TULSA, Oklahoma - The Tulsa Fire Department is investigating how a firefighter was injured fighting a New Year's Eve fire that was intentionally set.
The department is looking into whether his breathing apparatus malfunctioned.
01/01/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Firefighter Injured, Brought Back To Life In Arson
James O'Neal was nearly killed but brought back to life at the scene of that fire and he'll be in the hospital for several more days.
O'Neal was the one who kicked down the door of a burning house in North Tulsa. He began search and rescue, when suddenly he needed those very things from his fellow firefighters.
Moments after that call for help, firefighters found the 35-year-old without a pulse and not breathing. Life support crews were able to revive the veteran firefighter.
O'Neal was breathing smoke - instead of air - and the Tulsa fire department is trying to figure out why.
"This is our SCBA unit, which stands for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus," said Tulsa Firefighter Stan May, who demonstrated the device that gives you thirty minutes of breathable air.
"The mask is designed to withstand about 1200 or 1300 degrees," Stan May said.
A tube that locks into place on the mask is the focus of TFD's investigation.
"We're trying to see if maybe one of the locks broke or why it came loose or if that's even the piece that came loose," Stan May said.
O'Neals' mask was losing air and sounded like this when firefighters found him.
"Of course he could have caught in on something and pulled it off, then had to put it back on while he was in there, which was enough time to breathe in enough smoke that knocked him out," May said.
The department plans to tear apart O'Neal's mask to piece together what happened.
O'Neal was still in intensive care as of Tuesday night, but he's off a ventilator and has been able to talk with his family.
If you know who set the fire, call 918-596-2776. Your tip could earn you a $3,500 cash reward.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Hey we have these!
Looks like we aren't the only ones having problems. Quick recovery and prayers go out to our brother FF. O'Neal.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thoughts and prayers with the injured brother in Tulsa. Hopefully he can fully recover. That being said, the most important thing here is that if any of our members experience a safety issue with their SCBA you need to immediately notify your officer as well as your shift safety officer. Take the offending unit out of service, and document everything that happened. It is difficult at best to get anything done if we have no record of these occurrences. Everyone please be safe out there.
ReplyDeleteThere was a company that had a problem with there CBRN SCBA masks and got told by the ESU Chief that if they couldn't work with the equipment they were given then they could just be transfered to different companies where CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) masks weren't needed.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to find out what the investigation finds. Prayers go out to Brother O'Neal. In the meantime, please comfirm that you have a good connection with your regulator before you enter an IDLH situation, and practice - practice - practice what to do in the event that it does come disconnected. Stay low, and STAY SAFE!!!
ReplyDeleteB Beatley Q21
This is not the first time these SCBAs have had problems. Sperian formally know as Survivair has had many problems in the past. Follow the link below to see the real story behind them.
ReplyDeleteThey are ticking time bombs waiting for us and the sad part is our department's answer to it is to place your air hose on the outside of your seat belt to avoid damaging it. Just another reason to stay alert check your own SCBA's and always be on your "A" game.
http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-breathing-apparatus/articles/239207-firefighters-report-problems-with-breathing-devices/
FF O'neal reported to be recovering well. Prayers are with our Brother firefighter.
ReplyDeletePlease take a second to read the article posted above. There are alot of tools that play an important role in ensuring your safety. There is no doubt that your SCBA is the most important piece of equipment you have. This is the one thing that allows you to breath inside of a burning building. Wihout it you will DIE. Read the article and pay close attention to the fact that the quotes are from a trial resulting from the deaths of 2 firefighters. Failures with these airpacks have resulted in deaths. 2 firefighters families, no longer have a brother, father or son. Please keep this in mind when you are told to document a failure of your SCBA, if you get the chance to. Please be safe and know that one day the priorities will change and your safety will truely become number one. The failures are not your fault even though 201 says so, they are a result of faulty engineering.
ReplyDeleteReports state our brother firefighter has been released from the hospital. Absolutely amazing. Please keep him in your prayers as I'm sure he has a long road ahead.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be a push to have these airpacks replaced. Report after report of failure on multiple levels. Are we going to wait until someone gets really hurt to demand better equipment? What happens to my family when my pack fails? 201 does not have to wear this pack or even enter a burning building anymore. This is not going to be a priority. We need to stand up for ourselves and fix this problem!!
ReplyDelete