The Federal Emergency Management Agency's U.S. Fire Administration released two new technical reports of major incidents this week with important "lessons learned" for fire departments.

The Santana Row Development fire, which began Aug. 19, 2002, caused $90 million in damages, the worst fire loss in San Jose  (Calif.) history. According to FEMA's technical review, 119 firefighters and 31 pieces of fire apparatus responded to the fire. Fire department radio systems were quickly overwhelmed with calls. Radio and data interoperability, the need for additional radio frequencies and reviewing mutual aid plans are priorities to be addressed based on "lessons learned" in the fire, FEMA's review reports.
 
"This was an extremely large fire that spread beyond the initial construction site to engulf nearby housing, putting many firefighters at risk and leaving many families homeless," said Michael D. Brown, under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "While the San Jose Fire Department was able to manage the incident without any fatalities and only minor injuries, there is much to belearned from the fire."

Download the technical report of the Santana Row Development Fire from FEMA's Web site.

A technical review of a fire at a Nebraska tire recycling plant – which took 11 days to extinguish and posed an environmental threat to the Missouri River, was also posted Thursday. According to the report, the facility that was recycling tires was not designed for that use nor were adequate safe guards in place. The report urged fire departments facing such situations to be proactive in the permitting and zoning process whenever possible.

“This fire brought together local, state and federal officials and the private sector to overcome a large, dangerous and environmentally threatening situation,” said  Brown. “The report illustrated how well mutual aid and cooperation worked in this incident, but underscored that stricter zoning and building codes are necessary to prohibit certain operations within city limits and in facilities not designed for that use.”

“This was a complex situation with wide-ranging impacts. Rail traffic was halted, residents evacuated and more than a dozen firefighters injured, all occurring in freezing temperatures,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “Yet this technical review found that small towns can indeed muster the resources necessary to handle a major incident.”

Go to FEMA's report on the Nebraska Tire Recycling Facility Fire.

For more information about USFA technical reports and other FEMA updates, see www.usfa.fema.gov.