SURVIVAIR recalls Twenty/Twenty SCBA facepieces
In a recent Safety Notice, Survivair has announced that it “has received scattered reports from the field that the lens of the Twenty/Twenty mask has separated from the mask rims.” Under those circumstances, the company points out, it is possible that the lens may separate entirely from the mask skirt, which can lead to a serious safety hazard. The Twenty/Twenty masks involved do NOT have an “X” stamped on the plastic upper rim. These masks must be fitted with a modified P/N 962031 upper rim that has an “X” on it. The company says that it has not received any reports of injuries resulting from the lens separation.
Survivair distributors have been instructed to inform customers that the Twenty/Twenty facepieces that have a plastic rim without an “X” should not be used until a new upper rim (with an “X” ) is installed.
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), it has discussed this issue with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is monitoring the recall. The IAFF maintains that individual firefighters should not repair or replace parts in SCBAs. The work should be done by trained individuals under the auspices of the fire department, or masks should be returned to the manufacturer’s warranty center.
Survivair will reimburse its warranty center for labor and shipping costs. For additional information, contact Survivair toll-free at (888) APR-SCBA.
Freightliner alerts fire/emergency vehicle customers to Bendix brake system recall
Freightliner LLC has notified its customers and dealers that a defect was detected in the electronic control units (ECUs) of the Bendix Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) EC-17-1030R installed in Thomas Built buses, Freightliner trucks, and Sterling trucks manufactured between March 1998 and August 2000.
Between August 29 and August 31, Freightliner/Thomas notified about 6,000 owners of its bus chassis and fire/emergency vehicles included in the recall, which, according to Bendix advisories, affects 300,000 vehicles industrywide.
Freightliner has been providing round-the-clock inspection of its affected buses and trucks and has designated all the new Bendix ECUs it has in production to repair the recalled vehicles, according to Debi Nicholson, Freightliner LLC corporate communications general manager. Nicholson explains that the repair of the defective braking system involves inspecting the existing system and replacing the Bendix ABS electronic control units with a new ECU. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined that school buses and fire and emergency service vehicles should be the first priorities for recall.
Additional information may be obtained from the Bendix Communications Center at (800) 478-1793 and Freightliner’s toll-free customer assistance center at (800) 385-4357, which is staffed around the clock to answer questions and direct customers to the appropriate resources for help. The full Freightliner Advisory is available at
FIRE act moves forward in Senate
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved a modified version of the Fire Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act. Offered by Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and ranking member Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC), the measure would authorize $400 million over two years [$100 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 and $300 million for FY 2002] in direct grants to fire departments. Volunteer, paid, and combination departments could use the grants for training, equipment, apparatus, personnel, education programs, and other items.
The original FIRE Act, introduced in the House by Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Curt Weldon (R-PA) and in the Senate by Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Mike DeWine (R-OH), would authorize $5 billion in competitive grants to fire departments over five years, and all departments would have to match 10 percent of the grant to be eligible.
The McCain-Hollins version of the bill would have departments serving communities of 50,000 or fewer match 10 percent of the grant in nonfederal funds. All other departments would have to match 30 percent.
In addition, this bill passed by the Senate Committee would do the following:
- Authorize $30 million for the Volunteer Fire Assistance Fire Program for FYs 2001 and 2002. The program provides assistance to rural volunteer fire departments serving fewer than 10,000 people.
- Require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a study, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association, to determine fire departments’ needs.
- Authorize funding for a Hepatitis C study, burn research and treatment, and a report on spectrum sharing for communications.
In July, the Senate passed a $309.8 billion Fiscal Year 2001 Defense Authorization Act (S. 2549) with the FIRE Bill language included as an amendment (S.AMDT.3753). The amendment, introduced by Senator Dodd and cosponsored by 16 other senators, would authorize $3.1 billion over six years in direct grants to the fire service. The Defense Authorization Act, in conference at press time, would have to be returned to the House and the Senate for final approval after it comes out of conference. Another option would be for the full Senate to vote on the McCain-Hollings substitute as a separate bill as it comes out of the Commerce Committee.
