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Firefighters trapped… …a case study December 2, 1995 52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Edwin

Firefighters trapped… …a case study December 2, 1995 52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Edwin C. Kline e.c.kline@comcast.net. Objectives. To demonstrate the need for proper MAYDAY training.

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Firefighters trapped… …a case study December 2, 1995 52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Edwin

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  1. Firefighters trapped… …a case studyDecember 2, 199552 South Morton Avenue Morton, PennsylvaniaEdwin C. Klinee.c.kline@comcast.net

  2. Objectives • To demonstrate the need for proper MAYDAY training. • To understand that strategic goals and tactical objectives must be set by an incident commander. • To understand the importance of firefighter accountability and pre-fire planning. • To demonstrate why fire ground channels MUST be monitored by trained dispatchers. • And to become passionate about firefighter safety.

  3. The Incident • December 2nd, 1995 • 0300 hours • Apartment building fire • 3 story • 18 apartment units • Center hall • Stairways front and rear

  4. The Incident • Civilians reported trapped • Apartment 16 (3rd floor) • Hanging from windows • One civilian fatality • Arson

  5. The Structure Today

  6. Looking North

  7. Looking South

  8. Side A

  9. Side B

  10. Side C

  11. Side D

  12. 52 South Morton Layout M O R T O N A V E

  13. The Incident • 911 Fire & EMS dispatchers use predetermined response cards. • Automatic mutual aid response of three volunteer fire companies and additional EMS. • Co. 11 - Morton • Co. 13 - Rutledge • Co. 14 - Swarthmore

  14. The Response • The initial fire company resources dispatched includes six engines & two ladders. • 13-1, 13-2 • 11-3, 11-5, 11-1 • 14-5, 14-2, 14-1

  15. The Response • At this incident I responded as the Captain on the Swarthmore’s aerial ladder (14-5). • 14-5 was staffed by • Captain (apparatus commander) • Engineer (driver/operator) • Three Firefighters (4 max.)

  16. Upon Arrival • A sea of people in the street • Fire Showing from the front stairwell • Subjects trapped at second and third floor windows • Reports of an invalid trapped on the second floor

  17. Firefighter Entrapment • The crew from Ladder 14-5 made one ladder rescue and made two attempts to vent, enter, and search the building from ground ladders. • The crew then combined with Engine 11-3 and entered the rear stairwell. • An attack and search of the second floor was made for an invalid reported to be trapped. • Firefighters became trapped when a partial collapse occurred.

  18. 52 South Morton Layout M O R T O N A V E

  19. Audio Recording • This audio recording has been used to create new procedures. • MAYDAY transmissions • Incident Command System • Firefighter accountability • Assignment of rapid intervention and rehab sectors • Training of dispatchers • Note actions or inactions which affected the outcome of the incident.

  20. Play Audio Tape • Dispatch • Company 11 • Company 13 • Company 14 • Medic 102 • 52 South Morton Avenue, apartment 16 • Structure with Entrapment, 0302

  21. Audio Tape • Medic102 responding • 11-9A responding (Morton Fire Company Deputy Chief) • Police reporting heavy fire with quite a few fire victims, we will be getting a couple ambulances out • Okay, get us a few ambulances and an additional ALS (Paramedic Unit)

  22. Audio Tape • 14-9 responding (Swarthmore Fire Chief) • 11-9A? • Received original call from apartment 16, the phone line is still active we believe that the subject is trapped • On location fire showing second floor hallway in the front of the building • Medic 102 to fireboard, can you go up to channel four please

  23. Audio Tape • 14 confirming (Swarthmore has a crew) • 14-9 to fireboard, multiple subjects trapped third floor • 11-9 (Morton Fire Chief) is 10-3 (on-scene) in the rear • 11-9A reports multiple people trapped on the second and third floors requests companies 44 and 18 to respond and stage at Rio’s Pharmacy

  24. Audio Tape • Medic 102-7 responding • Medic 102-7 okay, channel four for EMS • (Engine) 11-3 & 9B (Asst. Chief) responding • (Ladder) 14-5 is responding • Find out if they want us in the rear or the front • Fireboard to 11-9 (twice) • (Engine) 13-1 & 13-9 (Rutledge Fire Chief) responding

  25. Audio Tape • Fireboard to 11-9 or 9A • 14-5 to the front or rear of the building, you want them? • 14-5 to the front, (Ladder) 11-5 to the rear • 44-9A (Deputy Chief) responding • Okay we are coming down Yale now • 11-5 responding to the rear

  26. Audio Tape • 11-3 on location, dropping a line at Yale Avenue and laying in to the rear of the building • 14-5 on location, on location • (Engine) 14-2 on location • Tower 44 responding • 11-5 on location • 11-9, orders for Tower 44? • Front of the building to assist 14 with removal of occupants, 11-5 place your stick to the third floor

