# Two Career Lieutenants Killed and Two Career Fire Fighters Injured Following a Flashover at an Assembly Hall Fire—Texas/Appendix II

Appendix II
The department undertook a number of actions to prevent the occurrence of similar injuries. An Operations Committee of fire department personnel from all ranks was formed. The committee was charged with thoroughly reviewing all firefighting standard operating procedures (SOPs) to determine any changes needed to increase the level of safety of the department personnel. The Operations Committee met numerous times over the months following the fire and spent many hours in this endeavor. The department advised NIOSH that they have implemented a number of changes based on Committee recommendations. The following is a summary of the changes reported to NIOSH:
Staffing Increase and Resolution
On June 25, 2013, the city council unanimously resolved to increase department staffing over a tenyear period to a minimum of four firefighters on all fire apparatus. On the day of the incident, each fire company had been staffed with three firefighters. While this fire department has had success at delivering efficient firefighting services in the past, staffing was many times stretched to accomplish required fireground tasks. Several national staffing studies reviewed by the fire department showed that fire companies with four fighters can accomplish 22 required fire ground tasks 25% faster than a three-person crew.
In addition, this staffing increase would include the assignment of a full-time chief’s aide. The department noted that it is a very demanding task to monitor and direct a working incident, especially on larger incidents involving larger structures. When a fire fighter mayday situation develops, the abilities of the incident commander can be quickly overwhelmed. Assigning an aide to the battalion chief will provide better management during firefighting operations and most importantly, during mayday situations. The duties of the chief’s aide would include operating the battalion chief vehicle, which would allow the battalion chief to focus on evolving details of the emergency event while en route, assist in incident management, track personnel accountability, perform radio communications (especially during mayday operations), operate the command board, act as a scribe to document all activities and operate the mobile data terminal.
Six firefighters were hired in November 2013 increasing daily staffing levels and in December 2013, the truck company minimum staffing was raised to four fire fighters.
An additional fire inspector was assigned to the fire marshal’s office increasing the ability to inspect commercial structures. The department noted that inspecting commercial structures on a more frequent basis will increase chances of finding potential fire risks.
Increase of Staffing on Initial Response to a Structure Fire
Another engine company has been added to the initial alarm bringing, the total response to four engines, one truck company, a battalion chief, an EMS supervisor and an ambulance. The company ​officer and fire fighter(s) on the fourth arriving engine company will deploy a hand line and will be in a stand-by role in the event of a fire fighter mayday. This "blocking line" will deploy alongside the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) solely to provide protection from heat or flashover while the RIT is locating and extracting the downed fire fighter. The apparatus operator of the fourth engine will immediately report to the incident commander and serve in the role of a chief’s aide and scribe. The chief’s aide will track and document all pertinent information relating to fireground operations.
Implementation of "Mayday" Mode of Operation
Standard operating procedures for mayday situations were enhanced to ensure critical tasks are accomplished. In the event of a reported fire fighter mayday, each company operating at the scene will know their role in rescuing the trapped fire fighter. During a mayday mode, the EMS Supervisor who typically serves as incident safety officer will report to command as the rescue division officer when mayday mode is declared by command. The incident commander will monitor safety until someone else is assigned to the safety officer’s position. The trapped/lost fire fighter(s) and the company members with them will remain on the assigned radio talk group as will the RIT and the blocking line crew. The rescue division officer will monitor the radio traffic, direct the rescue effort and report progress face-to-face with command. All other companies engaged in firefighting operations will move to a pre-determined tactical channel to communicate firefighting operations. When a mayday mode is confirmed and declared by command, RIT and the blocking line will deploy to begin rescue operations. In addition, command will request an additional alarm for more resources and will have administrative officers immediately paged to respond to the scene.
Coordinated Hoseline Rotations Providing Relief for Attack Crew and Reducing Fire Fighter Fatigue
With the addition of a blocking line, crews who have been actively involved in firefighting will come out when necessary and report to rehab. Once the crew has replenished their air supply and are rested, they will report to the blocking line and assume those duties. The crew that was previously assigned to the blocking line will now engage in the remaining firefighting tasks. The rotation of crews will continue until no longer needed. The blocking line will remain in place as long as the RIT is standing by.
Thermal Imager Use
During the incident, it was noted that not all company officers had a thermal imager (TI) with them during firefighting efforts. TIs are carried on all fire companies for use by the company officer. Standard operating procedures now mandate that all company officers have a TI with them at all times while performing fireground activities. ​All Pre-connected Hoselines will be 200 Feet in Length and Different Colors
Previously, all engine companies carried two 150-foot hoselines midsection of the truck (one red in color, one yellow in color, and two 200-foot hoselines on the rear of the truck, one red one yellow. While these hose configurations did not cause any issues at this incident, the need to make all hoselines the same length became apparent with the change of staffing a blocking line. This will ensure that regardless of which hose is deployed initially by the attack crews, the other hoselines will have adequate length to reach those areas.
