Only One Firefighter Responds to Florida Fire

[JohnnyOV 2]

Only One Firefighter Initially Responds to Florida Fire

Story by wesh.com

There was a near fire in Volusia County when only one firefighter initially showed up to fight a fire that gutted a home.

That firefighter battled a house fire in Oak Hill all by herself for 10 minutes until backup arrived, but state procedure calls for no less than four firefighters to be at a fire at the same time.

The county follows the state fire marshal's standard of two firefighters inside a burning structure and two outside in case something goes wrong, WESH 2 News reported.

The lone firefighter who responded said she did not go into the structure, despite reports to the contrary.

Rescuers could not save the house or the pets inside it. One firefighter responding to a fully involved house fire was woefully inadequate, according to Oak Hill police Officer Diane Young, who was also at the scene.

"For one fire truck and one firefighter, it was very difficult for her to handle. I would say, yes, she could have used more help at the time she arrived," Young said.

County Fire Station No. 22 is less than a mile from the house. Firefighter Melissa Drewry arrived quickly but alone because her partner was in training.

County spokesman Dave Byron agrees that a replacement should have been called in.

"Certainly. I mean, unequivocally, there's no question about it. Backup support and having a partner or having additional partners there is absolutely a better and more safer situation," Byron said.

WESH 2 News has obtained the fire dispatch report, which says that one firefighter was in the burning structure by herself with heavy smoke conditions and fire coming out of windows. But the Drewry's statement conflicts with that report.

"I stood on the porch of the structure in the open doorway of the front and sprayed water into the doorway to cool it down before reinforcements could arrive," she said. "I did not make entry into the structure, but stood in the doorway for approximately two to three minutes spraying water."

The discrepancy may center on the front porch itself. It is covered, with screened walls but not necessarily part of the house structure.

Whatever the case, the county admits without the minimum two-crew team, a lone firefighter could have easily have been in harm's way.

"Certainly there's some second-guessing going on and we will definitely take steps to see what we can do to prevent this from ever happening again," Byron said.

The county said there is some leeway in the two in, two out rule, including if a firefighter thinks lives are in jeopardy or if they think they can go it alone with just one backup and still be safe.

The county is hiring 65 new firefighters so they can better staff all of the county's fire stations.

I run out of Station 11 in holly hill. Our first responce district has the most fire out of anyone in the county, so our engine is normally staffed with 3 people at all times

Edited February 3, 2006 by EMSJunkie712

[Guest]

is this a vol. dept or a mixed?

[JBE 328]

Either way, it's disgraceful. No engine or truck should turn out with one person on board.

[JohnnyOV 2]

is this a vol. dept or a mixed?

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We are a combo department, but I have no idea how many vollys there are in that station. Volusia county is trying to rid out the vollys totaly because of unions and other things, so there could be a considerable about less then my station (which only has 5-8 "active" [if we can even call them that] vollys). Thing is, down here, people dont want to volunteer, they would much rather leave it to the paid guys.

[Guest 786XP]

2 person staffing (with a 1 person minimum) what a great concept. Most likely the result of a "safety conscious" County Administration and Fire Chief who are concerned with only getting the truck to the scene (not actually performing at the scene).

Unfortunately, 99% of the time, the activated alarm or medical run could be handled (inefficiently) with the 2 on board. I am sure the public and residents, who witnessed that particular fire must have been really satisfied with their Department on that day.

This should not only be a condemnation of only Volusia County Fire and Rescue's policies, but for anyone who allows the initial minutes of any incident to be handled with the same number of fire trucks on scene as fire fighters (we certainly don't need to drive to Florida to find that).

I guess as long as there are those who continually fight Standards (such as 1710) rather than work to adopt them, the fire service will continue to respond under-prepared and needlessly place our personnel in jeopardy.

The definition of insanity...........

[Jason762 2]

2 person staffing (with a 1 person minimum) what a great concept. Most likely the result of a "safety conscious" County Administration and Fire Chief who are concerned with only getting the truck to the scene (not actually performing at the scene).

Unfortunately, 99% of the time, the activated alarm or medical run could be handled (inefficiently) with the 2 on board. I am sure the public and residents, who witnessed that particular fire must have been really satisfied with their Department on that day.

This should not only be a condemnation of only Volusia County Fire and Rescue's policies, but for anyone who allows the initial minutes of any incident to be handled with the same number of fire trucks on scene as fire fighters (we certainly don't need to drive to Florida to find that).

I guess as long as there are those who continually fight Standards (such as 1710) rather than work to adopt them, the fire service will continue to respond under-prepared and needlessly place our personnel in jeopardy.