  27. Audio Tape • 14-2 will be laying in from Rio’s • (Engine) 14-1 responding • (Engine) 44-2 responding • 44-9A to 11-9 • Anywhere in particular you want our apparatus? • 44-5 in front to assist with evacuation, have your next engine lay in from Rio’s, and another pick up the hydrant

  28. Audio Tape • 44-9A gives orders to 44-5 (Tower 44) and 44-2 • 11-9, Company 18, what’s our orders? • 18 come into the rear to assist 11 with evacuation and firefighting • 13-1 to (Engine) 13-2 • Tower 44 on location • Fireboard to 11-9 our message? • Establishing Morton Avenue Command

  29. Audio Tape • 13-1 to 13-2 I need water! • (Engine) 11-2 responding • Rescue 44 is responding • Orders for 11-2? • Pick up the hydrant at Mellace’s, 11-3 laid in from there • (Captain) 14-12 to 9 {First Collapse} • 14 unit, go to Morton Avenue Command

  30. Audio Tape • 11-9A? • Meet Morton Avenue Command at his car behind you • Location? • Meet me at my car • 14-9 to 11-9 • Go head to Morton Avenue Command

  31. Audio Tape • Be advised we have a two and half going into the front door to the ground floor and an inch and three quarter line going through an apartment on the second floor • Be advised we have lost the stairwell in the front of the building • 44-9A to 11-9! • Do you have manpower on the third floor of the building?

  32. Audio Tape • We have a crew attempting to get up there I am unaware if they have made it or not yet, they went up the rear • Okay, we are going to attempt to take the tower up the side alley and take the windows out • Car 99 to Fireboard • I am going to request that the Red Cross be dispatched to this Morton fire. See if you can get a hold of the state police and CID, we have had several fires at this location.

  33. Audio Tape • (Ladder Captain) 14-C5 to 14-9! • 14-C5 to 14-9! • 11-9 I believe 14, one of the crew from the ladder is trying to contact you • 14 unit go head Morton Avenue Command • Morton Avenue Command the air bank’s enroute • I didn’t copy Fireboard I believe you said they evacuated

  34. Audio Tape • 14-C5? • 14-9 to Morton Command • Do you have crews working on the interior from the rear of the building? • Affirmative • Be advised all crews from the front of the building have removed themselves from the building • Okay

  35. Audio Tape • 14-9 to Morton Command • Morton Avenue Command to fireboard, gas and electric to the scene • Morton Avenue Command, number one, do you have PECO (utility company) enroute to this location? And secondarily, you have a severe exposure problem on exposure B • Repeat you message I got the part about the exposure problem on side B

  36. Audio Tape • Morton Avenue Command the fire has got your electric supply and exposure to 56 Morton Ave • (Engine) 44-1 responding • 14-C5 to 14-9!!! • 44-9A to 11-9 • All units clear the air, (Engine Captain) 14-C1? • {Tone} • All units clear the air, Fireboard to 14-C1

  37. Audio Tape • 44-9A to 11-9 • 44-9A clear the air! • 14-9? • Fireboard to 14-9 • I believe you have a unit 14-C-Kline trying to call you, I do not know what the problem is • Stand-by

  38. Audio Tape • 44-9A to 11-9! • Repeat, I am not picking up on the portable • 14-C5 to 14-9 • Second floor, we entered from the rear with an inch and three-quarter, we searched all the apartments on the second floor, not everybody’s out, we have collapse of the second floor floor and the ceiling from the third, I still do not have all my crew out, hold on

  39. Audio Tape • I could not copy most of that, we have part of your crew coming out the front second floor right window, can you make it back to that point? • Charge my supply line • {Tone} • All units clear the air for 14-C5 • Go head to 14-C5 • Are you in or out?

  40. Audio Tape • I’m out, I’m out, I’m trying to find my crew • Reporting crew out fireboard, thank you • Where are you, out front?

  41. Lessons Learned • Create and train on a may-day transmission procedure regularly. • Have an automated personal accountability safety system (PASS) on every SCBA. • Initiate a personnel accountability system for all operations. • Create and train on a personal accountability report (PAR) procedure.

  42. Lessons Learned • Preplan your buildings. • Use automatic mutual aid to insure that sufficient resources area available on the fireground. • Conduct a size-up that provides firefighters with strategic and tactical direction. • Train on and use the incident command system at all incidents.

  43. Lessons Learned • Establish command early. • Set primary goals and objectives • Assign command and general staff • Assign required sectors, groups, or branches • Do not operate outside of the span of control • Establish a rehabilitation sector for firefighters. • Assign rapid intervention (RIT) teams.

  44. Lessons Learned • Maintain control of communications. • Insure specialized units receive critical incident information • Assign additional channels • Use and train on emergency traffic declarations • Provide other communications equipment • Insure that dispatchers are properly trained in emergency traffic and mayday transmissions.

  45. 52 South Morton Avenue • This incident was a life changing experience. • I am proud to know that because of this experience numerous firefighters have learned the importance of training and planning for when things will go wrong on the fireground.

  46. Life Safety Our number one priority!So everyone goes home!e.c.kline@comcast.net

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