Firefighters trapped… …a case study December 2, 1995 52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Edwin C. Kline [email protected]

Firefighters Firefighters trapped… trapped…

…a case …a case studystudy

December 2, 1995December 2, 1995

52 South Morton Avenue52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Morton, Pennsylvania

Edwin C. KlineEdwin C. Kline

[email protected]@comcast.net

ObjectivesObjectives To demonstrate the need for proper MAYDAY To demonstrate the need for proper MAYDAY

training.training. To understand that strategic goals and tactical To understand that strategic goals and tactical

objectives must be set by an incident objectives must be set by an incident commander.commander.

To understand the importance of firefighter To understand the importance of firefighter accountability and pre-fire planning.accountability and pre-fire planning.

To demonstrate why fire ground channels MUST To demonstrate why fire ground channels MUST be monitored by trained dispatchers.be monitored by trained dispatchers.

And to become passionate about firefighter And to become passionate about firefighter safety.safety.

The IncidentThe Incident

December 2December 2ndnd, 1995, 1995 0300 hours0300 hours Apartment building fireApartment building fire

3 story3 story 18 apartment units18 apartment units Center hallCenter hall Stairways front and rearStairways front and rear


Civilians reported trappedCivilians reported trapped Apartment 16 (3Apartment 16 (3rdrd floor) floor) Hanging from windowsHanging from windows

One civilian fatalityOne civilian fatality ArsonArson

The Structure TodayThe Structure Today

Looking NorthLooking North

Looking SouthLooking South

Side ASide A

Side BSide B

Side CSide C

Side DSide D

52 South Morton Layout52 South Morton Layout

M

O

R

T

O

N

A

V

E


911 Fire & EMS dispatchers use 911 Fire & EMS dispatchers use predeterminedpredetermined response cards. response cards.

Automatic mutual aidAutomatic mutual aid response of response of three volunteer fire companies and three volunteer fire companies and additional EMS.additional EMS. Co. 11 - MortonCo. 11 - Morton Co. 13 - RutledgeCo. 13 - Rutledge Co. 14 - SwarthmoreCo. 14 - Swarthmore

The ResponseThe Response

The initial fire company resources The initial fire company resources dispatched includes dispatched includes six engines & six engines & two ladders.two ladders. 13-1, 13-213-1, 13-2 11-3, 11-5, 11-111-3, 11-5, 11-1 14-5, 14-2, 14-114-5, 14-2, 14-1

The ResponseThe Response

At this incident I responded as the At this incident I responded as the Captain on the Swarthmore’s aerial Captain on the Swarthmore’s aerial ladder (14-5).ladder (14-5).

14-5 was staffed by14-5 was staffed by Captain (apparatus commander)Captain (apparatus commander) Engineer (driver/operator)Engineer (driver/operator) Three Firefighters (4 max.)Three Firefighters (4 max.)

Upon ArrivalUpon Arrival

A sea of people in the street A sea of people in the street Fire Showing from the front Fire Showing from the front

stairwellstairwell Subjects trapped at second and Subjects trapped at second and

third floor windowsthird floor windows Reports of an invalid trapped on Reports of an invalid trapped on

the second floorthe second floor

Firefighter EntrapmentFirefighter Entrapment The crew from Ladder 14-5 made one The crew from Ladder 14-5 made one

ladder rescue and made two attempts to ladder rescue and made two attempts to vent, enter, and search the building from vent, enter, and search the building from ground ladders.ground ladders.

The crew then combined with Engine 11-The crew then combined with Engine 11-3 and entered the rear stairwell.3 and entered the rear stairwell.

An attack and search of the second floor An attack and search of the second floor was made for an invalid reported to be was made for an invalid reported to be trapped.trapped.

Firefighters became Firefighters became trappedtrapped when a when a partial collapse occurred.partial collapse occurred.

52 South Morton Layout52 South Morton Layout

M

O

R

T

O

N

A

V

E

Audio RecordingAudio Recording This audio recording has been used This audio recording has been used

to create new procedures.to create new procedures. MAYDAY transmissions MAYDAY transmissions Incident Command SystemIncident Command System Firefighter accountabilityFirefighter accountability Assignment of rapid intervention and Assignment of rapid intervention and

rehab sectorsrehab sectors Training of dispatchersTraining of dispatchers

Note actions or inactions which Note actions or inactions which affected the outcome of the affected the outcome of the incident.incident.

