An investigation into the deaths of two California firefighters and two residents last year revealed weaknesses in the fire department, reports McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. The investigation found that the Contra Costa County Fire Department mishandled the initial report which delayed alerting firefighters for 10 minutes after the fire alarm alerted the alarm company, confused communications as an engine responded to the scene and was short-staffed.

Capt. John Kipp, a United Professional Firefighters of Contra Cost County representative on the review team, told McClatchy-Tribune, "There were a lot of factors that led to their deaths. At every turn, something went awry from the initial dispatch."

The report released by the investigation also questions the force's experience level (a third of the department's 344 firefighters were hired in the last five years, the department's training program and the department's ability to manage such a large area. A task force has been appointed to discuss the report's 115 recommendations. The full report is available online at www.cccfpd.org/LODD.html.