1. The Day The Impossible Happened
The tragic death of Captain Bob Gallardy during training.

2. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
Sunday October 23, 2005
On a mild October afternoon during the last training evolution of the day, a veteran state instructor was critically burned in the basement of the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy residential burn building. Two days later, Captain Bob Gallardy of the Altoona Fire Department died from those burns. Here is the story of that tragedy and the changes that have occurred since that day.
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

3. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
WHO WE ARE
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

4. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Located in Borough of Lewistown -Mifflin County, PA
Facility opened in 1955
Only facility owned and operated by Commonwealth of PA
* PSFA
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

5. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Managed by the Office Of The State Fire Commissioner (OSFC)
Supported by the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

6. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Current class A burn buildings opened in May 1993
Buildings lined with “High Temperature Lining” (HTL) in 2001
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

7. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Four (4) main program areas
Certification Program
Resident (on campus) classes
Academy On The Road classes
Local-Level (field delivery) classes
Fourteen (14) full-time employees
2 are Resident Instructors
140 Adjunct Instructors
1500+ Local-Level Instructors
Suppression
Non-Suppression
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

8. The Suppression Instructor Development Program (ZFID)
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

9. ZFID Attendance Requirements
8 years experience in fire service
3 letters of recommendations
Attend 150 hours “structural track” training
Attend educational methodology class
Must be certified Firefighter II, Fire Instructor I
Attend NFA ISO class
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

10. Suppression Instructor Development Program (ZFID)
Started in 2000 for the purpose of evaluating instructor candidates
This 40-hour program contains:
specific PSFA policies including the intent of NFPA 1403
presentations by instructor candidates,
tour of PSFA facilities including walk-through of burn building
wet-line drills
live fire evolutions
Candidates act as Students, Ignition Officers, ISO, IC, and Instructors
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

11. Suppression Instructor Development Program (ZFID)
Program is presented by 8 Adjunct Instructors
A lead and co-lead spend first 20 hours with candidates
6 additional Adjuncts assist during next 20 hours
Act as evaluators during live-fire exercises
Shadow instructor candidates during all evolutions
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

12. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Instructor candidates are shown safest methods of stacking pallets, spreading Excelsior, and starting fire
Fires occur in basement and Division 2 of residential structure
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

13. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
ZFID Candidates will act as the:
Incident Commander
Incident Safety Officer
Instructor Up
Instructor Down
Students
Each position is
shadowed and evaluated by an adjunct instructor
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

14. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Fire Suppression
2-person hose team assigned to the basement
2-person hose team assigned to Division 2
RIT
4-person team stands by on Side A with wet-line
Radios
One assigned to every team
Assigned to all Staff involved in the evolution
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

15. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Resident Instructors:
Operate engine
Provide other support as required
Can perform duties of an adjunct instructor if necessary
Field Supervisor:
Monitors drills
Monitors candidates’ progress and counsels them as needed
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

16. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
2-person EMS crew with BLS ambulance on scene (may have medic aboard)
Ladder in place on Side D for secondary egress
Engine has additional water supply
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

17. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
First 4 evolutions
Wet-lines only , no live fires
Live-fires for 12 evolutions
Each evolution is slow and methodical as the IC, ISO and Instructors verify with each other, each team and each level of building are ready to start the evolution
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

18. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Fire sets are smaller and fires are less intense than those in Resident structural firefighting classes
Candidates have previously proven their skills as interior firefighters
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

19. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Simulated emergencies may be staged in later evolutions. They may include one of eight. Such as:
a burst hose line
a PASS device sounding somewhere (not on a person but by itself)
a portable radio that quits working
a separated crew member
These are scripted and staff are informed prior to evolution starting
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

20. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

21. