional "smoke-eater" culture of fire departments, in Providence and nationwide.

...

The task force recommends more scientific and medical research. They found that Rhode Island Hospital is the only major hospital in New England that performs cyanide testing in-house, and there are only eight laboratories in the country that perform whole blood cyanide tests. Hospitals that can't perform the tests in-house can wait up to a week to get test results, which is useless when determining whether a critically ill person has been poisoned by cyanide.

The report is being sent to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which recently sent a team of doctors to investigate the cyanide incidents. The NIOSH team is expected to release its report in several months, and might end up recommending a wider investigation into how prevalent hydrogen cyanide is at fire scenes -- and what firefighters nationwide should do to protect themselves.

Lots of good info in this article.

As firefighters, we all know that we should be wearing our SCBA in any IDLH atmosphere. This will go a long way to preventing hydrogen cyanide poisonings.

The medical community will need to beef up its ability to test blood for hydrogen cyanide. With only eight labs able to do the test, there could be a big bottle neck.

I'm interested to see what NIOSH has to say in their report. I'll be sure to post when it comes out.

2006 International Firefighter Safety Stand Down

Roanoke Firefighters has a good post about the Safety Stand Down coming up on June 21.

What is your department planning for this important event?

Smoke Alarm Recall

Some smoke alarms have been recalled (from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission via FireFightingNews.com).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Units: About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers)

Manufacturer: BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill.

Hazard: These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.

You can get a replacement if you have one of these smoke alarms. Check the First Alert website for details.

Emergency Vehicle Safety Program

The IAFF in conjunction with the USFA has come out with a new training program emphasizing emergency vehicle safety.

There is a ton of info at the website, including the PowerPoint presentations, instructor and participant guides, case studies, and other resources.

Check it out.

Photo courtesy of the IAFF.

Video of Fire Truck/Car Fender Bender

Here is some video of a fire truck and a car in a fender bender while the truck is responding to an incident (from turnto10.com).

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence fire truck and a car were involved in a fender-bender Monday morning as the emergency vehicle was responding to a call.

An NBC 10 photographer caught the accident on videotape. The videotape shows a pickup truck and then a car turning in front of the fire truck, which had its siren on.

The pickup truck completed the turn, but the fire truck struck the car. The driver did not appear to be hurt. The rear fender of the car was damaged.

What would you have done in this situation if you were the driver of the apparatus?

Hydrogen Cyanide is Nasty Stuff

Are there firefighters on your department that don't wear SCBAs when they should? Have them read this article (from The Providence Journal).

PROVIDENCE -- "Firemen need to understand that you can never, ever, ever breathe smoke. Smoke today is not your daddy's smoke. It's more toxic. It will kill you."

Bob Halton, editor-in-chief, Fire Engineering Magazine.

...

Baker had worked at two house fires that night, going inside at one house and then manning the pump at the second fire. He collapsed beside a fire engine and was rushed to the hospital by other firefighters who fought to restart his heart.

Mrs. Baker watched as the emergency room staff worked on her husband. His skin was ashen and he lay motionless, with tubes and IV lines snaking into his body.

...

But the danger that had sent her 50-year-old husband into cardiac arrest on March 24 was caused by something she'd never considered. Baker and several other Providence firefighters had high levels of deadly cyanide in their bloodstream.

Hydrogen cyanide is released in smoke when plastics and polymers burn. These fumes can remain on scene for quite awhile.

There are some antidotes available, but the nervous system can sustain long-term damage.

There is a bunch more info in this article and it's a good read.

Can Safety Pods Protect People from Wildfire?

Architects in Australia are calling for houses to be built with 'safety pods'. These are reinforced rooms within the house that would be used in case of wildland fire to protect the homeowners. This from ABC News Online:

The advisory service to the architecture industry says safety pods should be installed in Victorian houses to protect people from bushfires.

Archicentre says safety pods are fully reinforced, fire proof containers, that are built within a house and can normally function as another room.

They are used in the United States to protect people against tornadoes.

I've never heard of this and I'm not sure that it would work. If a wildland fire is going to burn down a house, I certainly wouldn't want to be trapped inside the house regardless of whether I was in a safety pod or not.

Wouldn't it be wiser to build an underground, concrete shelter outside of the house in an area clear of heavy fuels? Then let the wildland fire burn through the area. If the shelter is properly insulated the people inside should be fine. I'm guessing this would be much less expensive too.

Just my thoughts...chime in with your own - leave a comment.

Bearded D.C. Firefighters on Full Duty

Several months ago, I posted about some Washington D.C. firefighters that had been reassigned to administrative duty because they refused to shave their beards. Well, a judge has ruled on the issue (from the Washington Times via FireFightingNews.com).

A federal judge yesterday ordered the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services to allow six firefighters and paramedics who have refused to shave their beards for religious reasons to return to full-duty status. U.S. District Judge James Robertson issued his ruling yesterday after the plaintiffs, who were on administrative duty, passed three tests to see whether they could get a proper fit from their face masks.

...

Fire department spokesman Alan Etter noted that the judge's ruling is not final. The ruling was issued because the men, who have been reassigned to administrative positions, have suffered an unjust financial hardship.

Mr. Etter said the fire department will appeal the ruling.

"We will abide by what the judge said, but it is contrary to our convictions that this is about firefighter safety," he said.

Mr. Etter said that if any of the emergency workers fail a fit test, they will be reassigned to administrative duty.

Hmmm. From the above info, it sounds like the firefighters have already passed three tests to see if their face masks fit properly. It would be interesting to know what type of test they passed. I'm sure this isn't the last word we hear on this issue.

Does anyone know if there has been a conclusive, scientific, and unbiased study conducted and published regarding facial hair and face mask fit? If you know of one, please let me know.

2006 Stand Down for Safety Campaign

Last year's Stand Down for Safety campaign created a buzz around the issue of firefighter safety. Another campaign is being planned for 2006 (from Firechief.com).

Building on the awareness generated by the June 21, 2005 Stand Down for Safety campaign initiated last year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the IAFC’s Safety, Health & Survival Section has called for another Firefighter Survival Safety Stand Down to take place June 18-24, 2006.

Every department in the country should take part in some or another.

Traffic Signal Preemption Study

A new study has been released about the preemption of traffic lights as emergency vehicles approach the intersection (from Firehouse.com).

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Highway Administration have released "Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles -- A Cross Cutting Study"

The Executive Summary states: This cross-cutting study identifies issues associated with emergency vehicle operations and emergency vehicle preemption. This study reports information gathered during a review of publications and site visits to three jurisdictions operating emergency vehicle preemption systems. The purpose of this study is to increase awareness among stakeholders -- including police, fire, rescue and emergency medical services (EMS) -- about the benefits and costs of emergency vehicle preemption.

Benefits include faster response times and fewer vehicle accidents at the intersections.

Emergency vehicle preemption has allowed Fairfax County, Virginia to reduce its response times. The system permits emergency vehicles along U.S. 1 to pass through high volume intersections more quickly with fewer conflicts, saving 30 to 45 seconds per intersection.

Emergency vehicle preemption in the City of Plano, Texas has dramatically reduced the number of emergency vehicle crashes - from an average of 2.3 intersection crashes per year to less than one intersection crash every five years.

Here is the link to the full report.

These systems are a big deal in urban areas, but I don't think it would work well here in Miller. We only have one stop light!

Hot, Warm, and Cold Responses

Firehouse has a good article about some jurisdictions that don't respond to all 911 calls with lights and sirens.

In St. Louis, Salt Lake City and Anne Arundel County, Maryland, those fire trucks and ambulances blending in with normal traffic just may be headed to an incident.

While flashing lights and screaming sirens are the norm in most jurisdictions, some officials are taking a long, hard look at response methods, as the number of crashes involving emergency vehicles continues to rise.

...

Units are instructed to respond one of three ways, hot, warm or cold. And, dispatchers have a pre-determined list of response criteria. Williams said on a warm response, only the first due piece runs with lights and siren. The others come in cold.

Calls that still generate a hot response include working fires, patients with respiratory or cardiac problems and serious trauma. "Everything can be upgraded to an urgent call once an officer arrives or additional information is obtained. We're not putting lives in jeopardy," Simpson said.

This makes good sense. Not all calls that we have here my hometown need a hot response. I know it would reduce the possibility of car wrecks during the response.

