FBU Bethnal Green - Fire Brigades Union

“1 firefighter removed from the area suffering from severe burns and smokeinhalation. One firefighter still missing. BA crews searching. Roll call carried out.”At 06:49 a thirteenth BA crew (of two) entered the building. The eleventh, twelfth andthirteenth crews fought the fire and retrieved the casualty.By 06:59 the crews had carried Brother Faust to the door to the side alley.At 07:12 a message was sent:“1 further firefighter located and retrieved. All firefighters now accounted for. Allpersons removed.”SECTION 4: FINDINGS AND POINTS OFCONCERNHaving analysed the information gathered during the investigation the FBU Health andSafety Accident Investigation Team identified a number of actions, events and decisionswhich give rise to concern. The key issues identified are as follows: Early ventilation at the front by removing the main shutter should have taken placeonce fire and smoke logging was evident. This would have meant that ventilationwould be taking place in the line of sight of the Incident Commander and wouldhave simplified Command and Control and shortened the lines of communication;Crews recommitted into the incident, which should not occur at any incident, least ofall a basement fire; The ECO had many tasks to fulfil instead of dedicating all his time to the duties ofthe ECO;There was no dedicated communications officer at the Entry Control Board;There was very little communication via radio; Radio communications outside the incident were poor which affected Commandand Control; The crews were working to the point of exhaustion when this condition should havebeen realised by themselves and the officers at the scene; There were insufficient crews to provide BA teams, emergency teams or to fulfilfireground tasks; Only three crews were led by an officer. All were Leading Firefighters, one of whomwas temporary;There was little or incomplete organised briefing and debriefing;8