NYSPFFA Health and Safety

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings March 14, 2012 Emmitsburg, MD. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings. The report, Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) (PDF, 916 Kb), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings According to the report: Ninety-two percent of all civilian fatalities in residential building fires involve thermal burns and smoke inhalation. The leading specific location where civilian fire fatalities occur in residential buildings is the bedroom (55 percent). Fifty percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This period also accounts for 47 percent of fatal fires.

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings Thirty-six percent of fire victims in residential buildings were trying to escape at the time of their deaths; an additional 35 percent were sleeping. "Other unintentionally set, careless" actions and "smoking" (each accounting for 16 percent) are the leading causes of fatal residential building fires. Approximately 44 percent of civilian fatalities in residential building fires are between the ages of 40 and 69. Thirteen percent of the fire fatalities in residential buildings were less than 10 years old.

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) is part of the Topical Fire Report Series. Topical reports explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context. For further information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available from the U.S. Fire Administration, visit: www.usfa.fema.gov

Diver Safety

Driver Safety Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation A summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation

Driver Safety A Career Captain Dies and a Fire Fighter/Driver is Seriously Injured When Two Fire Trucks Collide at an Intersection – Connecticut

Summary On May 19, 2007, a 37-year old male career captain (the victim) was fatally injured when the engine he was riding in and a ladder truck collided at an intersection. Both apparatus were from the same department and were responding to a reported kitchen fire. A total of eight fire fighters were involved in the collision.

Driver Safety According to the police report, the captain and the driver of the engine were not wearing seat belts. They were both ejected from the apparatus and suffered multiple critical injuries.

Driver Safety The captain succumbed to his injuries three days after the collision and the driver remained hospitalized for several weeks. The six injured fire fighters were transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

Driver Safety Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include: Failure to stop at a red traffic signal Failure to wear seat belts.

NIOSH investigators concluded To minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should: establish, train on and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that require drivers to : stop at red traffic lights and stop signs, and proceed through intersections only after ensuring it is safe to continue enforce SOPs that require mandatory use of seat belts in all vehicles

Driver Safety Although there is no evidence that the following recommendations were contributory factors in this fatality, in accordance with prudent safety practice fire departments should:

Driver Safety 1. Ensure their vehicle/apparatus maintenance program complies with applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and that all maintenance and repairs are : performed by qualified technicians

Driver Safety 2. Review procedures for all vehicles traveling in an emergency response to ensure safe travel and eliminate any chance of confusion at roadway intersections.

Driver Safety • ensure that adequate line-of-site is maintained at roadway intersections, with an emphasis on routes routinely traveled by responding emergency vehicles/apparatus

Driver Safety • consider enacting legislation to include operators and occupants of fire department vehicles in existing seat belt legislation and/or repeal existing laws that exempt drivers and occupants of fire service vehicles from mandatory seat belt use

NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law Excerpts § 1144. Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles. (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle or bicycle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle by siren, exhaust whistle, bell, air-horn or electronic equivalent; the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, or to either edge of a one-way roadway three or more lanes in width, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. (b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with reasonable care for all persons using the highway.

1104 Authorized Emergency Vehicles — (a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when involved in an emergency operation, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions herein stated. (b) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may: Stop, stand or park irrespective of the provisions of this title; Proceed past a steady red signal, a flashing red signal or a stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operations; Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property; Disregard the regulations governing directions of movement or turning in specified directions.

1104 Authorized Emergency Vehicles — (c) Except for an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle, the exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle while in motion by bell, horn, siren, electronic device or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp so that from any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet from such vehicle, at least one red light will be displayed and visible.

1104 Authorized Emergency Vehicles — (e) THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS SHALL NOT RELIEVE THE DRIVER OF AN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE FROM THE DUTY TO DRIVE WITH DUE REGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PERSONS, NOR SHALL SUCH PROVISIONS PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

NFPA 1500 6.2 Drivers/Operators of Fire Department Apparatus. 6.2.1* Fire apparatus shall be operated only by members who have successfully completed an approved driver training program commensurate with the type of apparatus the member will operate or by trainee drivers who are under the supervision of a qualified driver. 6.2.2* The driver of a fire department vehicle shall be required to possess a valid driver's license for the class of vehicle, as specified by the AHJ. 6.2.2.1 Fire department vehicles shall be operated in compliance with all applicable traffic laws, including special provisions pertaining to emergency vehicles as established by the AHJ, as well as specific rules, regulations, and procedures adopted by the fire department. 6.2.3* The fire department shall establish specific rules, regulations, and procedures relating to the operation of fire department vehicles in an emergency mode, including guidelines to establish when emergency response is authorized and when emergency response is not authorized.

NFPA 1500 6.2.4* Drivers of fire apparatus shall be directly responsible for the safe and prudent operation of the vehicles under all conditions. 6.2.4.1 When the driver is under the direct supervision of an officer, that officer shall also assume responsibility for the driver's actions.

NFPA 1500 6.2.5 Drivers shall not move fire apparatus until all persons on the vehicle are seated and secured with seat belts in approved riding positions, other than as specifically allowed in this chapter. 6.2.6 Drivers of fire apparatus shall obey all traffic control signals and signs and all laws and rules of the road of the jurisdiction for the operation of motor vehicles.

NFPA 1500 6.2.7* The fire department shall develop standard operating procedures for safely driving fire apparatus during non-emergency travel and emergency response and shall include specific criteria for vehicle speed, crossing intersections, traversing railroad grade crossings, the use of emergency warning devices, and the backing of fire apparatus. 6.2.7.1* Procedures for all responses shall emphasize that the safe arrival of fire apparatus to the incident scene is the first priority.

NFPA 1500 6.2.8* During emergency response, drivers of fire apparatus shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop under any of the following circumstances: (1) When directed by a law enforcement officer (2) At red traffic lights (3) At stop signs (4) At negative right-of-way intersections (5) At blind intersections (6) When the driver cannot account for all lanes of traffic in an intersection (7) When other intersection hazards are present (8) When encountering a stopped school bus with flashing warning lights

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