Apparatus Safety

Read this article from Fire Chief about the Apparatus Specification and Vehicle Maintenance Symposium recently held in Orlando, FL.

Here are some highlights:

NFPA 1901 Safety Task Force Committee Chairman Robert Tutterow's presentation on specifying safety in apparatus recommended that departments:

Remove SCBAs from cabs,
Hold officers and operators accountable, and
Prohibit the use of personal vehicles for response.

...

Texas trial lawyer Jim Juneau gave the most riveting presentation of the conference. He pointedly told attendees what to do when something is wrong with an apparatus: "If you're not in charge of the apparatus, bitch! If you are in charge of the apparatus, listen!" He noted that regular preventive maintenance checks are "absolutely essential."

...

Juneau then took on tanker rollovers. From 1977 to 1999, there were 73 tanker deaths; 78% or 54 were rollovers resulting in firefighter fatalities. "Riding in a tanker may be among a firefighter's most dangerous duties," he said. "There is a movement to remove lights and sirens from tankers."

All interesting points. Here are my thoughts:

Remove SCBAs from cabs:
Is this really a big problem? I've tried to stay up-to-date on death and injury reports and I haven't heard much about this. As a firefighter in a department that doesn't have SCBAs in the cab now, I wish we had a truck with this feature. Its a pain in the keester and much slower to don SCBA at the scene.

Prohibit the use of personal vehicles for response:
This would be impractical in rural areas. Many times we have firefighters close to the incident and it would be a mistake to require them to respond to the fire hall first and then drive to the incident in a department vehicle. Some of our responses are over 20 miles away.

Tender safety:
I'm not sure removing lights and sirens from tenders is the right answer.

OK, after saying all of that, it may sound like I'm against safety. I'm all for safety! Safety first. However, let's not reduce our effectiveness without studying the issue in depth.

Columbus Smoke Alarm Study

A study coming out of Columbus, OH, has some interesting conclusions regarding smoke detectors (from Firehouse.com).

Although it may run counter to conventional wisdom, Columbus residents are far more likely to be injured in fires when smoke alarms blare than when they don't, a Dispatch analysis of the past four years found.

In addition, being alerted by a smoke alarm didn't increase residents' chances of escaping death during blazes, the fire data show.

I'm not sure I buy this. The results of this study run contrary to everything that I've ever heard or been taught about smoke detectors. I'm not sure that others are placing a lot of confidence in this study either. This is from the same article:

Despite the findings, fire-safety experts say every residence should be equipped with alarms. "Smoke detectors save lives," Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Douglas Smith said.

I searched on the internet for this study but didn't find it. If you know where it is, please let me know. I also looked for other studies that would provide more information, but haven't taken the time to hash through them yet.

California Without "Move Over" Law

Here is South Dakota, when an emergency vehicle is responding with lights and sirens, motorists are required to pull to the side of the road and stop. Many other states have similar laws, but not California (from Firehouse.com).

If motorists in nearly three dozen states see an emergency vehicle on the shoulder with lights flashing, state law requires them to slow down and move to another lane.

But there is no "Move Over" law in California and, following the recent deaths of three emergency workers, including a Highway Patrol officer, along state freeways, some safety advocates say it's time to consider a new policy.

...

Though a law won't save everyone, the idea is to give rescue workers a few extra feet of safety. Such legislation is growing in popularity -- gaining passage during the past six years in more than two dozen states.

But not in California, where a bill cleared the state Legislature last year, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it. He cited concerns that forcing drivers to change lanes could pose additional risks in a state where traffic congestion levels are among the worst in the country.

The argument that changing lanes could cause other problems doesn't hold a lot of water. It is a matter of educating the public so that they respond in an appropriate manner.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Sound off here by adding a comment.

Insurance Doesn't Cover Firefighter's Fall

A volunteer firefighter finds out the hard way that his department's insurance isn't up to snuff (from the Columbian News).

Jones, 27, was stringing lights on the tree next to Yacolt Town Hall when he unhooked his safety line to move to another part of the tree. He slipped and fell 30 feet, hitting several branches on the way down. He suffered a partially collapsed lung and a compression fracture in his spine.

It was the most physically painful experience of his life.

It's also been painful for Ben Peeler, a captain at the fire district who thought the insurance purchased from the Washington Board for Volunteer Fire Fighters and Reserve Officers would help defray the medical bills.

