1. Homewood Illinois March 30, 2010 Photo by Warren Skalski

2. Ground Rules Hindsight bias Hindsight bias Retrospectively, the events look simple Retrospectively, the events look simple Why did what they were doing make sense at the time Why did what they were doing make sense at the time Make a list of things that dont seem right Make a list of things that dont seem right Are there problems or anomalies Are there problems or anomalies

3. Homewood Fire Department Career fire department for 109 years Career fire department for 109 years 15 full-time firefighters and 17 part-time firefighters 15 full-time firefighters and 17 part-time firefighters 1 fire station with 4-6 personnel/shift 1 fire station with 4-6 personnel/shift Serving a population of 20,000 within a 4 square mile area Serving a population of 20,000 within a 4 square mile area Member of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Member of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS)

4. The House Single story, wood-framed built in 1951 Single story, wood-framed built in 1951 Approximately 950 ft 2 living area Approximately 950 ft 2 living area 2 car garage on side-C connected to house by a family room addition 2 car garage on side-C connected to house by a family room addition Built on concrete slab, hip style roof Built on concrete slab, hip style roof There was no recorded building permit for the family room addition There was no recorded building permit for the family room addition

5. A/B Corner 17622 Lincoln Ave Photo by David Pierini

6. Side-B Family Room Addition NIOSH F2010-10

8. Initial Dispatch: At 2055 local dispatch center receives a 911 call from a resident stating that her paralyzed husbands chair was on fire At 2055 local dispatch center receives a 911 call from a resident stating that her paralyzed husbands chair was on fire At 2057 Homewood and Auto Aid departments are dispatched At 2057 Homewood and Auto Aid departments are dispatched 2059 a police officer on scene reports the house is fully engulfed in flame 2059 a police officer on scene reports the house is fully engulfed in flame 2100 Police officer reports the resident in the chair is still inside and the officer is unable to make entry 2100 Police officer reports the resident in the chair is still inside and the officer is unable to make entry

9. 1 st Alarm Assignment: Homewood E-534 Lieutenant, Engineer and Firefighter Homewood A-564 2-Firefghter/EMT-Ps (Brian Carey and Karra Kopas) 1 st arriving auto aid T-1220 Lieutenant, Engineer, 2-FFs 2 nd arriving auto aid E-1340 Lieutenant, Engineer, 3-FFs 3 rd arriving auto aid T-1145 Lieutenant, Engineer, 2-FFs 4 th arriving auto aid S-440Lieutenant and 3-FFs Homewood Fire Chief Robert Grabowski

10. Firefighting Operations At 2101 T-1220 arrives on scene and observes a single family house with heavy fire showing from side-C At 2101 T-1220 arrives on scene and observes a single family house with heavy fire showing from side-C E-534 arrives just behind T-1220, Lieutenant assumes command and reports heavy fire showing E-534 arrives just behind T-1220, Lieutenant assumes command and reports heavy fire showing E-534 Lieutenant and firefighter pull a skid-load while the Engineer and T-2120 firefighter hand-jack a 5 supply to a hydrant E-534 Lieutenant and firefighter pull a skid-load while the Engineer and T-2120 firefighter hand-jack a 5 supply to a hydrant 2-members of T-2120 prepare to conduct a primary search while the other 2 go to the roof for vertical ventilation 2-members of T-2120 prepare to conduct a primary search while the other 2 go to the roof for vertical ventilation

11. Firefighting Operations E-534 Lieutenant (IC) assists T-2120 in forcing entry on side-A E-534 Lieutenant (IC) assists T-2120 in forcing entry on side-A T-2120 members initiate a left-hand primary search T-2120 members initiate a left-hand primary search E-534 Lieutenant notes that the upper smoke layer is banked down to 3 feet above the floor E-534 Lieutenant notes that the upper smoke layer is banked down to 3 feet above the floor A-564 arrives right after E-534, don their PPE and report to command A-564 arrives right after E-534, don their PPE and report to command A-564 is assigned to work with E-534 firefighter to stretch 2 1 / 2 -inch attack line to support the search A-564 is assigned to work with E-534 firefighter to stretch 2 1 / 2 -inch attack line to support the search

