Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Paid-on-Call Fire Fighter Killed by Exterior Wall Collapse During Defensive Operations at a Commercial Structure Fire in Illinois

摘要

On June 17, 2011, a 22-year-old male paid-on-call fire fighter received fatal injuries when he was struck by bricks and falling debris during an exterior wall collapse at a commercial structure fire. Crews worked using defensive operations for about 45 minutes attempting to extinguish the fire in the 96 year-old brick and masonry structure that housed an antique store with living quarters located in a rear addition. The victim and another fire fighter were moving a 35-foot aluminum ground ladder away from the Side D (east) wall of the structure when the top part of the exterior wall collapsed. No other fire fighters were injured in the collapse. Contributing Factors: (1) 96 year-old brick masonry structure degraded by fire burning for over 45 minutes. (2) Fire fighters with limited experience entered collapse zone to move ground ladder. (3) Entering collapse zone in close proximity to master stream directed onto roof. (4) Limited visibility at side and rear of structure may have obscured signs of pending collapse. (5) Limited training on structure collapse hazards.