Sacramento Fire Department investigates whether crew followed procedures before blast
Sacramento Fire Department officials say they are investigating whether fire crew members followed proper procedures and were wearing appropriate protective gear before an explosion that destroyed an Oak Park house and injured four firefighters.
Radio communication released Tuesday by the department reveals how a routine call escalated for firefighters when the house exploded July 5.
The recording reveals that the incident initially was fairly routine but became more dramatic, dangerous and potentially deadly. Four firefighters ultimately were hurt when the house exploded, though all four are home from the hospital.
The cause of the fire and blast remains under investigation.
Capt. Jonathan Burgess, a Fire Department spokesman, said the investigation also will look at whether firefighters, who suffered burns to their faces and hands, should have been wearing protective masks and gloves.
"As far as we know, they weren't wearing masks at the time the explosion occurred," Burgess said, but it has not been determined whether they were wearing gloves.
Firefighters are trained to get off the engine with their gloves on, Burgess said, but gloves have to be removed to put on protective face pieces.
Gloves and masks are designed to prevent or lessen injuries, he said. Individual firefighters should make sure they are wearing appropriate protective gear, he said, but it also is the responsibility of the direct supervisor to see that they do so.
Burgess confirmed that Cal-OSHA recently fined the department $8,100 for safety violations in a January garage fire in which a firefighter suffered second-degree burns to his hands.
But in the July 5 incident, Burgess said, firefighters thought the situation was winding down when the explosion occurred.
"It was a typical run-of-the-mill gas-leak call," said Capt. Jim Doucette, a department spokesman. "Crews got there, they reported the conditions: a house, people standing outside, an odor of gas."
Doucette said firefighters communicated that they shut off gas and electricity, that utility crews had been notified and that a hose line had been put in place.
"And then they were actually going to release one of the engines," Doucette said. "But within a matter of a few moments, they started calling 'Mayday.' The house had exploded. Ambulances were called. It was a pretty hectic scene. You will hear it all."
Radio communication released Tuesday by the department reveals how a routine call escalated for firefighters when the house exploded July 5.
The recording reveals that the incident initially was fairly routine but became more dramatic, dangerous and potentially deadly. Four firefighters ultimately were hurt when the house exploded, though all four are home from the hospital.
The cause of the fire and blast remains under investigation.
Capt. Jonathan Burgess, a Fire Department spokesman, said the investigation also will look at whether firefighters, who suffered burns to their faces and hands, should have been wearing protective masks and gloves.
"As far as we know, they weren't wearing masks at the time the explosion occurred," Burgess said, but it has not been determined whether they were wearing gloves.
Firefighters are trained to get off the engine with their gloves on, Burgess said, but gloves have to be removed to put on protective face pieces.
Gloves and masks are designed to prevent or lessen injuries, he said. Individual firefighters should make sure they are wearing appropriate protective gear, he said, but it also is the responsibility of the direct supervisor to see that they do so.
Burgess confirmed that Cal-OSHA recently fined the department $8,100 for safety violations in a January garage fire in which a firefighter suffered second-degree burns to his hands.
But in the July 5 incident, Burgess said, firefighters thought the situation was winding down when the explosion occurred.
"It was a typical run-of-the-mill gas-leak call," said Capt. Jim Doucette, a department spokesman. "Crews got there, they reported the conditions: a house, people standing outside, an odor of gas."
Doucette said firefighters communicated that they shut off gas and electricity, that utility crews had been notified and that a hose line had been put in place.
"And then they were actually going to release one of the engines," Doucette said. "But within a matter of a few moments, they started calling 'Mayday.' The house had exploded. Ambulances were called. It was a pretty hectic scene. You will hear it all."
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/14/2888671/sacramento-fire-department-investigates.html#ixzz0uFPqTUFI
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