12. Neutral plane Moderate smoke velocity & turbulence Black soot-stained Bidirectional Air Track Photo by Warren Skalski

13. Firefighting Operations The IC then walks along side-B toward the rear of the building to size-up conditions The IC then walks along side-B toward the rear of the building to size-up conditions He returns to side-A and assumes a fixed command position in the cab of E-534 (in order to monitor multiple radio frequencies) He returns to side-A and assumes a fixed command position in the cab of E-534 (in order to monitor multiple radio frequencies)

14. Photo by Warren Skalski

15. Firefighting Operations E-546 FF is on the nozzle followed by FF Carey and FF Kopas as they advanced toward the kitchen E-546 FF is on the nozzle followed by FF Carey and FF Kopas as they advanced toward the kitchen T-1220 firefighters pass in front of E-534 and A-564 personnel as they search toward the bedrooms T-1220 firefighters pass in front of E-534 and A-564 personnel as they search toward the bedrooms Interior crews note that the smoke level is dropping and that the temperature at floor level is increasing Interior crews note that the smoke level is dropping and that the temperature at floor level is increasing

16. Living Room KitchenUtility Room Bed Room 1 Bed Room 2 Bath Room T-1220 A-564 E-534 Side A Family Room Addition

17. Questions What B-SAHF indicators were observed during the initial stages of this incident? What B-SAHF indicators were observed during the initial stages of this incident? What stage(s) of fire development and burning regime(s) were present in the building when T-1220 and E-534 arrived on scene? Consider potential differences in various areas of the house. What stage(s) of fire development and burning regime(s) were present in the building when T-1220 and E-534 arrived on scene? Consider potential differences in various areas of the house. What would you anticipate as the likely progression of fire development over the next several minutes? What would you anticipate as the likely progression of fire development over the next several minutes? How might tactical operations (positively or negatively) influence fire development? How might tactical operations (positively or negatively) influence fire development? Source: Ed Hartin, www.cfbt-us.com

18. Firefighting Operations At 2103 E-1340 arrives on scene and requests an assignment from the IC At 2103 E-1340 arrives on scene and requests an assignment from the IC The E-1340 officer is directed to pull an exposure line to side-D The E-1340 officer is directed to pull an exposure line to side-D 2 FFs are directed to vent the windows on side-B and side-D 2 FFs are directed to vent the windows on side-B and side-D The remaining E-1340 FF is sent to the roof to assist with opening a vent hole The remaining E-1340 FF is sent to the roof to assist with opening a vent hole

19. Photo by Warren Skalski

20. E- 534 T- 1220 Exposure D2 Exposure D Exposure B Exposure B2 17622 Garage Addition 1-3/4 2-1/2 5supply

21. High smoke velocity & turbulence Neutral plane Bidirectional Air Track Photo by Warren Skalski

22. Firefighting Operations As the hoseline is being advanced into the kitchen the E-534 FF has a problem with his hood and hands the nozzle to FF Carey As the hoseline is being advanced into the kitchen the E-534 FF has a problem with his hood and hands the nozzle to FF Carey He directs Carey to pencil the nozzle into the smoke and exits the structure to fix his hood He directs Carey to pencil the nozzle into the smoke and exits the structure to fix his hood T-1220 FFs are searching the bedrooms on side-D when the windows are being vented by E-1340 T-1220 FFs are searching the bedrooms on side-D when the windows are being vented by E-1340 FF Kopas can hear the sound of a chainsaw cutting the roof above her* FF Kopas can hear the sound of a chainsaw cutting the roof above her*

23. Neutral plane High smoke velocity & turbulence Bidirectional Air Track Photo by Warren Skalski

25. Firefighting Operations T-1220 FFs are searching the front bedroom when they feel the heat intensifying and see flames rolling towards them from the hallway T-1220 FFs are searching the front bedroom when they feel the heat intensifying and see flames rolling towards them from the hallway They head back into the living room and look for the hoseline to lead them out of the structure They head back into the living room and look for the hoseline to lead them out of the structure They yell to the hoseline crew to get out of the building They yell to the hoseline crew to get out of the building T-1220 FFs exit just as the living room transitions to a fully developed fire T-1220 FFs exit just as the living room transitions to a fully developed fire