Play Audio TapePlay Audio Tape

DispatchDispatch Company 11Company 11 Company 13Company 13 Company 14Company 14 Medic 102Medic 102 52 South Morton Avenue, apartment 52 South Morton Avenue, apartment

1616 Structure with Entrapment, 0302Structure with Entrapment, 0302

Audio TapeAudio Tape

Medic102 respondingMedic102 responding 11-9A responding (Morton Fire 11-9A responding (Morton Fire

Company Deputy Chief)Company Deputy Chief) Police reporting heavy fire with Police reporting heavy fire with

quite a few fire victims, we will be quite a few fire victims, we will be getting a couple ambulances outgetting a couple ambulances out

Okay, get us a few ambulances and Okay, get us a few ambulances and an additional ALS (Paramedic Unit)an additional ALS (Paramedic Unit)


14-9 responding (Swarthmore Fire 14-9 responding (Swarthmore Fire Chief)Chief)

11-9A?11-9A? Received original call from apartment Received original call from apartment

16, the phone line is still active we 16, the phone line is still active we believe that the subject is trappedbelieve that the subject is trapped

On location fire showing second floor On location fire showing second floor hallway in the front of the buildinghallway in the front of the building

Medic 102 to fireboard, can you go up Medic 102 to fireboard, can you go up to channel four pleaseto channel four please


14 confirming (Swarthmore has a crew)14 confirming (Swarthmore has a crew) 14-9 to fireboard, multiple subjects 14-9 to fireboard, multiple subjects

trapped third floortrapped third floor 11-9 (Morton Fire Chief) is 10-3 (on-11-9 (Morton Fire Chief) is 10-3 (on-

scene) in the rearscene) in the rear 11-9A reports multiple people trapped 11-9A reports multiple people trapped

on the second and third floors requests on the second and third floors requests companies 44 and 18 to respond and companies 44 and 18 to respond and stage at Rio’s Pharmacy stage at Rio’s Pharmacy

Audio TapeAudio Tape Medic 102-7 responding Medic 102-7 responding Medic 102-7 okay, channel four for EMSMedic 102-7 okay, channel four for EMS (Engine) 11-3 & 9B (Asst. Chief) (Engine) 11-3 & 9B (Asst. Chief)

respondingresponding (Ladder) 14-5 is responding(Ladder) 14-5 is responding Find out if they want us in the rear or Find out if they want us in the rear or

the frontthe front Fireboard to 11-9 (twice)Fireboard to 11-9 (twice) (Engine) 13-1 & 13-9 (Rutledge Fire (Engine) 13-1 & 13-9 (Rutledge Fire

Chief) respondingChief) responding


Fireboard to 11-9 or 9AFireboard to 11-9 or 9A 14-5 to the front or rear of the 14-5 to the front or rear of the

building, you want them?building, you want them? 14-5 to the front, (Ladder) 11-5 to 14-5 to the front, (Ladder) 11-5 to

the rearthe rear 44-9A (Deputy Chief) responding44-9A (Deputy Chief) responding Okay we are coming down Yale nowOkay we are coming down Yale now 11-5 responding to the rear11-5 responding to the rear


11-3 on location, dropping a line at Yale 11-3 on location, dropping a line at Yale Avenue and laying in to the rear of the buildingAvenue and laying in to the rear of the building

14-5 on location, on location14-5 on location, on location (Engine) 14-2 on location(Engine) 14-2 on location Tower 44 respondingTower 44 responding 11-5 on location11-5 on location 11-9, orders for Tower 44?11-9, orders for Tower 44? Front of the building to assist 14 with removal Front of the building to assist 14 with removal

of occupants, 11-5 place your stick to the third of occupants, 11-5 place your stick to the third floorfloor


14-2 will be laying in from Rio’s14-2 will be laying in from Rio’s (Engine) 14-1 responding(Engine) 14-1 responding (Engine) 44-2 responding(Engine) 44-2 responding 44-9A to 11-944-9A to 11-9 Anywhere in particular you want our Anywhere in particular you want our

apparatus?apparatus? 44-5 in front to assist with evacuation, 44-5 in front to assist with evacuation,

have your next engine lay in from Rio’s, have your next engine lay in from Rio’s, and another pick up the hydrantand another pick up the hydrant


