THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050471
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 131 lines
A national labor union has accused the Chesapeake Fire Department of violating federal safety regulations during a March 18 blaze that killed two firefighters.
The International Association of Fire Fighters asked a federal agency Thursday to investigate the deaths of Frank Young and John Hudgins Jr., who were killed when falling debris trapped them in a burning auto-parts store. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has agreed to the request, the IAFF said.
The union, based in Washington alleged the ``two-in, two-out'' rule mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was violated.
The regulation states firefighters must enter burning buildings in teams of at least two. At least two other firefighters must be in place outside in case a rescue is needed.
Most fire departments in Hampton Roads staff trucks with at least four crew members, but Chesapeake uses three-person crews.
``Our preliminary findings show that the two-in, two-out regulations were not followed at the tragic March 18 incident, and, in fact, it appears that the fire department administration has routinely ignored these important safety procedures in the past,'' said Alfred K. Whitehead, IAFF president.
Chesapeake Division Chief Thomas Cooke, one of several fire officials investigating the incident, said there were three firefighters outside the burning building when Young and Hudgins were inside. But, he said, the three firefighters were not in place when Young and Hudgins first entered the store.
``Whether we did or did not comply with that standard we won't know until we complete this (investigation),'' Cooke said.
Cooke said he was unaware of the IAFF's request for a federal inquiry.
Hudgins can be heard on a Fire Department audio tape calling for help from inside the burning building. But no one at the Indian River Shopping Center fire realized he and Young were missing in time to save them. Their bodies were found side by side. In a letter to the federal agency, Whitehead said Young and Hudgins died from smoke inhalation and burns.
Chesapeake investigators had been concerned that a fire truck's water supply ran out and left the men defenseless inside, but a test Thursday showed the fire engine apparently still had ample water when the roof fell, Cooke said.
The audio tape also shows crews were slow to provide fire trucks on the scene with a main water supply from hydrants. Problems with radio communications were also revealed on the tape.
Whitehead asked the federal agency to review the command system used during the fire, the radio communications, the training of those involved, and the system used to track firefighters in burning buildings.
``The whole point of these long-standing OSHA regulations is to make sure that firefighters risking their lives inside a burning building are accounted for at all times, and that trained personnel are standing by to rescue them immediately, if necessary,'' Whitehead said.
``In this incident, we had two firefighters down inside the building, with no standby team ready to rescue them, and no one even knew about their situation until it was too late,'' he added.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, has launched more than 100 investigations into firefighter deaths, the union said.
The IAFF routinely reviews and investigates firefighter concerns, especially safety issues. The union represents more than 215,000 firefighters. Young and Hudgins were both members.
The Chesapeake Fire Department report on the fatalities was expected today, but officials said it wasn't finished.
A national labor union has accused the Chesapeake Fire Department of violating federal safety regulations during a March 18 blaze that killed two firefighters.
The International Association of Fire Fighters asked a federal agency Thursday to investigate the deaths of Frank Young and John Hudgins Jr., who were killed when falling debris trapped them in a burning auto-parts store. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has agreed to the request, the IAFF said.
The union, based in Washington alleged the ``two-in, two-out'' rule mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was violated.
The regulation states firefighters must enter burning buildings in teams of at least two. At least two other firefighters must be in place outside in case a rescue is needed.
Most fire departments in Hampton Roads staff trucks with at least four crew members but Chesapeake uses three-person crews.
``Our preliminary findings show that the two-in, two-out regulations were not followed at the tragic March 18 incident, and, in fact, it appears that the fire department administration has routinely ignored these important safety procedures in the past,'' said Alfred K. Whitehead, IAFF president.
Chesapeake Division Chief Thomas Cooke, one of several fire officials investigating the incident, said there were three firefighters outside the burning building when Young and Hudgins were inside. But, he said, the three firefighters were not in place when Young and Hudgins first entered the store.
``Whether we did or did not comply with that standard we won't know until we complete this (investigation),'' Cooke said.
Cooke said he was unaware of the IAFF's request for a federal inquiry.
Hudgins can be heard on a Fire Department audio tape calling for help from inside the burning building. But no one at the Indian River Shopping Center fire realized he and Young were missing in time to save them. Their bodies were found side by side. In a letter to the federal agency, Whitehead said Young and Hudgins died from smoke inhalation and burns.
Chesapeake investigators had been concerned that a fire truck's water supply ran out and left the men defenseless inside, but a test Thursday showed the fire engine apparently still had ample water when the roof fell, Cooke said.
The audio tape also shows crews were slow to provide fire trucks on the scene with a main water supply from hydrants. Problems with radio communications were also revealed on the tape.
Whitehead asked the federal agency to review the command system used during the fire, the radio communications, the training of those involved, and the system used to track firefighters in burning buildings.
``The whole point of these long-standing OSHA regulations is to make sure that firefighters risking their lives inside a burning building are accounted for at all times, and that trained personnel are standing by to rescue them immediately, if necessary,'' Whitehead said.
``In this incident, we had two firefighters down inside the building, with no standby team ready to rescue them, and no one even knew about their situation until it was too late,'' he added.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, has launched more than 100 investigations into firefighter deaths, the union said.
The IAFF routinely reviews and investigates firefighter concerns, especially safety issues. The union represents more than 215,000 firefighters. Young and Hudgins were both members.
The Chesapeake Fire Department report on the fatalities was expected today, but officials said it wasn't finished.
KEYWORDS: FIRES FATALITIES INVESTIGATION
CHESAPEAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT by CNB