GREEN SHEET

Los Angeles Fire Department

Informational Summary Report of Serious LAFD Injuries, Illnesses, Accidents and Near-Miss Incidents

FIREFIGHTER INJURY

SOLANO AVENUE VEHICLE FIRE

January 9, 2011

This report is intended as a safety and training tool, and aid to preventing future occurrences and to inform interested parties. Because it is published on a short time frame, the information contained herein is subject to revisions as further investigation is conducted and additional information is developed.

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Summary On January 9, 2011, at approximately 2118 hours, a Los Angeles Fire Department Captain was injured while fighting a vehicle fire in the 600 block of West Solano Avenue in Fire Station 1’s first-in district. During firefighting operations, an explosion occurred resulting in the Captain sustaining serious injuries. The Captain was treated and transported to a local hospital and released on January 14, 2011. The Captain is projected to remain off duty for approximately 2 months.

Incident Overview On January 9, 2011 at approximately 2103 hours, Los Angeles Fire Department Operations Control Dispatch (OCD) received a mobile 911 call of a vehicle fire visible from Arroyo Seco Parkway. At 2104 hours, Engine 1 was dispatched to an auto fire at 546 West Solano Avenue. The injured Captain and the Firefighter assigned as the hydrant member (FF #2) were not normally assigned to Engine 1. They were pool placement due to the Modified Coverage Plan (MCP). At 2110 hours, Engine 1 arrived on scene and found a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, fully involved with fire, on Solano Avenue underneath the southbound lanes of the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

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Engine 1 firefighters implemented their standard operating procedures for an auto fire. The nozzle member (FF #1) deployed a 1-1/2” hose line to attack the fire. FF #2 deployed and stood by with a dry chemical extinguisher. The Engineer positioned the apparatus for safety and operated the engine pump and provided water from the tank. The Captain supervised the two Firefighters.

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During fire attack, FF#1 was flowing water through the driver side window and encountered difficulty extinguishing the fire in the interior of the automobile. The Captain and FF#1 recognized small white flames flickering from the driver side area, possibly indicating combustible metals. This alerted the Captain to direct FF #1 to back away for safety. During this time a fuel leak occurred causing a fuel fire on the ground. The Captain directed FF#1 to put down the 1-1/2” hose and obtain Aqueous Film Forming Form (AFFF) to mitigate the fuel fire on the ground. FF#1 left the area to retrieve a five-gallon container of AFFF, and FF #2 went to the front of the car and attempted to force open the hood of the engine compartment. FF #2 was fully suited up in his PPE with his SCBA donned and on air. As the Firefighters were performing their tasks, the Captain discharged the dry chemical extinguisher in an attempt to extinguish the fuel fire. The Captain then applied the dry chemical agent inside the auto and obtained a knock down of the flames. The Captain then noticed that the fire inside of the passenger area had re-ignited. At this time, he picked up the 1-1/2” nozzle and approached the driver side window of the vehicle and directed a water stream onto the dashboard area, starting from the passenger side and sweeping toward the steering wheel. As the water stream made contact with the steering wheel component, without any indication or warning, a large bright explosion occurred. The violent explosion knocked the Captain backwards approximately 10 feet, knocking off his helmet and resulting in him hitting the back of his head on the pavement. FF #2, standing at the front of the vehicle, was knocked backwards approximately 5 feet, but was un-injured. FF #2 was fully encapsulated and on air. Immediately after the explosion, the Firefighters and Engineer assigned to Engine 1 pulled the Captain toward Engine 1 and initiated medical care. At 2124 hours, the Engineer notified OCDS on dispatch Channel 7 and put out a “Emergency Traffic, Firefighter Down”, and immediately requested appropriate resources. Rescue Ambulance 20 arrived on scene and initiated ALS treatment including full spinal precautions. The Captain was transported to a nearby local trauma center via ground transportation. During post incident interviews the Captain stated that he remembered the white blast/explosion and the next thing he remembered, were the doctors in the hospital working on him. He could not remember hitting the ground, being treated, or transported to the hospital. The Captain was wearing a helmet, turnout coat, turnout pants and turnout boots; however, he was not wearing firefighting gloves, a firefighting hood or SCBA.

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The LAFD Arson-Counter Terrorism Section and the LAPD Bomb Squad conducted the cause-determination investigation with a focus on determining the cause of the explosion. No explosive or incendiary devices were found in the vehicle. The vehicle air bags did not deploy during the fire and were subsequently rendered safe by investigators.

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All other causes for the explosion have been ruled out, leaving the likely cause as water application directly onto molten combustible metals known to be part of the vehicle’s interior construction. Cause of the fire has been ruled incendiary, and is currently being investigated.