44-9A gives orders to 44-5 (Tower 44) 44-9A gives orders to 44-5 (Tower 44) and 44-2and 44-2

11-9, Company 18, what’s our orders?11-9, Company 18, what’s our orders? 18 come into the rear to assist 11 with 18 come into the rear to assist 11 with

evacuation and firefightingevacuation and firefighting 13-1 to (Engine) 13-213-1 to (Engine) 13-2 Tower 44 on locationTower 44 on location Fireboard to 11-9 our message?Fireboard to 11-9 our message? Establishing Morton Avenue CommandEstablishing Morton Avenue Command

Audio TapeAudio Tape 13-1 to 13-2 I need water!13-1 to 13-2 I need water! (Engine) 11-2 responding(Engine) 11-2 responding Rescue 44 is respondingRescue 44 is responding Orders for 11-2?Orders for 11-2? Pick up the hydrant at Mellace’s, 11-3 Pick up the hydrant at Mellace’s, 11-3

laid in from therelaid in from there (Captain) 14-12 to 9 {(Captain) 14-12 to 9 {First First

CollapseCollapse}} 14 unit, go to Morton Avenue Command14 unit, go to Morton Avenue Command


11-9A?11-9A? Meet Morton Avenue Command at Meet Morton Avenue Command at

his car behind youhis car behind you Location?Location? Meet me at my carMeet me at my car 14-9 to 11-914-9 to 11-9 Go head to Morton Avenue Go head to Morton Avenue

CommandCommand


Be advised we have a two and half Be advised we have a two and half going into the front door to the going into the front door to the ground floor and an inch and three ground floor and an inch and three quarter line going through an quarter line going through an apartment on the second floorapartment on the second floor

Be advised we have lost the stairwell Be advised we have lost the stairwell in the front of the buildingin the front of the building

44-9A to 11-9!44-9A to 11-9! Do you have manpower on the third Do you have manpower on the third

floor of the building?floor of the building?

Audio TapeAudio Tape We have a crew attempting to get up there We have a crew attempting to get up there

I am unaware if they have made it or not I am unaware if they have made it or not yet, they went up the rearyet, they went up the rear

Okay, we are going to attempt to take the Okay, we are going to attempt to take the tower up the side alley and take the tower up the side alley and take the windows outwindows out

Car 99 to FireboardCar 99 to Fireboard I am going to request that the Red Cross be I am going to request that the Red Cross be

dispatched to this Morton fire. See if you dispatched to this Morton fire. See if you can get a hold of the state police and CID, can get a hold of the state police and CID, we have had several fires at this location.we have had several fires at this location.

Audio TapeAudio Tape (Ladder Captain) 14-C5 to 14-9!(Ladder Captain) 14-C5 to 14-9! 14-C5 to 14-9!14-C5 to 14-9! 11-9 I believe 14, one of the crew from 11-9 I believe 14, one of the crew from

the ladder is trying to contact youthe ladder is trying to contact you 14 unit go head Morton Avenue 14 unit go head Morton Avenue

CommandCommand Morton Avenue Command the air bank’s Morton Avenue Command the air bank’s

enrouteenroute I didn’t copy Fireboard I believe you I didn’t copy Fireboard I believe you

said they evacuatedsaid they evacuated


14-C5?14-C5? 14-9 to Morton Command14-9 to Morton Command Do you have crews working on the Do you have crews working on the

interior from the rear of the building?interior from the rear of the building? AffirmativeAffirmative Be advised all crews from the front of Be advised all crews from the front of

the building have removed the building have removed themselves from the buildingthemselves from the building

OkayOkay


14-9 to Morton Command14-9 to Morton Command Morton Avenue Command to fireboard, Morton Avenue Command to fireboard,

gas and electric to the scenegas and electric to the scene Morton Avenue Command, number Morton Avenue Command, number

one, do you have PECO (utility one, do you have PECO (utility company) enroute to this location? And company) enroute to this location? And secondarily, you have a severe secondarily, you have a severe exposure problem on exposure Bexposure problem on exposure B

Repeat you message I got the part Repeat you message I got the part about the exposure problem on side Babout the exposure problem on side B

Audio TapeAudio Tape Morton Avenue Command the fire has Morton Avenue Command the fire has

got your electric supply and exposure to got your electric supply and exposure to 56 Morton Ave56 Morton Ave