What he found out was the policy does not cover "social activities."

This is an important issue for volunteer departments, especially in small, rural towns. Does your city or department carry insurance that covers all of your activities?

Lawsuit Regarding Fire Pole Injury

A woman has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Fire Department because her daughter was apparently injured sliding down a fire pole (from the Chicago Sun-Times via FireFightingNews.com).

It was a field trip to a fire station and students got to slide down the fire pole.

But the mother of one student says her daughter's feet and legs were injured when she hit the floor, and now they're suing for negligence.

Denise Troche filed the suit Wednesday against Our Lady of Victory Catholic School and the Chicago Fire Department, claiming they didn't take precautions before her daughter descended the fire pole.

This could be just one more nail in the coffin for fire poles.

Trucks will Stop at Stop Signs

There must be other departments in the U.S. that do this, but this is the first I've read about (from the Casper Star Tribune).

Casper fire engines and other fire department vehicles will stop at all red lights and stop signs under a new driving policy, according to the Casper Fire Department.

...

"Our mission is to protect lives, not endanger them," said Fire Chief Mark Young.

The policy also includes the use of excessive speed, backing up fire vehicles, parking and avoiding collisions. Officials estimate the new policy will cause an average response delay of less than a minute and the safer driving will more than make up for any delay.

The big quote from the story is "Our mission is to protect lives, not endanger them." It's a simple statement, but rings with truth.

At least once per week, there are articles on the internet regarding a collision involving a fire truck. How many injuries and deaths could we avoid by driving a little slower?

Is stopping at stop signs and red lights the answer? I don't know, but perhaps in that department, it is what is required to ensure safety of the public and the firefighters.

Christmas Tree Fire Video

There is a really cool video of a Christmas tree burning up over at 43 Firefighter. This is a must see.

I saw in the corner of the video that it is from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They have a Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL). They have put together a 10 minute video of three different flashover situations that you can get for free. Here is the webpage with more details.

UPDATE:
Here is a link to the NFPA's page of Christmas Tree safety tips.

PASS Signals Reduced at High Temps

I saw this posted on Firehouse.com yesterday, but didn't take the time to comment:

November 30, 2005 -- Exposure to high temperature environments may cause the loudness of Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) alarm signals to be reduced, causing the alarm signal to become indistinguishable from background noise at the incident scene.

...

NIOSH reported that, during the investigation of four fire fighter fatalities that occurred from 2001 to 2004, PASS alarms were not heard or were barely audible. The PASS alarms had been certified as compliant to NFPA 1982, 1998 Edition, and involved both stand-alone PASS and SCBA-integrated PASS.

If this turns out to be a persistent problem, it kind of defeats the purpose of the PASS device.

After reading the rest of the article, it sounds like there needs to be more testing to identify the specific cause of the problem. I try to read through the NIOSH publications occasionally, so I'll keep you posted.

FDNY to get New Safety Ropes

We've been following the saga of the escape ropes that the FDNY will be issuing to their firefighters. It looks like they have settled on a design that works without getting caught in the pulley (from Firehouse.com).

The Fire Department has announced that all firefighters will be equipped with personal safety ropes by the middle of next year.

The news comes six weeks after a round of ropes were recalled over safety concerns a week after they were distributed.

Firefighters began training on the new kevlar ropes in early October at the FDNY training center on Randall's Island. But during one of those exercises, a firefighter's rope got caught in the pulley that controls the descent and began to fray, prompting the recall.

Now, the fire commissioner says the mechanism that allows firefighters to descend from burning buildings has been fixed so that the rope no longer catches.

If you have a picture or a description of these ropes, please forward to me. Thanks.

Firefighter Invention Cuts Out Car Radios

This is a really cool idea (from Serious About News via FireFightingNews.com).

James Hutchison, of Calewen, Two Mile Ash, invented WarnTone to reduce attendance times for emergency services.

The device cuts out car radios and CDs at a set distance of 200 metres, giving the message 'Warning, emergency vehicle approaching.'

It allows drivers to pull over in time to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

Firefighter Hutchison, a UK firefighter, spent years inventing the WarnTone. He is having some trouble getting it licensed in the UK. I hope all goes well with the device and that it catches on.

