Synopsis
Brief Synopsis
A Sub Officer (SubO) died due to Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning at a ship fire incident whilst attempting a live rescue (House & Settle, 2016).
Grimsby County Borough Fire Brigade had been called to rescue 2 men who had been overcome by ‘fumes’ on board the Steam Trawler Andanes. The watchman of the trawler Serron, lying nearby, had discovered the Andanes watchman unconscious in the foc’sle and had called a passer-by to assist. They could not affect a rescue and the passer by also collapsed. The ambulance service was called but they were also affected by the fumes. The fire service was then called who then also got into difficulty carrying out the rescues (Unknown Author, 1955).
According to Bell, 1955 and Bell 2, 1955 the Ffs were wearing breathing apparatus (BA) during the rescue attempt. ‘It was clear that by some accidental means – during rescue attempts – the fireman’s breathing apparatus which was of the latest kind, must have been dislodged sufficiently to enable carbon monoxide gas to enter in sufficient quantities to prove lethal’ (Bell 2, 1955). The 1955 Fire article makes reference to ‘apparently ineffective’ BA sets.
‘Chief Fire Officer A. T. Bell said the gas did not affect either their heads or lungs, but their legs’. ‘‘We were quite unaware of anything until our knees gave way’’ (Bell, 1955). ‘Grimsby’s Chief Fire Officer Mr A. T. Bell described rescue attempts and how he found firemen, wearing breathing apparatus in a stupefied condition’ (Bell 2, 1995).
At least 7 firefighters (Ffs) ended up in hospital and 3 persons, including the SubO, the Ships Watchman and the Ships Engineer died during the incident. 2 ambulance men who had also been exposed to the fumes and had then taken 7 of the Ffs to hospital and were still ‘groggy’ from the rescue attempts that they had made previously, also collapsed at hospital (Unknown Author 2, 1955). Bell 2, 1955 states 11 persons were taken to hospital in total.
‘As a result of enquiries, he (The Coroner at The Inquest) had heard of a machine, which, when carbon monoxide levels grew to dangerous proportions gave an audible warning’. ‘The coroner asked that literature sent to him by the company manufacturing the machine should be brought to the attention of the trawlers owners’ (Bell 2, 1995).
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Main findings, key lessons & areas for learning
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Fire & Rescue Service summary of main findings, conclusions, key lessons & recommendations
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FBU summary of main findings, conclusions, key lessons & recommendations
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Other report summary of main findings, conclusions, key lessons &recommendations
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IFE Commentary & lessons if applicable
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Known available source documents
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FRS Incident Report/s
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FBU Incident Report/s
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Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Incident Report/s and/or improvement notices
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Humberside Police Incident Report/s
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Yorkshire Ambulance Service Incident Report
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Building Research Establishment (BRE) Reports/investigations/research
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Coroner’s report/s and/or Rule 43 and/or Regulation 28 Notices etc
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Dear Chief Officer Letters (DCOL), FRS Circulars, FRS Notices and/or Bulletins etc and/or Related Government Correspondence
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Notifications from National Operational Learning User Group (NOLUG) and/or Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP)
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Other information sources
House, A. & Settle, P. et al. (2017). The firefighter memorial trust book of remembrance. [Online]. Available at; http://www.theonlinebookcompany.com/OnlineBooks/FirefighterMemorialTrust/Content/Filler [Accessed 20th September 2017]. The Firefighters Memorial Trust.
Note. With the above source reference, it is not currently possible to link directly to the relevant page of the memorial book.
Unknown Author. (1955). Mystery fumes kill three. Fire. (June). Page 28.
Unknown Author 2. (1955). Sub-Officer G. W. A. Woods. Fire. (June). Page 38.
Bell, A. T. (1955). Grimsby fire officer dies. Fire Protection Review. (May). Page 280.
Bell, A. T. 2 (1955). Grimsby gassing accident fireman’s bravery cited at inquest. Fire Protection Review. (July). Page 446.
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Service learning material
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Videos available
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