This type of liability of the Oakwood Fire Department and its chief according to Bennett (2008) accrued mainly due to lack of a duly prepared pre-plan on how the fire situation was to be approached and handled. This lack of a pre-plan led the department’s chief to order the use or splashing of water on the chemical properties of Ohio Briquetting thus exacerbating the damage. It amounted to recklessness and negligence attracting liability. He therefore the preparation of a pre-plan for structures that includes hazardous materials or metals like titanium upon which water should not be used.
Firstly, the pre-plans prepared by the fire department in conjunction with the owners of the business affected by the fire would help eliminate liability by helping the fire department to know in advance the techniques and materials to be used to handle or put out the fire. Moreover, the pre-plans will help avoid liability by minimizing risks of fire damage and improving the safety of tenants and their properties inside the affected building. According to Amodio (2012), fire department pre-planning for fire alarms or calls may range from paper plans to interactive dynamic digital tablet or PC plans and usually help in compilation and identification of all the crucial information relating to the affected building including dire alarm systems, utilities, access points, sprinkler control valves and hazardous materials. This pre-planning according to this author helps in ensuring visual awareness of the structure to which the firefighters are responding. This critical information provided by pre-plans help in supporting the first respondents in coming up with tactics and strategies for handling the fire to ensure the least damage possible. It also enhances the decision making capacity of the firefighters and lowers risks of loss or injury. The plan thus helps save assets from fire by ensuring the correct methods are used to put out the fire based on the nature of the properties inside hence reducing any liability based on negligence as was the case here.
Pre-Plan Example
Occupancy: Fire Dept.
Phone:
Fire Protection
Detectors: Smoke Heat Full Partial
Knox Box: Front Door Right Standpipe
Ann. Panel: Front entryway Fire Pump Basement
FDC: Alarm Panel
Specialized Extinguishing: Metal Suppression System
BLDG Construction
Width: Length: Stories: Other:
Roof Structure: Iron sheet
Roof Hazards: Fire collapse
Parapet Wall:
Other:
BLDG Access
Stairways: Rear & middle front
Elevators: Present
Roof Access: Top front stairway
Basement: Full Partial Access: Below the front stairway
Attic Access:
Hazards:
Life: Tenants
Exposures: Metals
MSDS Location: Basement
Other: SCBA Cylinders
Utilities Location:
Gas: Basement
Water: Rooftop
Electric: Walls
Chemical Hazards: Ground Floor
Metals: Basement
Contacts:
Emergency Phone: Email:
Source: Adopted from http://media.cygnus.com/files/base/FHC/document/2015/08/Sample_Pre-plan_-_Ashtubula_Fire.pdf
References
Amodio, D. (2012. April 23). An introduction to pre-planning for fire calls. Fire Rescuers EMS Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.carolinafirejournal.com/articles/article-detail/articleid/2073/an-introduction- to-pre-planning-for-fire-calls.aspx
Bennett, L.T. (2008). Fire service law. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