(Engine) 44-1 responding(Engine) 44-1 responding 14-C5 to 14-9!!!14-C5 to 14-9!!! 44-9A to 11-944-9A to 11-9 All units clear the air, (Engine Captain) All units clear the air, (Engine Captain)

14-C1?14-C1? {Tone} {Tone} All units clear the air, Fireboard to 14-C1All units clear the air, Fireboard to 14-C1


44-9A to 11-944-9A to 11-9 44-9A clear the air!44-9A clear the air! 14-9?14-9? Fireboard to 14-9Fireboard to 14-9 I believe you have a unit 14-C-Kline I believe you have a unit 14-C-Kline

trying to call you, I do not know trying to call you, I do not know what the problem iswhat the problem is

Stand-byStand-by

Audio TapeAudio Tape 44-9A to 11-9!44-9A to 11-9! Repeat, I am not picking up on the Repeat, I am not picking up on the

portableportable 14-C5 to 14-914-C5 to 14-9 Second floor, we entered from the rear Second floor, we entered from the rear

with an inch and three-quarter, we with an inch and three-quarter, we searched all the apartments on the searched all the apartments on the second floor, not everybody’s out, we second floor, not everybody’s out, we have collapse of the second floor floor have collapse of the second floor floor and the ceiling from the third, I still do and the ceiling from the third, I still do not have all my crew out, hold onnot have all my crew out, hold on


I could not copy most of that, we I could not copy most of that, we have part of your crew coming out have part of your crew coming out the front second floor right window, the front second floor right window, can you make it back to that point?can you make it back to that point?

Charge my supply lineCharge my supply line {Tone}{Tone} All units clear the air for 14-C5All units clear the air for 14-C5 Go head to 14-C5Go head to 14-C5 Are you in or out?Are you in or out?


I’m out, I’m out, I’m trying to find I’m out, I’m out, I’m trying to find my crewmy crew

Reporting crew out fireboard, thank Reporting crew out fireboard, thank youyou

Where are you, out front?Where are you, out front?

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Create and train on a Create and train on a may-daymay-day transmission procedure regularly. transmission procedure regularly.

Have an Have an automated personal automated personal accountabilityaccountability safety system (PASS) on safety system (PASS) on every SCBA.every SCBA.

Initiate a personnel Initiate a personnel accountabilityaccountability system for all operations.system for all operations.

Create and train on a Create and train on a personal personal accountability reportaccountability report (PAR) procedure. (PAR) procedure.


PreplanPreplan your buildings. your buildings. Use Use automatic mutual aidautomatic mutual aid to insure to insure

that sufficient resources area that sufficient resources area available on the fireground.available on the fireground.

Conduct a Conduct a size-upsize-up that provides that provides firefighters with strategic and tactical firefighters with strategic and tactical direction.direction.

Train on and use the Train on and use the incident incident command systemcommand system at all incidents. at all incidents.


Establish Establish commandcommand early. early. Set primary goals and objectives Set primary goals and objectives Assign command and general staff Assign command and general staff Assign required sectors, groups, or branchesAssign required sectors, groups, or branches Do not operate outside of the Do not operate outside of the span of controlspan of control

Establish a Establish a rehabilitationrehabilitation sector for sector for firefighters.firefighters.

Assign Assign rapid interventionrapid intervention (RIT) teams. (RIT) teams.


Maintain control of Maintain control of communicationscommunications.. Insure specialized units receive critical Insure specialized units receive critical

incident informationincident information Assign additional channels Assign additional channels Use and train on emergency traffic Use and train on emergency traffic

declarationsdeclarations Provide other communications equipmentProvide other communications equipment

Insure that Insure that dispatchersdispatchers are properly are properly trained in emergency traffic and mayday trained in emergency traffic and mayday transmissions.transmissions.

52 South Morton Avenue52 South Morton Avenue

This incident was a life changing This incident was a life changing experience.experience.

I am proud to know that because of I am proud to know that because of this experience numerous this experience numerous firefighters have learned the firefighters have learned the importance of training and planning importance of training and planning for when things will go wrong on the for when things will go wrong on the fireground.fireground.

Life Safety Life Safety

Our number one Our number one priority!priority!

So everyone goes So everyone goes home!home!

[email protected]@comcast.net

Documents

Firefighters trapped… …a case study December 2, 1995 52 South Morton Avenue Morton, Pennsylvania Edwin C. Kline [email protected]