26. Living Room KitchenUtility Room Bed Room 1 Bed Room 2 Bath Room T-1220 A-564 E-534 Side A Windows and doors possibly breached by fire effects window vented E-1340

27. Firefighting Operations FF Kopas yells to FF Carey as she attempts to follow the line out of the structure but receives no reply FF Kopas yells to FF Carey as she attempts to follow the line out of the structure but receives no reply She makes it to within 4 feet of the front door when her bunker gear gets stuck to the melting carpet She makes it to within 4 feet of the front door when her bunker gear gets stuck to the melting carpet T-1220 FFs quickly reenter and pull her from the structure T-1220 FFs quickly reenter and pull her from the structure

28. Living Room KitchenUtility Room Bed Room 1 Bed Room 2 Bath Room T-1220 A-564 E-534 Side A

29. Photo by Warren Skalski

33. Firefighter Rescue The IC and FF from E-534 pull a second 1 3 / 4 attack line from E-534 The IC and FF from E-534 pull a second 1 3 / 4 attack line from E-534 T-2120 FFs take the line and reenter the structure to rescue FF Carey T-2120 FFs take the line and reenter the structure to rescue FF Carey They knock down the fire as they make their way to the kitchen They knock down the fire as they make their way to the kitchen They find FF Carey in the kitchen tangled in the burnt through 2 1 / 2 inch line without his helmet or SCBA facepiece on They find FF Carey in the kitchen tangled in the burnt through 2 1 / 2 inch line without his helmet or SCBA facepiece on

34. Firefighter Rescue They quickly remove FF Carey from the structure They quickly remove FF Carey from the structure Members from T-1145 assist in providing care to FFs Carey and Kopas Members from T-1145 assist in providing care to FFs Carey and Kopas FF Carey goes into respiratory and then cardiac arrest while they wait for an ambulance to arrive on scene FF Carey goes into respiratory and then cardiac arrest while they wait for an ambulance to arrive on scene FF Brian Carey is pronounced dead at a local hospital FF Brian Carey is pronounced dead at a local hospital FF Karra Kopas suffers 2 nd and 3 rd degree burns to her lower back, buttocks and right wrist FF Karra Kopas suffers 2 nd and 3 rd degree burns to her lower back, buttocks and right wrist

35. Photo by Warren Skalski

37. Questions What type of extreme fire behavior occurred at this incident? What type of extreme fire behavior occurred at this incident? How did the conditions for this extreme fire behavior event develop? How did the conditions for this extreme fire behavior event develop? What changes in fire behavior indicators (B-SAHF) would have provided warning of impending rapid fire progression? What changes in fire behavior indicators (B-SAHF) would have provided warning of impending rapid fire progression? Source: Ed Hartin, www.cfbt-us.com

38. Questions What was the initiating event that led to the extreme fire behavior that killed Firefighter Carey and injured Firefighter Kopas? What was the initiating event that led to the extreme fire behavior that killed Firefighter Carey and injured Firefighter Kopas? What action could have been taken to reduce the potential for extreme fire behavior and maintain tenable conditions during the primary search? What action could have been taken to reduce the potential for extreme fire behavior and maintain tenable conditions during the primary search? Source: Ed Hartin, www.cfbt-us.com

39. NIOSH Recommendations Recommendation #4: Fire departments should ensure that fire fighters and officers have a sound understanding of fire behavior and the ability to recognize indicators of fire development and the potential for extreme fire behavior.

40. NIOSH Recommendations Recommendation #5: Fire departments should ensure that incident commanders and fire fighters understand the influence of ventilation on fire behavior and effectively coordinate ventilation with suppression techniques to release smoke and heat.

41. NIOSH Recommendations Recommendation #14: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) should consider developing more comprehensive training requirements for fire behavior to be required in NFPA 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications and NFPA 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications.

43. Honor his memory by sharing the lessons learned with your crew