May 26, 2015
On June 30, 2008 an intense wind driven blaze destroyed a apartment building in Speedway, Indiana. As crews arrives on the scene a large column of smoke filling the sky from the building located along I-465 just north of Hollister Drive.
The fire started around 3:21 pm and quickly spread as high winds from the north pushed the fire further into the building.
Lieutenant Jeff Cheshire, then serving as a firefighter on Engine 202 recounts how his crew got over run by rapidly changing fire conditions and how another fire crew got blown down a set of stairs but what was described as a backdraft or smoke explosion.
Lessons Learned:
- The need to pay attention to clues that indicate unusual conditions.
- The need to trust your gut and to speak up when you sense something is not right.
- The need to overcome your concerns about what others might think of you if you suggest it may be time to leave.
- The need to rely on your training and to apply the lessons from training on the fireground.
Our sponsor:
Midwest Fire
MidwestFire.com
Intro music
Safety Dance (1982)
Men Without Hats
GMC - Virgin Records
Guest Contact Information
Lieutenant Jeff Cheshire
Photos Courtesy of Jay Thompson
SpeedwayNavigator.net
Situational Awareness Matters! website
Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System
http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/
Contact Rich Gasaway
612-548-4424