It is with deep regret that we advise you that this afternoon, one inmate Firefighter died in the Line of Duty, one other unidentified person have been killed and eight others were injured when an LA County FD unit carrying a state prison firefighting crew crashed with a passenger vehicle in northern Los Angeles County. The truck and the other vehicle crashed this afternoon on a road near Interstate 5 south of Gorman. At least 3 of the injured are critical but not yet clear whether the injured are from one vehicle or both. The Firefighters are inmates from an area state prison. We will post photos and more details on our home page. Our sincere condolences to all affected.
Last Wednesday, Nov 17th I was doing routine work in the NFA fire protection lab as I have done for many years. Specifically I was installing new smoke detectors in the burn room and restoring the water mist system. After getting the new detectors and their control panel installed, I turned my attention to the water mist system. The particular system was initially installed in the early 90s and is an intermediate pressure system used to extinguish demo fires in the burn room. This system incorporates a water storage tank of 70 gallons, which is pressurized to 320 psi with a dry nitrogen cylinder. The nitrogen cylinder is pressurized to approx 1800 psi.
About once a year the system is completely blown down and the water tank and nitrogen cylinder refilled. The nitrogen cylinder is removed from the system and recharged by a local compressed gas supplier.
The nitrogen cylinder has a special control head/valve simulator to CO2 or Halon bottle. Because of this, a special fill valve must be attached to the cylinder. For some reason (unknown why at this time) the supplier brought the cylinder back with the fill valve still attached. Because the cylinder was neither in storage nor in use, it had not yet been secured to its mounting brackets.
The last thing that I remember before the incident was standing behind the bottle with my arm curved around manually removing the fill valve assembly from a check valve type fitting which is intended to stay in place. I remember a loud hiss and bang and then finding my arm at the elbow embedded into the wall. I then remember seeing a large puncture wound in the inside of my elbow bleeding profusely. I wrapped a towel around my elbow and attempted to control the bleeding with direct pressure. About the time a remember first seeing my elbow embedded in the wall a USFA staff member (Betty Riffle) came to the lab door and asked if I was okay. Needless to say I wasn’t and told her to call 911 and that I would need a medic.
Very quickly several other staff members arrived including Bill Troupe who immediately took effective steps to control the bleeding. Very soon after NETC security officers and members of Emmitsburg Fire Company 6 and Ambulance Co. 26 of Frederick County Fire Rescue arrived. Because of the very loud sound associated with the cylinder discharge and the displacement of a considerable portion of the acoustical ceiling tiles the incident was initially reported as an “explosion”.
Given the amount of bleeding, the location of the injury and the violence of the event there initial concerns that I had received a through and through puncture wound. There was also concern about crushing injuries to vessels and nerves. Because of these issues, the original call put life flight on standby. After consultation, it was decided that life flight was not necessary and I was transported to Washington County Hospital the nearest trauma in Hagerstown, MD. After evaluation in the ER, I was taken to surgery to remove debris from the wounds on both sides of my right elbow. The wounds were closed without difficulty. Received a deep puncture wound on the inside of the elbow. Wound on outside of elbow were due to blunt force trauma as a result of impact with the wall. It was also found that I also have a fractured wrist. I was hospitalized until Friday night primarily due to the need for IV antibiotics because of debris in the wounds.
Today I had my first follow-up with the ortho surgeon. The wounds are healing very nicely and no complications are expected. Stitches should come out in two weeks and then will be in small wrist cast.
I realize how lucky I am for the impact could have easily resulted in loss of use of my hand. Had the wall not given, my arm could have been severed. Had the impact been into my chest or head it would have been fatal. As of right now I have no clue as to what failed. I do know that the cylinder itself appears to be intact and the control valve/head did not separate from the cylinder. I fully expect to be back in the NFA classroom on December 6th. Lets us all be thankful for everything this holiday season.
James G. Munger, Ph.D, MIFireE, CFPS
