Keeping It Safe Robert Tutterow

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its annual report on the 2023 fatal firefighter injuries this past June. There were 89 reported line-of-duty deaths (LODDs), which is fewer than the 98 reported in 2022. However, it was the second highest number in the past 10 years.

It is important to note that the report does not include cancer deaths. Of the 89 LODDs, 48 were volunteer firefighters (which includes paid part-time) and 30 were career firefighters. The other 11 were either wildland or military.

While many (especially nonfire service personnel) might suspect that well over 90 percent of deaths occurred on the fireground, the percentage was 36 percent. The second highest percentage, based on type of duty, was responding to/returning from a call at 21 percent. The other double-digit percentages for type of duty were nonfire emergencies and training with each at 11 percent. Station duties comprised 8 percent, while EMS was at 6 percent. Maintenance and other on-duty were each at 3 percent.

The NFPA started tracking LODDs in 1977 when there were more than 150 reported. In fact, in the second year of its reporting in 1978, there were 174 firefighters who lost their lives.

Through the mid 1980s, the average was around 125 annually. From the mid 1980s to 2000, the average was around 90. I think it is no coincidence that it was in the mid 1980s that the fire service started talking about firefighter safety and the first edition of NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program, was published. A huge amount of gratitude must be extended to those pioneers who led the firefighter health and safety initiatives during this time, especially the late Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department Chief Alan Brunacini. The first 10 years of the new millennium saw a rise to just under 100 LODDs annually. In retrospect, I think a bit of complacency set in after the initial impact of NFPA 1500. From around 2010 to 2020, the average number dipped to around 70, with 2019 being the lowest at 48. The 2020s have seen another uptick with an average of above 80. Is it time for a renewedfocus on firefighter safety? (Please note that these numbers do not reflect the 343 firefighters lost in the World Trade Center.)

In examining the type of duty deaths, the responding/returning category of 21 percent is totally unacceptable. Many of these are single-vehicle accidents, and if not, very few are the fault of the other driver. Is the issue driver training? Or, adrenaline induced? Or, competition with other responding apparatus? Or, pure driver/occupant negligence—i.e., failure to be buckled in? I suspect the answer to each of those is “yes.”

I do not recall any of the events being mechanical failure of the apparatus, even though there are some poorly maintained, aging rigs making responses. Regardless, it is highly recommended that all fire departments focus on ways to minimize the risks associated with responding to and returning from incidents. A pet peeve of mine is seeing so many departments putting so much black on their apparatus—especially the retrore- flective striping. It is the most inconspicuous color, and it shows the world that your department values the “trendy appearance” of the apparatus over the safety of its members. The European fire service has decades of experience (and data) proving the validity of having conspicuous apparatus as a component of its safety programs.

Other key points of the report show that sudden cardiac arrest was the cause of 40percent of the d

Hana Ikramuddin
The Middletown Press, Conn.
(TNS)

Oct. 22—BERLIN — A Wethersfield firefighter died while battling the brush fire on Lamentation Mountain on Tuesday after a UTV they were operating on a steep rocky incline rolled over, officials said.

The firefighter who died was identified by Meriden police late Tuesday night as 66-year-old Robert Sharkevich, who was also a retired Hartford firefighter. Three other unidentified firefighters sustained non life-threatening injuries in the rollover and were transported to area hospitals, Meriden police said.

In a news conference Tuesday evening, Berlin Fire Lt. John Massirio said a firefighter died when a UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) rolled over on a trail while they were working to extinguish the fire.

Massirio said there would be a procession from the scene of the accident to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington late on Tuesday.

“My heart breaks learning the news that a Wethersfield firefighter died in the line of duty responding to the brush fire in Berlin. Firefighters go above and beyond to protect our communities. My prayers are with his family and colleagues at this devastating time,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement.

Attorney General William Tong said he was “heartbroken” for the department and the firefighter’s loved ones.

“My thoughts are with all of the courageous firefighters and first responders still working to control this fire through their grief,” Tong said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Berlin fire officials said the blaze on the mountain was “expected to be a prolonged event that will take multiple days to contain.”

They said the wildfire burning in Lamentation Mountain State Park spread across 80 to 90 acres, necessitating the activation of helicopter crews to come in to attempt to fight the fire by air.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

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Mt. Juliet recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station 3. When the city bought the five-plus acre site last year, the agreement included an interesting clause.

The site at 4370 Old Lebanon Dirt Road is the future home of the 16,283-square-foot, $8.25 million fire station, mainstreetmediatn.com reported.

It is projected to become operational in December 2025, the report said.

The new station, which will replace the old fire station behind city hall, will have four bays, classrooms, 14 bedrooms, and a full-time generator, according to the report. 

City commissioners purchased the land last year for $950,000, the report said. Part of the agreement for purchasing the land was that Cozy Joe, a 31-year-old quarter horse that was born on the property, must be allowed to stay.

Part of the sale contract includes a clause that Cozy Joe lives on the property until he dies, the report said.

Cozy Joe remains in his lifetime pasture and sealed the deal for this new Station 3 location, according to the report.

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Northampton Township held a day of celebration Saturday, Oct. 19, to dedicate the opening of two new fire stations. The day kicked off with two dedication ceremonies at Station 3 and Station 73, followed by open houses at all three locations.

Speakers included Congressman Fitzpatrick, state Sen. Farry and state Reps. Marcell and Hogan along with a representative from the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner’s Office.

All fire stations hosted open houses featuring tours of the stations, meet-and-greets with dedicated firefighters and emergency medical staff, and opportunities for the community to learn more about fire prevention.

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Jenna Wilson
St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
(TNS)

Oct. 21—The St. Joseph Fire Department recently received over $100,000 in grant funding to upgrade aging equipment of fire trucks and implement a mobile inspection software.

$13,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding was awarded to the general fund fire department program, and $18,871 from Tyler Technologies was used to purchase digital fire inspection and preplan software.

“The new inspection software is much more efficient and will allow us to move our paper driven inspections to digital inspections via an iPad in the field,” said Jamey McVicker, assistant fire chief with the SJFD. “Now we’ll be able to retrieve historical data instead of having to pull that from a file cabinet the way we’re doing it now.”

Following the installation of the inspection software, a pre-incident planning software will also be fully implemented into the trucks, allowing fire crews to have a general emergency operation plan in place prior to arriving at a scene.

In addition, the department received $79,000 from the Pipeline Emergency Response Grant program which includes the purchase of 14 gas monitors to be placed on fire apparatuses.

“We’re going to use it to replace all the 4-gas meters on all of our apparatus which are aging,” said Kurt Fuehrer, chief training officer with the SJFD. “These detect CO, levels of explosions and anything in the air that could be flammable, so they’re very essential. Especially this time of year when people start firing up their furnaces and think they might need a CO check; we’ll take these in and tell them if they’re home is safe or not.”

The St. Joseph Fire Department has received several grants this past year that is putting them on track to have all their equipment updated within the required time frame.

“Everything is coming along the way it should,” said Fuehrer. “The PERG grant in particular was very helpful because it was 100% funded, there was no city match involved with this and we’re one of the first departments in Missouri to get it.”

The St. Joseph Fire Department expects to have the new equipment and software implemented by January 2025.

Jenna Wilson can be reached at jenna.wilson@newspressnow.com.

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