Fire-safe Hotels and Motels

Over at the LAFD News and Information blog, they have in interesting post about ensuring that your hotel or motel accommodations are fire-safe.

If you're like millions of Americans, chances are you will soon visit your favorite travel website to secure holiday reservations.

Even now, you may be sitting by your computer, beverage in hand (but not too close to the keyboard), trying to make sure you don't forget something on your hotel checklist: Room with a view, check! Around-the-clock room service, check! Heated pool and spa, check!

You might think you have it covered.

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to go one step further though, by staying in a fire safe hotel or motel.

Here is the link to the USFA website where you can check if your hotel or motel is fire-safe.

Hose Must be Secured

The NFPA has a new interim rule out on securing fire hose (from Firechief.com).

A few years ago, a hose fell off the back of a fire truck while turning a corner, killing a pedestrian. What seemed like an isolated incident was quickly followed by a second fatality caused by a falling hose. These incidents prompted the NFPA Standards Council to pass a temporary interim amendment. Beginning Nov. 18, all manufacturers of new apparatus are required to provide a secure means to keep all hose securely in place on the unit.

Basically, this means that any hose stored on a fire apparatus must be restrained to prevent the potential of falling off the vehicle. But whether the hose is secured with canvas belts, a cover or other device, it's the fire department's responsibility to check and secure existing apparatus and to work with fire apparatus manufacturers to ensure new apparatus has a preventive means to safely secure the hose.

Emphasis mine.

I know from time to time, we have a problem with high winds blowing hose out of the hose beds. Is the hose on your trucks secured?

FDNY Put Ropes on Hold

The FDNY has apparently put their escape rope program on hold due to a training incident that frayed one of the ropes.

Check out this entry from Firefighter Blog and this article from Firehouse.com

Free Pizza for Working Smoke Detector

The Des Moines FD has a great way to help people remember to check their smoke detectors (from KCCI.com).

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Des Moines firefighters know smoke detectors can save lives, so they used pizza as an incentive to check residents' smoke detectors on the city's east side.

Those who ordered pizza Wednesday night got more than a pie.
The Des Moines Fire Department came along to check smoke detectors for homeowners. A group called Project Safe is behind the special delivery program.

...

Homeowners who had working smoke detectors got free pizza and others also got free batteries.

Free food has always made me sit up and take notice, so I guess it works on some other folks too.

No Fit Test with Beard in Philadelphia

From an article in Newsday.com, a judge has ruled that the fire department does not need to do a fit test on a bearded firefighter. Instead, they can rely on their current policy that bans facial hair.

De Veaux, 25, sought to be tested with the mask to try to prove the seal over his short beard met safety standards.

He argued that the testing was the "least restrictive" way the city of Philadelphia could meet the state's Religious Freedom Protection Act, but Common Pleas Judge James Murray Lynn disagreed.

"Directive 13 (the facial-hair ban) ... is the least restrictive means of furthering its compelling interest in maximizing safety for its members," Lynn wrote in his order.

I don't think we have heard the end of this issue. There was a similar case in Washington, D.C. recently.

Last month in a similar case, a federal judge ordered officials in Washington, D.C., to test three Muslim firefighters with their masks. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents De Veaux, also represents those plaintiffs.

Abdul Majeed Potter, a plaintiff in the Washington case, said he and another plaintiff passed the tests this week. The third man's test were inconclusive, a plaintiffs' lawyer said.

If it is true that two of the firefighters in Washington, D.C. passed the test with their beards, that may be sufficient to get an appeal in the Philadelphia case.

What really makes this a tough issue is that the bearded firefighters are not simply risking their safety, but the safety of their fellow firefighters. If a bearded firefighter goes down in a structure fire their partner's safety is compromised. Additional firefighters will then be required for the rescue.

Fire-safe Cigarettes May Reduce Fire Deaths

This story from Firehouse.com is about the effects that fire-safe cigarettes may have in New York.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Fewer people have died in smoking-related fires since New York last year became the first state to require that tobacco companies sell self-extinguishing cigarettes, according to records released Tuesday.

State officials were optimistic about the data, but said it was too early to draw conclusions.

...

Last year 28 people died in fires in New York blamed on cigarettes. Deaths from such fires totaled 43 in 2000, 44 in 2001, 38 in 2002, and more than 30 in 2003, for which the state has incomplete data.

