Report on Fatal Fire Spotlights Communications

Firefighters working a fire at a millwork facility in Salisbury (NC) tried to use their radios to coordinate operations–and call for help–but many transmissions didn’t get through, according to a report the city has issued on the incident. Two firefighters died in the huge blaze, which grew quickly and generated lots of smoke. The report noted that the radio were purchased in 2001, but haven’t been annually tested. Officials said bad communications contributed to poor hose placement, which didn’t allow the firefighters to follow any hoses outside when they became trapped. Read the multi-part report here, looking at Parts 4 and 5 in particular.