The definition of insanity...........

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Something like this could NEVER happen around here Kind of sounds like several VFD/combo departments we know of. This is what happens when politicians put public safety behind the need to save money. How much is your life/house/property worth????

[Guest]

Oh come on Jason762 and 786XP!!!! We don't need manpower!!!! Good intentions save lives. And if there were no paid drivers, the vollies would have to handle EVERY call. Now we all know that they could definitely handle EVERY call; however, having limited paid staff helps keep the vollies rested and ready to respond to the TRUE EMERGENCIES.

PS - a TRUE EMERGENCY is anything that sounds cool. Reidential alarms and EMS calls are not interesting. And anyway, people don't really need a good response to an EMS call for a cardiac arrest or difficulty breathing. However, responding to that fully involved barn or car fire is what the community really wants. Not help when their family member is dying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ny10570 745]

All right we all agree one ff isn't enough. Why did it take 10 minutes for more apperatus and ff's to arrive. Aren't there other apparatus assigned to the alarm? And if its a combo dept why didn't any volleys show up in the first 10 minutes? Maybe you can explain this EMSjunkie.

[Remember585 815]

Question for everyone...

I'm trying to avoid drifting from the subject at hand, but this is somewhat related.

How do you feel about appartus responding with a driver only? Any opinions?

I think if it is a combo department that rolls with one that there is a potential risk that nobody else may come out. I think, again this is my own opinion, a minimum of 2 should be on apparatus. This way the driver has another pair of eyes and ears to make the response and return safer.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[calhobs 110]

From my understanding is that when the Career Brothers and Sisters are working the Vollies do not respond. In other words if the Career peopel are working 9-5 the Vollies cover after that. I could be wrong but that is how it was explained to me. lets just saythank God no one was hurt during this incident and hopefully it wont happen again.

[JohnnyOV 2]

All right we all agree one ff isn't enough.  Why did it take 10 minutes for more apperatus and ff's to arrive.  Aren't there other apparatus assigned to the alarm?  And if its a combo dept why didn't any volleys show up in the first 10 minutes?  Maybe you can explain this EMSjunkie.

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I have no idea why box alarms havent been assigned, but vollys are not allowed to show up on scene PERIOD in their POV...your either in the station when the call comes in and jump on the rig, or your SOoL. We are not allowed to run lights on our POV in volusia county, so trying to make it through "city traffic" to the firehouse is impossible.

Edited February 4, 2006 by EMSJunkie712

[JohnnyOV 2]

From my understanding is that when the Career Brothers and Sisters are working the Vollies do not respond. In other words if the Career peopel are working 9-5 the Vollies cover after that. I could be wrong but that is how it was explained to me. lets just saythank God no one was hurt during this incident and hopefully it wont happen again.

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negative...we respond 24/7 along with the paid guys...although looks like the vollys will be gone soon

[calhobs 110]

EMSJunkie thanks for setting me stright, I was not sure

[Guest 786XP]

13Victor-

"I am too special for the automatic alarms, water calls, lines down, those annoying medical calls, and anything else that does not sound exciting......I keep myself primed for the good calls, you know the structure fires and the serious MVAs. I wait for the career staff to get there first and size it up for me..."

No, never heard of such a thing (you must be making that up)........and yet I keep being told we are all supposed to be the same, regardless of Thursdays.........

PS - J762 - How is it possible for you to roll 2 SH rigs at the same time?????

[Guest]

career guys chasing out vollies...no way! By the way why would you show up for every alarm when someone is getting paid to show up for the bulls*%? That's why busy departments usually don't have vollies...certainly isn't worth having a full paid staff for limited work...that being said structure fire and no response? disgraceful!

[Guest 786XP]

In your expert opinion, can you define what type of call is categorized as BS?

In your Department does the BS designation show up on the run-card or does the dispatcher actually announce it when you are responding?

If the call does not initially come in as a BS, but you get there and determine it to be BS, can you cite the offending resident?

Is the BS designation discretionary or do we have to apply it all the time?

If a fellow volunteer's family is involved in the BS call, is it still a BS call?

Are the Fire Fighters that respond to the BS calls foolish? or can you grant them immunity?

If a BS call turns into a true emergency, are you held accountable?

Do you think the taxpayers (who purchase all of those nice gold encrusted fire trucks that you take to parades all summer long) believe that their problem is actually BS or an emergency?

We (the responders) do not decide what an emergency is, the people we serve do......

If you are not prepared to serve the public, perhaps the local DMV might be better suited for you.