Report Number: 05-0000210
Report Date: 05/27/2005
Event Description
City Engine (number deleted)responded mutual aid with County Company (number deleted) on a reported brush fire that was out of control and threatening a church. Upon our arrival, City Engine (number deleted)was ordered to pull our lines and protect the right side of the church while another City Engine would protect the far left side of the structure. The County Truck Company was to use their bucket to try to head off any further spread of the fire. At times I was working directly underneath the County Truck Company. My engineer later informed me that the truck company I was working under forgot to put down their back outriggers. Consequently, when they moved the bucket the truck's rear came off the ground. The only thing that prevented a possible crisis was the quick response to this hazard by my engineer. He notified the Truck Company of this pending disaster. The corrective action taken was that after the fire was out the County Truck Company had an on the spot refresher class on truck operations.
Lesson Learned
The lesson learned from this event is to always be sure to follow proper truck operations. Don't get tunnel vision because of how huge the fire may be or become so intent on saving a structure that you skip procedure and endanger the lives of your fellow firefighters. The corrective action taken on scene was appropriate because the mistake was corrected right on the spot while the incident was fresh in everyone’s mind.
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