Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009
Faults found in Everett firefighting
City appeals a state agency's findings of problems in its response to the Stewart Title Co. fire
EVERETT -- The Everett Fire Department commander leading the battle to extinguish the $1 million blaze that gutted the Stewart Title Co. building wasn't in control of the scene, state investigators say.
Failures of leadership during the June 25 fire and safety violations put firefighters' live at risk, state Department of Labor & Industries officials said in a citation issued Feb. 20.
The city is appealing the ruling.
"The (Labor & Industry) citation is without basis in law or fact," Everett city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.
The state issued a $4,550 fine.
In the citation, the state agency that oversees workplace safety found serious flaws in Everett's fire response.
The commander didn't know how firefighters were deployed, the report said. At various times, some firefighters worked alone, a practice that can be dangerous if a firefighter is injured.
Federal rules dictate that firefighters always work in pairs on fire scenes.
Commanders also didn't require the use of respirators to protect firefighters, despite smoke-filled conditions, the citation said.
"There are safety standards for firefighters. The risks are there, the risks are great when you're dealing with fires," Labor & Industries spokeswoman Elaine Fischer said. "There's a comprehensive set of safety and health standards for firefighters."
Since the Stewart Title blaze, the Everett Fire Department has corrected the problems outlined in the report, the state found. Still, the city remains on notice that further violations could result in additional fines.
On Aug. 1, state investigators were alerted to potential problems during the Stewart Title fire, Fischer said.
"There was a complaint that the incident safety officer wasn't wearing proper safety equipment," she said. That sparked a comprehensive review.
State industrial hygienists interviewed firefighters, conducted tests and reviewed reports, Fischer said.
In the citation, the city was accused of four violations, three of them classified as "serious," and capable of resulting in significant injury or death.
Several calls seeking comment from Local 46, the firefighters union, were not returned.
The safety violations are similar to the underlying problems that investigators determined played a role in 1987 death of Everett firefighter Gary Parks during a huge fire that destroyed the library at Everett Community College.
"It's not comparable," Reardon said. "You're trying to compare an incident where a life was lost and injuries occurred and an incident with no near-misses and no injuries."
In 1987, Parks ran out of air and likely lost his way trying to get out of the burning building. Since then, Everett fire has purchased new breathing equipment and updated its training.
Still, the new citation reports that breathing equipment wasn't property used during the Stewart Title blaze and a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation.
"The city disagrees with the smoke inhalation report," Reardon said.
Everett also has been cited by the state for failures to properly protect firefighters during a July 2007 training. Several firefighters were exposed to asbestos during the exercise. The city is appealing that ruling as well.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Failures of leadership during the June 25 fire and safety violations put firefighters' live at risk, state Department of Labor & Industries officials said in a citation issued Feb. 20.
The city is appealing the ruling.
"The (Labor & Industry) citation is without basis in law or fact," Everett city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.
The state issued a $4,550 fine.
In the citation, the state agency that oversees workplace safety found serious flaws in Everett's fire response.
The commander didn't know how firefighters were deployed, the report said. At various times, some firefighters worked alone, a practice that can be dangerous if a firefighter is injured.
Federal rules dictate that firefighters always work in pairs on fire scenes.
Commanders also didn't require the use of respirators to protect firefighters, despite smoke-filled conditions, the citation said.
"There are safety standards for firefighters. The risks are there, the risks are great when you're dealing with fires," Labor & Industries spokeswoman Elaine Fischer said. "There's a comprehensive set of safety and health standards for firefighters."
Since the Stewart Title blaze, the Everett Fire Department has corrected the problems outlined in the report, the state found. Still, the city remains on notice that further violations could result in additional fines.
On Aug. 1, state investigators were alerted to potential problems during the Stewart Title fire, Fischer said.
"There was a complaint that the incident safety officer wasn't wearing proper safety equipment," she said. That sparked a comprehensive review.
State industrial hygienists interviewed firefighters, conducted tests and reviewed reports, Fischer said.
In the citation, the city was accused of four violations, three of them classified as "serious," and capable of resulting in significant injury or death.
Several calls seeking comment from Local 46, the firefighters union, were not returned.
The safety violations are similar to the underlying problems that investigators determined played a role in 1987 death of Everett firefighter Gary Parks during a huge fire that destroyed the library at Everett Community College.
"It's not comparable," Reardon said. "You're trying to compare an incident where a life was lost and injuries occurred and an incident with no near-misses and no injuries."
In 1987, Parks ran out of air and likely lost his way trying to get out of the burning building. Since then, Everett fire has purchased new breathing equipment and updated its training.
Still, the new citation reports that breathing equipment wasn't property used during the Stewart Title blaze and a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation.
"The city disagrees with the smoke inhalation report," Reardon said.
Everett also has been cited by the state for failures to properly protect firefighters during a July 2007 training. Several firefighters were exposed to asbestos during the exercise. The city is appealing that ruling as well.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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