Final report and Recs on LODD FDNY FF Brick

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NIOSH Releases Report on 2003 Death of FDNY Firefighter

TERIA ROGERS  

Firehouse.com News

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a report on Thomas Brick, a New York City firefighter who died in a warehouse fire in December 2003.  

The report outlines details of the fire and 13 recommendations to fire personnel and equipment manufacturers to minimize the risk of future incidents. Brick, who graduated from FDNY’s first class following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had been with Ladder 36 in Manhattan for two years.

On December 16, Ladder 36 was called to a fire at a furniture and mattress warehouse in Upper Manhattan. While entering the building the crew came upon heavy smoke and zero visibility in a stairwell leading to the second floor.  

Brick and his crew continued on to the second floor and searched for the origin of the fire with some difficulty. The warehouse had received a new shipment just hours before the fire; mattresses and furniture were stacked as high as the ceiling in some places.  

While searching Brick was separated from the crew. Due to high heat conditions an officer yelled for his team to get out and a missing member announcement was made. While inside, members of the crew thought they heard a scream but could not verify the source.  

Once outside Brick was mistakenly accounted for and an emergency message was called off. A final personnel accountability report (PAR) discovered that Brick was still missing and team members went back in to rescue the firefighter.  

Brick was found lying face down with his face piece removed and a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) alarm that was inaudible. He was flown to New York Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead with a carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level of 74.8%.  

Several factors account for the death of Thomas Brick and NIOSH have made 13 recommendations to eliminate similar occurrences in the future. The first recommendation is ensuring that fire departments conduct pre-incident planning on commercial structures. A pre-incident plan identifies deviations from normal operations and accounts for construction, protections systems, water supply and special conditions which in this case included skylights and a locked pull down door. The pre-incident plan for this structure would have noted that the warehouse was inspected in 2000 however the second floor was never accessed.  

Another recommendation to fire departments is ensuring that Incident Commanders (ICs) conduct a risk-versus-gain analysis prior to and during the operation. The level of risk must be compared to the ability to save lives or property. The warehouse was an unoccupied commercial building that required forced entry and provided a heavy fire load with mattresses and furniture. Also, upon entering firefighters discovered heavy smoke and zero visibility.  

Additional recommendations from NIOSH include reinforcing the danger of carbon monoxide, proper knowledge of radio operation and maintaining continuity and accountability on the fire grounds.  

To read the full report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face200404.html