USFA issues 1999 firefighter fatality report
In 1999, 112 firefighters lost their lives while on-duty-the highest number since 1989, when 119 firefighters died, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Data Center’s report “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.” This was the first year that more than 100 firefighters died on-duty since 1994, reversing a four-year downward trend in firefighter fatalities.
The USFA’s chief operating officer, Kenneth O. Burris, Jr., says this increased loss of life “gives strong voice to the continued need for data collection to describe the national fire problem,” since “the lessons learned from the circumstances surrounding these tragic incidents are used by fire departments from around the world to help make the work of fighting fires safer.”
Other findings related to the incidents that claimed firefighters’ lives in 1999 include the following:
- Six multifatality incidents resulted in 22 deaths, including those of six firefighters in a warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts; three firefighters in the collapse of a church attic and roof near Fort Worth, Texas; three firefighters in an apartment fire in Keokuk, Iowa; two Kentucky firefighters in a forest fire; two District of Columbia firefighters in a residential fire; and two Indiana firefighters from injuries they received in a fire truck rollover accident.
- Heart attacks were the leading cause of death, claiming 52 lives.
- Other leading causes of death were traumatic injuries, asphyxiation, and burns.
- Six drivers and/or apparatus occupants were killed when they were ejected from fire apparatus that was involved in a collision or rollover. (Fire departments must take steps to ensure that all firefighters use seatbelts, the USFA stressed.)
The 1999 report may be ordered in hard copy or downloaded from the Publications Section of the USFA Web site at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/usfapubs.
Propane cylinders recalled
On August 30, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that R4 Technical Center- North Carolina LLC, of Hamptonville, North Carolina, is recalling 4,700 propane cylinders. The units may have missing or damaged internal seals in the cylinder valves, which could cause propane to leak and may present fire, explosion, or burn injury risks. At press time, R4 Technical Center had not received any reports of injuries.
The cylinder has a sleeve over the tank that bears the words “Blue Rhino” and a drawing of a blue rhinoceros. The cylinders under recall have either three stars arranged in a triangular shape under the valve’s top knob or the characters “B-75-3” on the valve’s side.
The cylinders were sold at home center, discount, department, and hardware stores and in gas stations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and Mississippi from May 2000 through July 2000.
Units with the recalled valves should be checked for leaks by following the “Connection Instructions” on the cylinder’s label. If the valve is leaking, the cylinder should be turned off immediately. Notify the R4 Technical Center immediately at (866) 802-4492 (toll-free) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or contact Blue Rhino at (800) 258-7466. A free replacement cylinder will be provided. Additional information may be obtained at the CPSC Web site; link to http://www. cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml00/00173.html>.
OSHA fines Seton Hall University
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Seton Hall University, in South Orange, New Jersey, for not having in place a fire plan that would have protected its employees during the January 19, 2000, dormitory fire that killed three students and injured 58. A fine of $12,600 was levied. In the January fire, a resident assistant was severely burned while helping to evacuate the students.
According to OSHA, there was no procedure for resident assistants to follow to respond to alarms, no appropriate protective gear for employees, and no completed form describing how the school would limit workers’ exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
Seton Hall was to have instituted a new fire safety plan before the start of the new semester at the beginning of September. At that time, resident assistants received fire-safety training that included the proper use of fire extinguishers. The assistants also attended a day of classes in fire prevention at a fire academy.
(Source: “Seton Hall Ready to Pay Fine,” David Voreacos, The Bergen Record, Hackensack, NJ, Aug. 31, 2000.)
Members needed for NFPA committees
The National Fire Protection Association is seeking members for the following committees:
- Fire Fighter Fatalities and Injuries, a new technical committee.
- Committee on Motor Vehicle and Highway Fire Protection. Responsible for NFPA 502, Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and Other Limited Access Highways, and NFPA 513, Standard for Motor Freight Terminals. Members are needed in all interest categories.
- The Committee on Water Spray Fixed Systems. Responsible for NFPA 15, Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection. Members are needed in the enforcer interest category.
Anyone wishing to serve should request a technical committee application form from Codes and Standards Administration, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101.
