NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

F2020-10

Career Captain and Career 

Firefighter Die After Running Out 

of Air During a Search in a Public 

Library – California
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program 2

Summary

• On February 18, 2020, a 35-year-old career captain and a 25-year-old

career firefighter died searching for a reported civilian using a walker in a

public library.

• At 1616 hours, the communication center dispatched Engine 71, Engine

72, Truck 73, and Battalion 77 to a commercial structure fire at the library

caused by arson.

• A minute later, a city police officer arrived, made entry, and reported the

first floor was clear.

• At approximately 1618 hours, Engine 71 arrived with a captain, firefighter,

and engineer from the fire station.
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program 3

Summary

• The rear of the fire station shares a

common wall with the rear of the

library.

• The captain reported heavy smoke

from Side Alpha.

• Battalion Chief 70 also responded

from the adjacent fire station.

• A bystander informed a second

police officer that a woman with a

walker was on the second floor.

• The Engine 71 crew made entry

without a hoseline and without

informing Battalion Chief 70.

Fire Structure Side Alpha

(Photo Courtesy of City Building Inspector)
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Summary

• At approximately 1621 hours, Battalion 77 arrived on scene, assumed 

command, and advised everyone go to Channel 2. Battalion 77 saw 

Engine 71 in front of the building and tried to contact the Engine 71 

captain on Channel 2 to confirm they were in the building. 

• A minute later, the Engine 71 captain contacted Battalion Chief 77 on 

Channel 1 and reported they cleared Division 2 and were headed to the 

stairwell for Division 1. 

• At 1626 hours, fire conditions had worsened, and Battalion Chief 77 

declared a defensive attack and attempted multiple times to radio the 

Engine 71 captain on Channels 1 and 2 with no response. 

• At 1631 hours, a rapid intervention team (RIT) was assembled and made 

entry to locate the Engine 71 crew. 
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program 5

Summary

• A minute later, the fire chief arrived, 

and the Engine 71 captain called a 

Mayday from Division 2. 

• The Engine 71 captain stated that he 

and his firefighter were running low 

on air in the banquet room and were 

trying to locate the stairs. 

• At 1638 hours, the RIT reported no 

fire and zero visibility in the stairwell 

to the second floor. 

• The RIT could hear activated PASS 

alarms. 

• The Engine 71 captain was located in

a bathroom and handed off to a 

second RIT because the first RIT was 

low on air. 

First floor of the library pre-fire. Note the stairwell where the RIT 

operation occurred. Courtesy of the fire department.
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program 6

Summary

• The captain was removed 

from the building and later 

died at the hospital. 

• Several more RIT attempts 

were made to locate the 

Engine 71 firefighter. 

• Efforts were suspended due to 

progressing fire conditions 

and collapse of the building. 

• The Engine 71 firefighter was 

located by an urban search 

and rescue team (USRT) late 

the next day and was 

extricated from the building 

the following morning by the 

USRT and his fire department 

members. 

Fire structure Side Alpha

(Photo by NIOSH )
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Contributing Factors

• Air management factors at the 

task and tactical level

• Risk assessment/size up 

difficulties

• Primary search without a 

tagline or hoseline in a large 

commercial occupancy 

• Large area search in an occupied 

structure (public library)

• Ineffective Mayday procedures 

and survival techniques

• Residential tactics in a 

commercial structure

• Crew integrity lost during search

• Radio/communication difficulties 

• Lack of sprinkler system

• Rapid fire growth.
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Recommendations

• Fire departments should ensure all firefighters are trained on and 

actively practice air management principles. 

• Fire departments should use risk management principles at all structure 

fires.

• Fire departments should ensure that primary search crews and RIT 

advance with a hoseline or tagline in commercial or complex structures.

• Fire departments should ensure all firefighters are trained in large area 

search procedures. 
NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program 9

Recommendations

• Fire departments should ensure firefighters are trained in situational 

awareness, personal safety, and accountability.

• Fire departments should ensure firefighters are trained in Mayday 

procedures and survival techniques.

• Fire departments should develop and implement standard operating 

procedures/guidelines to define fireground strategies and tactics for 

commercial structures. 

• Fire departments should ensure all members engaged in emergency 

operations receive annual proficiency training and evaluation on 

fireground operations, including operations within commercial 

structures.
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Recommendations

• Fire departments should ensure crew integrity is properly maintained by 

voice or radio contact when operating in an atmosphere that is 

immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).

• Fire departments should ensure all firefighters are trained on radio 

discipline and proper use, including using the emergency alert button 

(EAB) on their portable radio.

• Fire departments should ensure firefighters and officers are trained in 

understanding fire development and growth during size-up, and that 

incendiary fires can rapidly develop and grow beyond predictions.

• Fire departments should incorporate the principles of command safety 

into the incident management system during the initial assumption of 

command to ensure strategic-level safety responsibilities are 

incorporated into the command functions throughout the incident.
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CONTACT US

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch

Division of Safety Research

NIOSH 1000 Frederick Lane, MS 1808

Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888

FFFIPP Webpage

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