MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF FIREFIGHTER ACCOUNTABILITY FAILURES ON THE FIREGROUND
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Authors
Bacenet, James P.
Subjects
fireground accountability
firefighting accountability
firefighting procedures
firefighter safety
incident command
rapid intervention team
firefighter assistance and search team
firefighting technology
mayday
firefighting accountability
firefighting procedures
firefighter safety
incident command
rapid intervention team
firefighter assistance and search team
firefighting technology
mayday
Advisors
Supinski, Stanley B.
Aten, Kathryn J.
Date of Issue
2024-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Despite having fire service policies and procedures dedicated to ensuring the accountability of personnel, firefighters become injured, lost, and trapped; go missing; and are killed in the line of duty during structural firefighting operations every year. Examining fatal fire reports from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health from 2010 to 2018, this thesis employs a comparative thematic analysis based on the McKinsey 7S framework to categorize accountability-related contributing factors in firefighter fatalities across types and sizes of U.S. departments. This research finds that most accountability failures occur at the command level; accountability system failures are the least frequent variable in firefighter fatalities; small departments commonly experience training failures; small and midsize departments commonly experience staffing issues; and large departments often encounter failures from equipment usage and radio communications. Based on these findings, this thesis recommends that fire departments 1) focus on the incident commander position to improve fireground accountability and reduce firefighter deaths, 2) conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of accountability systems, 3) emphasize and improve training, 4) adequately staff firefighting operations, and 5) comply with recommended equipment standards and promote effective communications between members at the scene of structural fires.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (CHDS)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
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