VA City Fined for Safety Issues at Fire Where Eight FFs Hurt

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry fined the city of Hampton nearly $19,978 for safety issues that occurred at a  2022 fire that left eight firefighters and four residents injured.

Investigators issued citations to the city after they reviewed the operations on the fireground. according to WTKR reported. 

All the firefighters have recovered.

The city was fined $9,989 for failing to provide a safe work environment.

"The incident commander immediately entered the structure, failing to ensure that the one firefighter left outside the danger zone properly charged the hand hose brought in for fire attack and search and rescue,” investigators wrote.

They determined that his actions "failed to furnish to each of his employees safe employment and a place of employment free from the recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause serious physical harm to employees in that the employees were exposed to the hazards of thermal burns, smoke inhalation, asphyxiation..."

The city was also fined another $9,989 for communication issues when state officials learned the firefighter at the pump panel was not on the same tactical radio frequency as the interior crew. The line wasn't charged properly and there was no water flowing. 

"The firefighter responsible for providing the water at Engine 10 was also unable to see the stairwell where the initial entry crew entered from his position. He was unaware the entry firefighters were injured until it was reported to him later after they had been transported. The water supply to the hand hose was not properly charged and no water was flowing to the interior firefighting crew. The use of the primary radio channel, TAC 2 channel, and TAC 6 channel for the incident caused confusion and overlapping safety-sensitive transmission to the Battalion Chief once in command,” investigators wrote.

The city was originally fined about $28,000, but the penalty was reduced after a hearing.

The department issued a statement to the station after receiving the citations. "It is the goal of the Hampton Fire Division to meet or exceed the best practices, standards, and expectations of similar public safety agencies across the country. The Division is internationally accredited by CFAI and holds the highest ISO rating of “1” and was recently re-evaluated, and subsequently re-accredited, to ensure compliance with industry standards. The Division welcomes these evaluations because it provides valuable guidance and continuous quality improvement opportunities.”

Fire officials also came under heat from family members of the injured firefighters.

Rebecca Knick, the wife of Lt. Eric Knick, found out about her husband's injury six hours later from a friend. 

The department said it was working on a notification policy.