'Errors' led to firemen's deaths

Billy Faust was a father-of-three

The father of a fireman who died on duty has said a series of errors caused by a lack of training led to the death.

Billy Faust, 36, and Adam Meere died in July 2004 fighting an intense fire in Bethnal Green, east London.

Mr Faust's father Dave said he was also concerned about firefighters on active duty having to teach community initiatives such as fire safety.

But Sir Ken Knight, the government's fire service adviser, said he believed the right balance was being struck. <!-- E SF -->

Mr Meere, 27, had been a fully qualified firefighter for two months when he and father-of-three Mr Faust, entered the basement of the three-storey building - where the fire is thought to have been caused by a cigarette.

Systemic failures

An inquest in 2006 was told communication problems and an inadequate water supply were contributory factors in the deaths of both men.

A hose reel burned through and more powerful water jets were not used because officers did not realise the strength of the flames.

The inquest also heard that 30 minutes passed between the order being given to use a fire hydrant, and the water being used. <!-- S IIMA -->

The men died after going back into the building

Mr Faust said: "I do not seek to blame any individuals for the errors that were made, but I am absolutely clear that the catalogue of errors that led to my son's tragic death were the result of systemic failures of the fire service to adequately train both firefighters and fire officers."

The Fire Brigade Union believes firefighters spend too much time in the community teaching people about the dangers of fire rather than learning more about how to tackle fires and other incidents.

It wants community education to be carried out by non-operational officers and other groups.

Mr Faust said: "I think it's a job that needs to be done, it does need to continue to be done but not by serving firefighters."

Sir Ken Knight said: "Firefighter safety is paramount, because otherwise they couldn't do the job which is incredibly important, and there is a balance between community safety and firefighter safety and firefighter training.

"And I think all of that balance is very possible indeed with the availability of time and we see that balance taking place." <!-- E BO -->

news item from UK in 2004 

In the U.S. for 2007, 102 firefighter deaths.  There are approximately 1million firefighters in the U.S.  this equals approx. 10 deaths/100,000.  In the chart below for deaths/100,000 workers in the profession, firefighting comes in at 14.

I am in NO way dismissing any firefighter death, in the U.S., U.K. or anywhere else in the world.  But when you look at the statistics, overall firefighting deaths have been reduced dramatically over the past 30 years.  There is no job, no activity that is without risk.  Yet when you consider what exactly it is that we as firefighters do, the number of LODD is amazingly low.  This is not to say that LODD deaths can't or shouldn't be further reduced, just that when you consider the risks we deal with, firefighting is far safer than many other professions.

See this link: http://mcftoa.org/Deaths2007.htm   for a very interesting breakdown of 2007 firefighter deaths, causes, vol/career/age.

http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=955&itemID=23674&...

For 2008 data see:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/txt/08-fatality-summary.txt ...; Text

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/08-fatality-summary.pdf ...; Pdf

Top 5 Most Dangerous Jobs in the U.S.

1. Fishers and Related Workers

112 deaths per 100,000 workers

2. Loggers

87 deaths per 100,000 workers

3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers

67 deaths per 100,000 workers

4. Iron and Steel Workers

45 deaths per 100,000 workers

5. Farmers and Ranchers

38 deaths per 100,000 workers

15 most dangerous jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A score of 1.0 represents the average risk of all jobs. A risk factor of 6 represents six times the fatality risk of the average occupation:

OCCUPATION RISK FACTOR GREATEST DANGER Fishermen 21.3 Drowning Timber cutters 20.6 Being struck by falling object Airplane pilots 19.9 Crashes Structural metal workers 13.1 Falls Cab drivers 9.5 Homicide Construction laborers 8.1 Vehicular accidents & falls Roofers 5.9 Falls Electric power installers/repairers 5.7 Electrocution Truck drivers 5.3 Highway collisions Farm occupations 5.1 Vehicular accidents Police and detectives 3.4 Homicide & highway collisions Non-construction laborers 3.2 Vehicular Electricians 3.2 Electrocution Welders and cutters 2.4 Falls & fire Guards 2.3 Homicide

We STILL need to stay safe out there.

Around 100 firefighters were involved in tackling three late-night blazes in the same city, which broke out in the space of little over an hour. Skip related content

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100 firefighters tackle city blazes

Two major fires brought the centre of Edinburgh to a standstill and hundreds of people were evacuated from clubs, bars and flats. The blazes took hold over a chaotic 75-minute period on what is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the emergency services, pubs and restaurants.

Nobody was hurt in the blazes late on Friday, but firefighting resources were stretched to the limit on a night of bad weather and high winds. Investigations are now under way to find out what happened.

The first fire broke out at an Indian restaurant in the historic Old Town area of the Scottish capital. The blaze at Khushis restaurant in Victoria Street, near the Grassmarket, severely damaged what the fire service described as one of the city's "landmark" buildings.

Diners and members of the public in surrounding bars, nightclubs, flats and offices were led to safety as up to 55 firefighters fought to bring the fire under control. The roof was on fire and partially collapsed, with one eyewitness reporting seeing flames 20ft high.

Firefighters said the blaze resulted in chaotic scenes as people celebrating the festive period were evacuated, but crews were praised for their quick action and pulling together of resources.

The alarm was raised less than an hour later, at 9.04pm, after a fire broke out in the cellar of Rick's Bar on Frederick Street. Some 33 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze.

It is believed that the bar was evacuated and seven people from a nearby bed and breakfast were also led to safety. Firefighters are now investigating the possibility that the fire started in a chiller in the basement.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "Thankfully the fire has been contained in that area. There is quite a bit of smoke damage throughout the building."

Just 20 minutes later, 14 firefighters were called out to a fire at a sheltered housing complex in Moredun. A 65-year-old woman was rescued following the chip pan fire at St Barnabas Court