In response to the fire tragedy that resulted in the death of firefighter Oscar Armstrong, according to the NIOSH Fire Fatality Investigation Report (2005), the Cincinnati Fire Department has made a number of changes to avert similar incidents from recurring in future.
First, the Department has reviewed and revised its current standard operating procedures (SOPs) with respect to fire fighting. This is to ensure that its firefighting officers don not at any time enter burning structures without charge hose lines since it this was one of the factors that led to Armstrong’s death according to the report.
Further to this, the Cincinnati fire department has established a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) for major fire incidents and equipped them with the necessary tools. This will ensure that fire fighters get immediate help or assistance in case the situation gets out of hand.
Moreover, the department has reviewed its fire command structure and ensured that there is always accountability on the officers responsible for every firefighter. To further boost this responsibility of the fire command officers, the department has acquired new Incident Command Systems ((ICS) in order to facilitate communication in case of fire intervention. According to a survey study by Akhter (2014), the unavailability of effective ICS has negative impact on emergency response by firefighters hence the need for every department to have them.
Additionally, in a bid to improve the department’s fire emergency responsiveness, the department continuously trains its fire fighters on risk analysis and management techniques in relation to fire incidents. This is besides the normal routine training they undergo at the academy. According to Xin and Huang (2013), building fire risk analysis is vital for averting deaths in fire scenarios and this can be ensured through regular training of firefighters.
In conclusion, based on the fact that these changes represent the best firefighting practice and if properly implemented ,will help prevent officers’ or occupant’s death, I would recommend them for my fire department.
References
Akhter, S. (2014, May). Firefighters' view on improving fire emergency response: A case study of Rawalpindi. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(7(1)), 143-149.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2005). Death in the line of dutyA summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation. Washington, DC & Ohio: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200312.html
Xin, J., & Huang, C. (2013). Fire risk analysis of residential buildings based on scenario clusters and its application in fire risk management. Fire Safety Journal, 1(1), 72-78. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379711213001653
