Answer to a Good Question

In my last post, “Pinole’s Fire Services in Jeopardy”, I was asked a question that I didn’t fully answer. I didn’t answer because I felt the full answer deserved its own post so that people could talk about this subject apart from other issues. This question, I quote below

“WHY?...The Pinole fire ladder couldn’t handle a single one-story fire?”

This question was asked by Redrock, thank you for a good question. I only gave a partial answer which is still available to read on that post and consisted of several segments which explained my understanding of normal deployments of fire resources to a fire and why they’re needed or not needed.

But there is more to the answer…

Calls for service usually originate from a phone call from a member of the public. Often the call is inaccurate about the emergency type or severity. Firefighters can’t be sure exactly what they are responding to until they arrive to assess the situation. In case they’re needed, additional resources are already responding which saves valuable time. If engine #73 responded to a single story structure fire alone, they would do their best, but successfully handling that call would depend on all factors of that specific situation. There would also be increased risk to lives and property.

An example of these risks to the public and fire personnel is an event that happened locally on July 21, 2007 and involved a Battalion 7 engine that was first to respond to a call that originally came in as a “fire alarm” call. On this type of call the resources are different and committing those resources holds a lower priority since it’s not a confirmed structure fire. Engine #70 with three firefighters aboard arrived first on scene to find a single-story, single-family residence ablaze. Residents were reported trapped inside and two firefighters went in to rescue them. Pinole engine #73, also with three firefighters aboard was next to arrive and immediately began battling the fire. All the other resources arrived and the fire was eventually extinguished. Tragically the two trapped residents and the two firefighters who tried to save them all perished due to the fire.

Firefighters never know for sure what they're responding to until they get there.

The findings of a LLAFCO investigation of the fire and the events leading up to it and the final outcome, led to improved recommendations on among other things resources deployed, staffing required, procedures and protocols. These recommendations are designed to try and prevent a similar tragic outcome in the future.

With the closing of stations #74 and #75, Battalion 7 has 33% less resources to respond to these types of fires. I hope it doesn’t take more tragic incidents such as the Michelle Drive Fire before the city and the taxpayers realize the importance of properly funding the fire services.

Residents Gail and Delbert Moore and firefighters Matt Burton and Scott Desmond will not be forgotten, and the lessons we learned from their tragic demise at Michelle Drive should not be forgotten or ignored.

Sincerely,

Allen Dorsey

yoursafetyatrisk.com