Federal expert probing death of firefighter with video Jan 23, 2008
Much of NIOSH s investigation will focus on the circumstances involving the electrocution and not on the fire call itself, said Tim Merinar, project officer for NIOSH s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. We don t try to find fault or place blame, he said. (Scranton Times, PA)
Federal probe of firefighter’s death going to take ‘however long it takes’ Jan 15, 2008
An investigator from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is expected in town Tuesday to start conducting interviews and collecting documentation, said Tim Merinar, project officer for the agency s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. Deputy Chief Terry Osborne said the Fire Department is gathering paperwork and compiling a list of witnesses and other individuals NIOSH may want to interview. (Scranton Times, PA)
City asks feds to investigate Jan 9, 2008
The probe by the federal agency s Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program won t be quick there may be no answers for six months or more but Public Safety Director Ray Hayes promised it will be thorough. It s independent and it s professional, Mr. Hayes said of the agency. (Scranton Times, PA)
Lawmaker: Safety device is harming firefighters Oct 10, 2007
Brick's death as the first in which our investigators had direct evidence that typical exposure to heat at the scene of a fire might adversely affect a PASS device, said Dawn Castillo of the federal Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. PASS is a motion sensor, designed to repeatedly flash a light and emit a high-pitched noise if a firefighter stops moving. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Boston fire officials to review policies on checking firefighters' driving records Oct 6, 2007
Investigators from the institute's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program inspected the restaurant rubble from Sept. 10 through Sept. 12 as part of an initial review. The federal investigation is expected to take six to nine months and lead to a public report that identifies the causes of the deaths and to make recommendations. (Boston Globe)
Faster response to firefighter deaths is urged Sep 8, 2007
The inspector general identified four "opportunities for improvement" in the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Program. The CDC should have specific guidelines for performance. (MSNBC -- Terrorism)
Fire investigations face long wait Feb 7, 2007
"An investigation by MSNBC.com shows that the CDC routinely takes as long as a month and sometimes as long as nine months to visit the scene of firefighter deaths. The CDC also:Doesn't investigate a death at all if the fire department or fire union raises an objection.Has cut back in the past three years on the number of investigations.Destroys information that could help identify patterns of hazards with firefighting equipment, training and tactics."Frankly I think the American... (MSNBC -- International)
Flaws found in firefighters' lastdefense Feb 6, 2007
"In exchange for that annoyance, firefighters rely on the devices to work when they need them. And they usually do. Manufacturers say that hundreds of firefighters have been saved by PASS devices.Devices silent, or just too quietThe stories of the 15 who were not saved are contained in reports by the CDC's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. Each firefighter was wearing an automatic PASS alarm. In 12 of the 15 cases, nothing was heard; in three cases, the sound was... (MSNBC -- International)