Conditions The 2000 Chevrolet Impala is a product of General Motors Company. According to the Automotive Manufacturing and Automotive Materials Partnership, dated June 1997, “Magnesium use Rising”, starting in 1997, the average North American-built family vehicle contains 5 or 6 pounds of magnesium die castings, and the most popular applications include steering column components, steering wheel armatures, instrument panel (IP) supports, steering column supports, transfer cases, engine valve and rocker arm covers, pedal support brackets, transmission stators, radio amplifier housings, and seat components. GM’s use of magnesium parts is expanding the fastest of any of the domestic automakers. GM vehicles have been using magnesium due to its abundance, strength, and to reduce vehicle weight, since the 1990’s.

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Injuries/Damages The Captain sustained a fractured skull with a cerebral bleed, non-life threatening internal injuries and a small partial thickness burn to his right hand. No apparatus damage was sustained. .

Weather Weather at the time of the incident was clear. Weather was not a factor.

Direct Cause: 1. Explosion from the reaction of water contacting molten combustible metals

during firefighting operations on a well-involved vehicle fire.

Contributing Cause(s) to Injury: 1. Displacement of the Captain’s helmet due to the force/reaction of the

explosion resulted in the Captain’s head striking the ground, contributing to the severity of his injuries.

The investigation was unable to determine whether the chinstrap of the Captain’s helmet was secured to his chin. The Captain’s head injury may have been avoided if the helmet had remained on his head.

2. Failure to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment; i.e., lack of

firefighting gloves resulted in a burn to the Captain’s right palm. 3. Failure to switch from an offensive mode to a defensive mode once the

determination had been made that combustible metals were involved.

Initially, the Captain took appropriate actions after recognizing the possibility of combustible metals were involved with fire. During the firefighting operation, the Captain witnessed small, bright white flickers of flames. The Captain repositioned FF#1 back to a safe distance from the vehicle, but subsequently the Captain returned to a close distance for extinguishment.

Safety Issues For Mandatory Review All members shall, when required to wear helmets, wear them securely fastened to their head. Training Bulletin No. 145, Combustible Metals, will be revised to include the following items. All Officers shall review these items with members under their command:

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1. Extreme caution should be exercised when approaching a vehicle fire. All members must assess and gain situational awareness. If possible, obtain the make, model and year of the vehicle’s manufacture. It is not uncommon for well-involved interior fires on newer vehicles to have combustible metals involved. Observe burning characteristics for signs of metal involvement. Extreme caution should be utilized on initial application of water from a safe distance with full protective equipment in place. In all cases, if a reaction is observed cease water application.

2. All members must recognize the fire behavior of burning combustible metals; color of the smoke and flames, intensity of the fire, and unusual popping sounds within the fire. If combustible metals are suspected, protect exposures and allow the metals to burn out prior to attempting further extinguishment. The greatest potential for molten product is in the interior components of the vehicle; this can result in severe reactions and explosions as the smaller components are much more prone to melting and becoming involved in the fire versus larger components of metal such as engine blocks and wheels.

3. If a determination is made that the fire cannot be allowed to safely burn out;

remote heavy streams can be considered if appropriate safety precautions are taken. Consideration should be given to potential impacts due to the explosion potential of the molten product, and the potential for projectiles from the explosion impacting personnel and/or bystanders.

Training Bulletin No. 5, Auto Fires, will be revised to include the following items. All Officers shall review these items with members under their command:

1. All personnel responding to and working at all vehicle fires shall wear the following minimum PPE:

• Turnout coat

• Turnout pants

• Helmet

• Firefighting Hood (fully deployed when SCBA face piece worn).

• Firefighting Gloves (during Firefighting operations)

• Eye protection (goggles, safety glasses, SCBA face piece) shall be worn anytime a member is involved in potential eye injury tasks.

2. All personnel staffing/operating a hose line, dry chemical

extinguisher or performing forcible entry shall don an SCBA face piece and be connected to air during all vehicle firefighting and overhaul operations.

3. All personnel shall don an SCBA face piece and be connected to air

when operating in the Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) area. The IDLH is any area/location where exposure is likely to

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cause death, immediate injury, or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape.

4. The Company Commander shall wear an SCBA at all vehicle fires,

and shall don an SCBA face piece and be connected to air when operating in the IDLH.

5. The Company Commander has an obligation to provide for the safety of

all personnel on scene. This shall include requiring personnel to wear SCBA, including face piece, at any time they deem necessary.

All members shall review and document formal training on Training Bulletin No. 145, Combustible Metals, and the Combustible Metals Power Point. This training shall be recorded in each member’s PRB and on the F-393 (code 11FR).

Incidental Issues – Lessons Learned All Officers shall review Department SOG’s for auto fires and need to be aware of the recent incidents involving combustible metals. All Officers shall review this Green Sheet with their command and document this training in each member’s PRB and on the F-393 training records. The F-393 Code for the Solano Avenue Vehicle Fire Green Sheet is 42AF.