After-Fire Report Cites Communications

A after-action investigation into a house fire that killed two Contra Costa (N. Calif.) County firefighters last year cited communications as one of the contributing factors, including how an alarm company handled the first report of the fire. Capt. Matt Burton and Engineer Scott Desmond died as they tried to rescue two occupants, who also perished in the fire. The fire department’s report made over 100 recommendations to prevent future tragedies, including improved fire radio communications procedures, and insuring alarm companies have the correct telephone numbers to report incidents. Download (pdf) the fire department’s report here. Note that the investigators didn’t consider the appropriateness of the dispatcher advising the elderly resident on the phone, “Get everyone out.”