Couple cleared in Worcester firefighter deaths
Manslaughter charges were dropped against the homeless couple who allegedly started the fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co., in which six Worcester, Massachusetts, firefighters died last year. The couple had pleaded innocent to six counts of manslaughter. Judge Timothy Hillman ruled that the couple’s actions did not constitute wanton and reckless behavior.
The couple reportedly had been living in the facilities and knocked over a candle while fighting. The couple allegedly then fled and did not report the fire.
(Source: Martin Finucane, Associated Press writer, Sept. 20, 2000.)
Three convicted in firefighter deaths
Three teenagers were convicted of felony murder in connection with the deaths of Lewis Mayo, 44, and Kimberly Smith, 30, of the Houston (TX) Fire Department, who lost their lives while fighting a fire in a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant. The roof collapsed, trapping them. The teens face up to life in prison.
The three teens reportedly broke into the darkened McDonald’s early on February 14 intending to commit a burglary. They had with them a cutting torch, a key, and a safe code allegedly given to them by an assistant manager. The fire, suggested lawyers for two of the teens, was set by the other teen said to be angry because the burglary did not yield as much money as was anticipated. Prosecutors argued that the three burned the building to cover their tracks.
A 16-year-old McDonald’s night manager and another man accused of helping the three plan the break-in are awaiting trial.
(Source: Mark Babineck, Associated Press writer, Sept. 8, 2000.)
Line-of-Duty Deaths, 2000
August 17: Firefighter Robert Crump, 37, of the Denver (CO) Fire Department, drowned while attempting a water rescue. He was swept into a storm sewer drain.
August 23: Firefighter Rodgie Braithwaite, 26, of the Utah State Prison Flame-N-Go Handline Fire Unit, a wildland firefighting unit, was struck by lightning and killed while fighting a fire in the Stansbury Mountains in Utah.
August 23: Firefighter Michael Bishop, 27, of the Utah State Prison Flame-N-Go Handline Fire Unit, was struck by lightning and killed while fighting a fire in the Stansbury Mountains.
August 26: Firefighter Jamie Quinones, 38, of the Waterbury (CT) Fire Department, was shot to death on-duty while participating in a Muscular Dystrophy “Fill the Boot” charity drive.
August 27: Firefighter Frank Funston, 47, of the Kootenai National Forest, Libby, Montana, became ill while working a Montana wildfire. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and was released. He died in his hotel room two days later. The Lincoln County coroner had not yet determined the cause of death at press time.
September 1: Lieutenant Albert Leonel Voris, Jr., 63, of the Combine (TX) Volunteer Fire Department, while en route to the fire station in response to a page for a car fire, was struck in his privately owned vehicle by another vehicle that had strayed over the centerline.
September 3: Fire Crew Chief John Paul “J.P.” Pritchett, Sr., 57, of the Mississippi Forestry Commission, Webster County, died from burn injuries suffered on August 20 while fighting a forest fire in a pine plantation near the county line separating Webster and Clay counties.
September 4: Lance Corporal Daniel H. Yanklin, 21, of the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, ARF, Arizona, was struck and killed by a fire truck during a training exercise. He was a native of Maumee, Ohio.
September 5: Assistant Chief Howard William Vanhoy, 67, of the Austin Volunteer Fire Department, Elkin, North Carolina, collapsed from an apparent heart attack as he was operating a pumper/tanker during a training exercise.
September 7: Pilot David Tim Newman, 40, of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina, was killed in a helicopter crash en route to a school field day activity that was to include the helicopter and crew as a fire prevention display.
September 7: Crew Chief Mike Fossett, 46, of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina, was killed in a helicopter crash en route to a school field day activity that was to include the helicopter and crew as a fire prevention display.
September 12: Firefighter Paramedic Michael Yahraus, 32, of the Sarasota County (FL) Fire Department, was accidentally shot and killed during a SWAT team training maneuver.
September 17: Firefighter Robert Humphrey, 62, of the Maryland Line (MD) Volunteer Fire Company #450, died from injuries sustained when he was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road to assist in a motor vehicle accident.
September 19: Assistant Chief David Butler, 47, of the Idalou (TX) Volunteer Fire Department, collapsed and died at the scene of a truck rollover.
Source: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Database, United States Fire Administration.
