Federal probe into SF fire deaths cites problems
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
A federal investigation into the deaths last year of two San Francisco firefighters blamed a lethal mix of hillside architecture, tactical blunders and heat so intense it rendered the engulfed crew's radios useless.
The June 2, 2011, fire at 133 Berkeley Way in the Diamond Heights neighborhood claimed the lives of Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, and firefighter-paramedic Anthony Valerio, 53, when they became trapped and overwhelmed by intense heat that rose from the floor below them.
Not knowing the radios had failed, fire commanders assumed they were safe with another crew when they did not respond.
The fatal events of that day have now been investigated by the San Francisco Fire Department, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which cited the department for serious violations, and now the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/04/BAAC1ODQCC.DTL