5 Providence FFs suffer cyanide poisoning

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Providence firefighters treated for exposure to cyanide

March 24, 2006

Boston.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Five firefighters have tested positive for cyanide poisoning since Thursday, an unusually large number that immediately prompted an ongoing safety review.

One remained hospitalized in critical condition.

Union officials said several dozen firefighters were at the scene of two fires where their colleagues were apparently poisoned, but the source of the poisoning was still under investigation Friday.

"We have not routinely tested for this in the past," Assistant Fire Chief Mark Pare said. "It's hard to determine if this is something unusual, or if this is something that's been going on and we've attributed it to other things."

Fire officials were first alerted to the problem when a firefighter battling a blaze at a Providence restaurant Thursday complained of nausea and exhaustion. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and tested positive for cyanide poisoning, Pare said.

Paul Doughty, president of the Providence Firefighters Union, said the department summoned about 20 firefighters to the hospital and five had been poisoned. At least three required treatment with an antidote.

"This is by far the largest exposure I can recall," Doughty said.

Cyanide gas is generated when household items such as plastic, polyurethane, nylon and cotton burn, said Dr. Mitchell Levy, director of the medical intensive care unit at Rhode Island Hospital.

In high concentrations, cyanide can cause irregular heartbeats, unconsciousness and impaired breathing, Levy said. Tissues in the heart and brain are the most susceptible to damage.

Union officials said one firefighter, Kenneth Baker, suffered from heart arrhythmia at a house fire Friday and later tested positive for cyanide poisoning.

He was in critical condition Friday morning at Rhode Island Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Two other firefighters -- Edward Donahue and Anthony Toro -- were probably exposed to cyanide gas while helping extinguish the Providence restaurant fire, where an unusually large amount of styrofoam insulation burned Thursday morning, Doughty said.

Both received an antidote and are expected to recover.

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NBC 10 NEWS

Task Force To Investigate Cyanide Poisonings

Firefighter Improving After Being Hospitalized

POSTED: 5:26 pm EST March 28, 2006

UPDATED: 8:36 pm EST March 28, 2006

PROVIDENCE -- Providence fire officials are starting a study to determine how five firefighters were poisoned with cyanide last week.

"It definitely is a wake-up call and we can't ignore this," Fire Chief David Costa said.

Costa said he's forming a five-member task force to investigate. He's asked the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, a federal agency, to join the study. He wants a draft report in 30 days.

"I've established this team here, because of these occurrences at these fires, which I would classify as highly unusual," he said. "What appeared to be a series of routine fires have left firefighters with many questions," Costa said.

The firefighters tested positive after battling different blazes on Thursday and Friday. Medical experts say cyanide gas is generated when household items such as plastic, polyurethane, nylon and cotton burn.

One Providence firefighter needed an antidote after he tested positive for cyanide poisoning. He is still recovering.

Providence fire officials said the study will examine the effectiveness of the firefighters' breathing equipment and protective clothing.

"While there's obviously an inherent risk in fighting fires, it's our responsibility to assure those risks are kept at a minimum," Providence Mayor David Cicilline said.