Report cites firefighting problems during fire that killed six

WORCESTER, Mass. - A fire official denied a government report Wednesday that two of the six firefighters killed in a December warehouse fire had rushed into the abandoned building without notifying their commanders.

The report issued Wednesday by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health also said bad radio communications hampered firefighters' efforts.

The Dec. 3 fire started when a homeless couple living in the warehouse knocked over a candle during a fight. Two firefighters searching the building for people possibly trapped inside became lost, and four more firefighters went in to find them. All six firefighters died in the blaze.

It was the worst loss of life among firefighters in a building fire in America in more than 20 years. President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore joined 40,000 mourners at the memorial service.

Deputy Fire Chief Gerard Dio on Wednesday denied that two firefighters cited in the report had failed to inform their commanders that they were entering the building. Dio, who headed the department's own inquiry, said its complete radio transmissions show the two firefighters were told go into the warehouse.

''The report doesn't take into account the emotions of the firefighters at the scene,'' said James F. Lyons, whose son, Jay, was killed. ''There are two firefighters missing. When panic sets in, men become desperate.''

Manslaughter charges filed against the homeless couple who started the blaze were dropped last month.

The safety panel did not identify the two firefighters it said entered the building without telling commanders, but it said they were among the six who died.

Its report also said firefighters were confused about the layout of the six-story warehouse because of poor inspection and planning before the fire.

In a series of safety recommendations, the safety panel said vacant buildings should be carefully checked with warning signs of specific dangers posted at entrances, called for more elaborate planning to manage personnel at fire scenes, and urged use of a special safety commander when necessary.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan would not comment on the report. However, he noted that the state Legislature in July created a $10 million safety grant program to buy additional safety equipment for fire departments.

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On the Net:

NIOSH report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face9947.html