“It’s Just a House Fire” During my 24-years in the fire service, I have heard that statement far too many times: “It’s just a house fire.” I have become increasingly disgusted upon hearing these words, especially when they come from people in leadership positions. The statement reeks of complacency and can greatly exacerbate the most deadly form of complacency, that is, Organizational Complacency. As many of my Fire Nuggets brothers are probably aware, the month of May was punctuated by near misses, scary events, and unfortunately a tragedy for the Denver Fire Department (DFD). It was a very busy month with significant fire activity, including several fires where members were injured, including one very serious injury, and sadly, a Firefighter Line of Duty Death. All of these events took place at residential fires, with the two most significant occurring at relatively small, single family dwellings, “just a house fire." This underscores the fact that the single-family dwelling fire is a very serious and dangerous event that should not, and cannot ever be underestimated. We have known for years that more fires occur in single family dwellings than any other occupancy. The single family dwelling is also home to the greatest number of fire related deaths and injuries. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 84 percent of the fire deaths, and 77 percent of fire injuries occur in residential occupancies. Specifically, residential fires account for 3,500 civilian deaths, 18,700 injuries, and average losses of $5.34 billion. In addition, 63 percent of firefighter line of duty deaths that occurred on the fireground, occurred in residential occupancies. Eighty-nine percent of firefighter injuries reported to NFIRS in 2001 were associated with structural fires. Of those, more than three and one half times as many injuries occur in residential structures as in non-residential structures. Specifically, residential structures account for 69 percent of firefighter injuries. These statistics were reinforced during a one-week period that occurred only a few weeks ago in the city of Denver. I will give a brief summary of some of the most significant events, but without much detail on lessons learned, as the DFD and outside agencies are currently conducting comprehensive investigations. At the conclusion of those investigations I will share the results with my Fire Nuggets family. I have been to 4 DFD Firefighter Line of Duty Death funerals in the past 14-years. Engineer Mark Langvardt was killed in 1992 at a commercial building fire. Firefighter Doug Konecny was killed in 1993 by a single gun shot, fired from a 38-calibre handgun, when he climbed a short ground ladder to a second floor window of a house on a welfare check. Firefighter Bob Crump was killed in 2000, forcefully pulled into a storm drain by waters from a flash flood; he drowned. And Assistant Chief Charlie Drennan Jr., was killed in 2001, shot to death by a fellow firefighter he was attempting to counsel and assist with personal problems. On Thursday, May 25, 2006, I stood at attention with other chiefs and members of DFD Engine Co. 23, Engine Co. 24, and Tower Ladder Co. 28, as the funeral procession of Lt. Rich Montoya passed by our firehouse on south Federal Boulevard. Basement Fire, Single-family Dwelling, South Denver
The most recent events started on a clear spring day, Tuesday, May 9, 2006, just before noon. It was my Kelly Day, but I was actually at the firehouse cleaning out my locker, having recently been transferred to a different district. While at the firehouse, the companies got dispatched to a reported structure fire on South High Street. Members of Truck Co. 16 were very unhappy, as they were out of service getting new tires. Engine Co. 16 turned out, assigned to the fire as the RIT Company. I went out to the watch desk and joined the members of Truck Co. 16, listening to the radio. Engine Co. 21 arrived on scene quickly, as they are located only a few blocks from the High Street address. The lieutenant from Engine Co. 21 gave an initial radio report, announcing that they had a “working fire.” I was done at the firehouse and decided to drive by the fire a take a look. It took me about ten minutes to drive over to the fire, and I was surprised to see that it was still going pretty good when I got there. As I watched, it quickly became obvious that they had a very stubborn and difficult basement fire. I talked with colleagues after the incident who said it was very difficult to make the stretch from the first floor to the basement, where a door had to be removed, and members had to fight their way down a very narrow basement stair, not untypical of old south Denver bungalows. At one point, I watched Truck Co. 15 operate on the D-delta side, as they performed horizontal ventilation of the basement windows in order to provide ventilation ahead