The different color hoselines will help fire fighters to distinguish a hoseline they may be following out of a building so not confuse it with another. The department noted that this had proved helpful during the incident as the downed lieutenant was able to identify that he was on the red hoseline when calling for assistance. The RIT was able to follow the red hoseline directly to him as a result. With the addition of the blocking line, the need to separately identify all four different hoselines would be very helpful in a similar situation involving the deployment of multiple hoselines.
Communications
Based on factors at the incident, several changes in fireground communications were made. The department noted that during the rescue operation of Victim #1 it was very difficult at times to communicate due to the number of personnel on scene and the intensity of radio traffic during the rescue. During a typical structure fire, radio communication on one talk group is manageable among fire companies operating at the scene. However, it became apparent that when the rescue effort began, radio communications, at times, became overwhelming. The fire scene was divided between the ongoing firefighting effort and the rescue. The incident commander had to manage both efforts while monitoring all radio communications.
Communication changes have included separating radio talk groups when a mayday situation is declared, establishing a designated rescue division officer to monitor rescue operations, and reprogramming portable radios to have voice-announced talk groups. Previously, when a structure fire call was received, a tactical talk group was assigned to the incident by the fire department dispatcher at the time of alarm. All fire companies assigned operated on the designated talk group throughout the incident. Under the new procedure, when a mayday is declared by command the RIT, the blocking line crew, and the rescue division officer will remain on the originally assigned tactical talk group (now known as the rescue talk group) while all other crews will move to a pre-determined tactical talk group (Tact 6) and continue firefighting operations. The incident commander monitors Tact 6 and the rescue division officer directs and monitors the rescue talk group at the command post next to the incident commander. The rescue division officer and the incident commander will monitor accountability and communicate progress and needs in a face-to-face.
Due to firefighting crews having to change radio talk groups during a declared mayday, all portable radios have been reprogrammed so each time a radio is turned on, or a change is made in the selection of a talk group, the radio operator will hear a voice announcing the selected talk group to help ensure ​the proper talk group has been selected. In addition, the radios were previously programmed with talk groups in descending order (Talk group 1, Talk group 2, etc.). The last talk group on the radio dial is now also programmed to Tact 6 so if any confusion remains as to which talk group is which, the radio operator can roll the talk group selection clockwise until it stops and they will be on Tact 6 as well.
Upgrades to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The fire department has been specifying and purchasing high quality firefighting coats and pants for many years. The specifications included Globe brand G-Xtreme gear with Millenia XT outer shell, 3 layer crosstech moisture barrier, and Quantum 3d 2i thermal liner. Although the gear worn during the fire sustained heavy damage, the department believes it performed well. In an effort to make the gear even better, another layer of Quantum 3D SL2i was added to the complete thermal cape of the coat.
The PPE committee researched firefighting hoods that are currently available to determine if a higher level of protection is available. After much research, the committee recommended the Majestic C6FYR-Hawk which is a four layer hood with a steam resisting layer of Melange. The department has ordered enough hoods to provide one to everyone in the department along with extras for replacement.
The fire department decided to move to 45-minute cylinders in lieu of their current 30-minute cylinders. The 30-minute cylinders have been completely phased out and the department is now using 45-minute cylinders.
New Hose Load and High-rise Packs
A new hose load, called a combination roundabout load, was introduced and implemented. The new hose load provides easier deployment and requires less manpower for deployment into structures. All high-rise hose packs were replaced with two-inch hose with combination fog/breakaway nozzles. These hose packs will be used in high-rise firefighting situations but can also be used in commercial settings where a higher flow is required.
Identification of Probationary Fire Fighters
In order to better recognize probationary fire fighters at fire scenes, the tetrahedrons on a probationary fire fighter’s helmet and the leather helmet front are now green.
Additional Training
Since the incident, much training has occurred for all personnel concerning the following topics related to this incident:
* Annual SCBA/PPE requirement
* Critique of this incident
* RIT drill practical exercises ​
* Basic Structural Tactical Initiative (BSTI) with a fourth engine added; classroom and practical exercises
* BSTI with mayday practical exercises
* New roundabout hose load and breakaway nozzles
* Training was conducted with all dispatchers concerning new procedures and SOPs
Several companies also had training in:
* Strategy and Tactics
* Thermal Imaging Cameras
* Building Construction
Command Staff Training/Discussion
* Transitional fire attack
* Risk management during structure fires
* Truck company operations
* Parameters for offensive operations in commercial structures
Technology
The fire department PPE committee evaluated the Scott pack trackers and the SEMS II products in October 2013. The committee members had mixed opinions and decided more research was needed, and is planning to interview departments currently using the products being considered.
Current Considerations
The operations committee has been tasked with evaluating the recent research performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). After adequate time for all committee members to review data, decisions will be made regarding any potential strategy and tactic changes. Additionally, the committee has determined the need to draft a commercial occupancy standard operating procedure, similar to the basic structural tactical initiative currently in place.