This looks encouraging, but we need to be cautious until there is more data. This is just one year in one state. If I had to guess though, I would guess that fire-safe cigarettes will reduce fire-related deaths significantly.

Slow Down - Safety First

Better think twice before really putting the hammer down as you drive to the incident. From the Detroit Free Press:

A Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department firefighter has been charged with negligent homicide, more than five months after the fire truck he was driving was involved in a fatal crash.

Firefighter Cory Carlton, 26, was arraigned and released on a $1,000 personal-recognizance bond after surrendering Thursday. He could face up to two years in prison if convicted of the misdemeanors, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.

Prosecutors allege Carlton was on the way to an emergency call when he sped through a stoplight March 8 and struck a sports utility vehicle driven by Matthew Garrisi, 28. The collision in Grand Traverse County's Garfield Township killed Garrisi's wife, Rebecca Garrisi, 28, and the couple's 11-month-old son Jesse.

In contrast, the FDNY is taking some heat because their response times have consistently been slower over the past few months. Is a few seconds of quicker response really worth the chance of killing someone in an accident?

Mixed Bag on Beard Ruling

U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson issued a ruling regarding the Washington D.C. firefighters that have refused to shave their beards. From the Washington Times:

Both sides claimed victory yesterday.

Attorney Arthur Spitzer, who represented the Muslim firefighters on behalf of the D.C. chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he was satisfied that the judge's order left intact a preliminary injunction prohibiting fire officials from terminating the Muslim firefighters.

The judge also stated fire officials must now test the men to see whether they can get a proper fit with their beards.

Mr. Spitzer said if the firefighters pass the test, then they've won. He said the real issue is the fire department's effort to institute a grooming policy.

However, Judge Robertson's ruling also states the department has the right to remove from active-duty status the firefighters who fail the test, regardless of their adherence to religious beliefs.

This means that the fire department can't terminate the firefighters simply because they refuse to shave their beards. However, if the firefighters can't pass the face mask fit test, the department can at least remove them from active-duty.

I'll be watching to see if these firefighters do pass the fit test. If I hear anything, I'll post it. Stay tuned.

National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System

Here is a great new site - the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System. What is it? Here is the description from the site:

The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System is a voluntary, confidential, non-punitive and secure reporting system with the goal of improving fire fighter safety. By collecting and analyzing information on near-miss events, improvements can be made in command, education, operations and training.

I think this is a great tool that every department should utilize. You can review near misses from other departments and have safety discussions regarding those incidents.

Need a training idea? Here it is. Choose an incident type, look up some reports, and have a discussion.

Report Recommends Improved PPE

A new report published by Unconventional Concepts Inc. has some interesting recommendations for improving firefighting PPE. This from Yahoo! News:

Unconventional Concepts Inc. (UCI) Tuesday released a comprehensive report, "The Development of Human Factors Engineering Requirements for Firefighters Protective Equipment," that U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison immediately hailed as "required reading for America's fire service."

Sponsored by the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center/National Protection Center and conducted in coordination with the Ames Research Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the UCI report offers an unprecedented systems-level assessment of the gaps and deficiencies contained in the current firefighting standards and studies, as well as what Paulison described as "several astute recommendations."

I don't have time to find the study right now, but watch for an update with the actual location of the study.

Department Cited for Safety Violations

The Santa Clara County Fire Department has been cited for safety violations by the California Division of OSHA. This from CBS5.com:

The citations allege that at the scene of a four-alarm fire in Los Gatos on Feb. 13, the fire department failed to set up "enclosures, fences, partitions or other effective methods to prevent accidental contact with downed 12,000 volt energized power lines."

According to Cal/OSHA, the department also failed to prevent firefighters from working around the live wire, as they should have been safeguarded from the line until it was clear.

A third citation alleges that the department failed to maintain an effective injury and illness prevention program in accordance with state standards.

Cal/OSHA claims that the department's failure to implement updated written procedures for dealing with downed power lines resulted in the electrocution of Capt. Mark McCormack.

Here are some questions to ask regarding your own fire department:
Are your safety procedures in place?
Do you have SOPs/SOGs in place?
Do the firefighters and officers follow the SOPs/SOGs?
Does your department put safety as the first priority?