of the attack team. It was an excellent, well choreographed operation. Fire venting from the basement windows quickly turned to white lazy smoke as the attack team had obviously made the fire. I went around to the A-alpha side, and observed from that position for a while. I was getting ready to head home when I saw several members hastily carrying someone out of the house. It was clear they had a victim. I was standing across the street, and it was hard to see; but I saw that the victim was wearing turnout pants, and then realized this is a firefighter down. The actions and faces of the members on scene told the story. I got a very sick feeling in my gut, which was only worsened when I saw a Denver paramedic laying flat on the ground attempting to intubate this firefighter. Not good. The firefighter was packaged and transported to the hospital. I was left with a very empty feeling. Firefighter Billy Green from Engine Co. 21 was in critical condition at Denver Health Medical Center. Fortunately, there were early signs that he was improving, and he did in fact make a quick and full recovery from his injuries. All we know is that Billy was the nozzleman, and his company (E-21) made their way in high heat and heavy smoke toward the back of the house, from the front door. Billy handed the nozzle to his lieutenant and then attempted to retreat back to the front door. Due to heavy smoke conditions, the lieutenant and other firefighter were unaware of Green’s retreat, or why he was retreating. Billy for unknown reasons went down in the front room of the house, but, fortunately, he was close to the front door. He was quickly found by a heads-up firefighter, Kevin Gentile, from HazMat Co. 1. This company was added to the assignment because they were very close and actually ended up being the second company to arrive. Thank God. They operated as a truck company, performing a primary search. Firefighter Gentile found Firefighter Green and rescued him with the assistance of other members. Billy Green is a top-shelf firefighter, who is in top physical condition, and a tremendous asset to the DFD. We are extremely grateful that he survived this close call. Firefighter Burned at Multiple Dwelling Fire On Friday, May 12, 2006, a serious fire occurred in a large multiple dwelling in southeast Denver. In the finest tradition of the DFD, first arriving engine companies initiated an aggressive interior attack using two 2½-inch attack lines, both equipped with high-volume, low-pressure, “people’s choice” nozzles, a.k.a. “Smoothbore.” These companies managed to stop a very fast-moving fire, in this large, occupied multiple dwelling made of cheap, fast-burning, wood-frame material. Hats off to Lt. Brent Johnson, E-22, and Lt. Shawn Brooks, E-13, for their “overwhelm the enemy with disproportionate force” fireground philosophy. Keep up the good work men. Also, kudos to Capt. Dave Borelli, acting chief, first due, who made the most important and critical decision at this fire; he called for help, early. Reinforcements in the form of a second alarm were called for by Capt. Borelli in a proactive manner (not reactive), thus providing the necessary resources to complete numerous searches, stop extension of fire, and provide badly needed relief for first due crews, on a very hot day. Excellent job, DFD! During this fire, the nozzleman from E-22, although wearing full PPE including a Nomex hood, sustained burns to his neck and ears. Fortunately, these were minor burns, and he was treated and released from the hospital that same day. Nevertheless, another scary few moments for the DFD, when we heard that one of our own had been injured. Lieutenant Rich Montoya, makes the Supreme Sacrifice
In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 14, 2006, a full first-alarm assignment was dispatched to 4306 Thompson Court in northeast Denver. This assignment included Engine Co. 9, first due, led by Lt. Rich Montoya, a 30-year veteran of the DFD, with only 15-shifts left before retirement. Prior to arrival, companies receive reports that a party was trapped inside the structure. Upon arrival, once again in the finest tradition of the DFD, truck company firefighters from Tower Ladder Co. 9 quickly entered the house, proceeding to the second floor in order to initiate an aggressive search. They quickly found an unconscious, near-death, 16-year old female, and affected her rescue. Immediately following Tower Co. 9 into the building was Lt. Rich Montoya and his crew from Engine Co. 9, equipped with a 1¾-inch attack line, in order to protect the Tower 9 members during their search and in an attempt to locate and stop the fire. The 16-year-old female was quickly rescued, and advanced life support measures where begun immediately. At some point during the operation, Lt. Montoya felt that conditions were becoming too untenable and ordered a retreat. He