A report by a federal agency says some of the tactics used by the San Antonio fire department to battle a shopping center blaze last year that killed one firefighter made conditions worse inside the structure.
The San Antonio Express-News reports the review by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found the fire department failed to safely search the building and keep track of fellow rescuers.
Firefighter Scott Deem died in May 2017 after being sent to look for trapped civilians inside what turned out to be an empty gym. Two other firefighters were injured.
In a statement made before the report’s release, Fire Chief Charles Hood says the recommendations “were accurate and fair.”
The federal review mirrored conclusions by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. In a peer review, the Houston Fire Department found that the SAFD treated the May fire at Ingram Square Shopping Center like they would a residential fire, not a commercial one.
Related:
Topics Texas
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Broad AI Exclusions in Insurance Policies Could Create Uncertainty, Marsh CEO Says 
Viewpoint: AI Doesn’t End the Rite of Passage; the Grind Wasn’t the Teacher 
Cyber Rates Are Down, Risks Are Up but Small Businesses Slow to Adopt 
Harbor Emerges From Stealth with $10M Funding to Handle AI-Agent Risk 
