CT. State investigators working that fire that killed 2 Firefighters last year discovered two of the three dispatchers on duty that day were uncertified, dispatch equipment was less than state-of-the art and the city’s building inspection process was ineffectual. It should also be noted that the investigators were "not allowed" to interview the dispatchers involved.
After reviewing the findings with the local State’s Attorney, the State Police determined: "No criminal charges are appropriate and there will be no further action with this investigation."
Firefighter Michel Baik and Lt. Steven Velasquez died in the Line of Duty while working that fire at a multifamily house on July 24 of last year. Subsequent investigative reports on the fire by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Connecticut Occupational Safety & Health pinpointed errors made by fire officials at the scene, including ignoring mayday calls from Velasquez and using untested breathing equipment. The fire itself was deemed accidental as well. It began in a second floor bedroom and was caused by a candle that was left unattended close to combustible materials.
The report states that approximately 11 minutes and 53 seconds had passed between Lt. Velasquez’s initial mayday call and the acknowledgement of the mayday call by the city’s emergency communication center, in violation of center’s own policies. "Even after hearing the fourth Mayday transmission, (the dispatcher) did not follow the mayday procedure as prescribed."
On July 27, 2010, investigators went to the dispatch center where they observed the three large flat screen televisions in the center, "displaying various television programs."
The report states investigators found that the audio recordings of the incident transmissions did not match the times on the written radio transmission logs. The system administrator, Marcus Jackson, told them:
"When the equipment was installed in the Public Safety Communications center the city of Bridgeport did not purchase the device that records the actual real-time onto the audio transmission recording as a cost saving measure." Incredible.
Real time could be determined by adding 20 seconds to each transmission. The report states that two of the three dispatchers on duty the day of the fire had expired state certifications, including the dispatcher who did not follow the mayday procedure. And even more surprising is that the 911 Center Director (Doree Price) refused to allow the dispatchers or their supervisors to talk to investigators….
HERE is more on what is sure to be a continuing story:
HERE is the NIOSH Report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201018.html