ensured that all members were safely off the second floor prior to his retreat. At some point, for unknown reasons, Lt. Montoya ended up not retreating down the stairs, but rather into another second-floor bedroom. Perhaps he thought he heard something or someone and was completing one final search. Members outside heard a PASS alarm and immediately initiated an aggressive search. Firefighters Mike Gonzales and Kris MacDonald of Truck Co. 8 quickly located Lt. Montoya, and under extreme, pre-flashover conditions, struggled to free Montoya from under a mattress and affect his rescue. These men went far above and beyond the call and were not leaving without their brother. We are extremely grateful that they did not sustain serious injury during this rescue operation. However, and unfortunately, Firefighter Mike Gonzales did, in fact, sustain an injury to his back. We are hopeful that he will make a full recovery. Lt. Montoya was removed from the house and found to be in full cardiac and respiratory arrest. Advanced life support was initiated, and he was transported to Denver Health Medical Center. Lt. Rich Montoya died one week later, on Sunday, May 21, 2006, of injuries sustained while operating at this dwelling fire. He was a dedicated husband, father, and firefighter. He is survived by his son Eric Carrasco, another excellent firefighter, assigned to DFD, Engine Co. 12. At this time, we certainly don’t know all of the circumstances and what might have led to this tragedy. However, what we do know is that a young woman will make a full recovery and go on, it is hoped, to live a full, healthy, happy and safe life, due to the actions of several very brave and dedicated Denver firefighters, and specifically the supreme sacrifice made by Lt. Rich Montoya. May you rest in peace, Brother. IT’S NOT JUST A HOUSE FIRE! To my Fire Nuggets family, I will not belabor the subject, but we must, collectively, come together and constantly reiterate that what we do is an extremely dangerous job. There is NO ROUTINE FIRE, including what may appear to be a rather benign house fire. The single-family dwelling fire is a high-frequency, high-risk event. The dangers and potential dangers of each and every house fire cannot and should not be underestimated, by any of us, ever! Do we really need that many resources at a house fire? Yes! You need them so that you can successfully rescue that young victim. You need them so that someone will be able to take over and initiate advanced life support, after exhausted members carry her lifeless body from the second floor of the house. You need them so that fire suppression can continue, during rescue operations, and after advanced life-support measures begin on your rescued victim. You need them so that someone can initiate the rescue of a fallen comrade upon hearing his PASS alarm. You need them to take over the fire fight after members see one of their own, from their very own company and firehouse, being removed from the house and fighting for his life. At this point, they cannot, and should not continue working, and the mental stress and anxiety will be overwhelming. You need them for attack, you need them for rescue, you need them for RIT, and you need them in staging. You need them! The interior structural fire is the most dangerous, dynamic, and debilitating environment one will even encounter. Whether firefighters are deep inside a commercial building or just a few feet inside a small single-family dwelling, they are inside this most hazardous of environments. We cannot downplay the significance of a fire, just because it occurs in a small building and occurs several times a day in most cities. It’s not “just a house fire.” Stop saying that, and start treating it as the most important emergency services event you will ever go to. Once the name of a brother or sister firefighter has been chiseled into that hard granite stone, it’s not coming off, ever! Let me close by thanking all of our fire service brothers and sisters throughout this great country and the Fire Nuggets family for your thoughts, prayers, and words of kindness. Especially my close friends, Deputy Chiefs Tracy Raynor and George Webb of the Boise Fire Department, Capt. Dennis Pattie of the Ontario Fire Department, and Lt. Jay Comella of the Oakland Fire Department, who out of respect for Rich and his family traveled to Denver to see our brother laid to rest. This article is offered as a training opportunity for all firefighters in an effort to maintain a high mindset and prevent future line-of-duty deaths and injuries. It is written in memory of Lt. Rich Montoya, DFD, Engine Co. 9. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Montoya Family, especially fellow Firefighter Eric Carrasco. © Copyright Firenuggets.com 2006 • Click here for Terms and Conditions of Use
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