NIOSH Report on the LODD of Chicago FD Captain Herbie Johnson On November 2, 2012, a 54-year-old male career captain sustained injuries while responding to a fire at a 2-1/2 story apartment building and later died at a local hospital. The incident occurred just blocks from his fire station. Battalion Chief 19 (BC19) was the first to arrive and reported heavy smoke coming from both the front and rear of the attic. BC19 conducted an interior survey of both floors, while the victim and a firefighter from Engine 123 stretched a 2½-inch line with a gated wye to a 1¾-inch hoseline toward the second floor. BC19 radioed the captain from the rear of the first-floor apartment, warning that there was heavy fire in the covered porch and stairwell. The captain and firefighter moved toward the rear of the second-floor apartment before water could be applied. Before they could proceed, the captain told the firefighter, “We need to get out.†Engine 49, arriving second, stretched a 2½-inch hoseline down the alley to the rear and prepared to attack the fire through the attic window. The captain moved halfway back into the hallway near the kitchen and called for help. As the firefighter pulled him toward the kitchen, additional firefighters who had reached the second floor heard the captain and firefighter collapse. A Mayday was called by the Squad 5 Lieutenant, and the victim was carried down to the front yard. He responded to basic life support measures and was transferred to Ambulance 19 for advanced care. Unfortunately, he developed complications during airway management and passed away at the hospital. Per department procedures, the following units were dispatched to the initial report of this structure fire through the time of the Mayday: Still Alarm An approximate timeline summarizing the significant events in this incident is listed below. Times are rounded to the nearest minute and based on dispatch records, witness statements, and run sheets. The timeline is not intended as a formal record but includes only those communications directly related to the fatal incident. Note: The department uses the following terminology for building sides: Sector 1 – front, Sector 2 – left side, Sector 3 – rear, Sector 4 – right side. The investigation revealed that the fire originated in the attic and was accidental. It is unclear how long the fire had been burning before residents on the second floor noticed it. Smoke pouring from the attic indicated an advanced stage of fire. A resident saw smoke from the street and alerted others, who immediately evacuated. The fire burned in the attic void space, which was ventilation-limited, producing large amounts of unburned gases and high pressure. First responders observed dark smoke from both front and rear attic windows. As the engine crew advanced the hoseline to the second floor, BC19 searched the first floor and noticed fire in the rear porch area. Another engine crew stretched a hoseline down the alley to the rear. Once the second-floor rear porch door failed, fire gases flowed into the hallway. Indicators of significant fire behavior included multiple 911 calls, visible smoke from blocks away, and fire intensifying after doors were opened. Horizontal ventilation led to rapid fire growth, and the fire quickly spread throughout the structure. Defensive operations were eventually initiated due to the severity of the conditions. Note: NIST is developing a computerized fire model to aid in reconstructing the event. When completed, it will be available at the NIST website: http://www.nist.gov/fire/. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was inhalation injuries sustained during the fire. Thanks, Chris Suzhou Sikor Industry Co., Ltd. , https://www.sikor-group.com
Career Captain Sustains Injuries at a 2-1/2 Story Apartment Fire then Dies at Hospital – Illinois
Executive Summary
Contributing Factors
Key Recommendations
Engine 123 (E123): Captain (victim), engineer, 3 firefighters
Tower Ladder 39 (TL39): Lieutenant, driver, 2 firefighters – Note: This unit was one firefighter short, referred to as a variance.
Engine 49 (E49): Lieutenant, engineer, 2 firefighters – Note: Also on a variance.
Truck 33 (T33): Captain, driver, 3 firefighters
Battalion Chief 19 (BC19): Incident Commander (IC)
RIT Alarm
Truck 52 (T52): Lieutenant, driver, 3 firefighters
Squad 5 (SQ5): Lieutenant and five firefighters – Note: A squad consists of one heavy rescue vehicle and a 55-foot Snorkel; staffing includes an officer and three firefighters on the heavy rescue vehicle and two on the Snorkel.
Battalion Chief 15 (BC15): RIT Chief
Ambulance 19 (A19): Two paramedics
Unit 455: EMS Field Officer
Unit 273: Command VanTimeline
Dispatch for a Still Alarm for "Smoke in the area": E123, TL39, E49, T33, BC19. BC19 assumes command en route, confirms a working fire, and dispatch initiates RIT response with T52, SQ5, BC15, A19, 455, and 273.
E123, E49, TL39, and T33 en route; BC19 arrives on scene in under a minute and begins size-up.
E123 arrives on scene.
E49, T33, and TL39 arrive and report black smoke from the attic window and heavy smoke and flames in the rear.
E123 crew enters with 1 ¾-inch hoseline to the second floor. E49 pulls 2 ½-inch hoseline down the alley. T33 sets up a ground ladder on Sector 2. TL39 positions its aerial on the roof. A firefighter from SQ5 and T33 assists TL39. A few seconds later, a TL39 firefighter checks the first-floor porch door and notices fire in the stairwell.
IC radios the victim about heavy fire in the rear stairway and covered porch, and tells E49 to apply water from Sector 3. No reply is heard.
E49 applies water to the attic window in Sector 3 with a 2 ½-inch hoseline.
SQ5 makes entry on Sector 1.
TL39 completes the first roof hole on Sector 4. After hearing a Mayday from the SQ5 Lieutenant, the IC calls "Mayday" and requests a 2-11 Assignment. Dispatch initiates a 2-11 alarm.
IC runs to get A19’s crew.
Firefighters carry the victim outside to Sector 1 and perform CPR.
A19 departs with the victim en route to the hospital.Investigation
Fire Behavior
Cause of Death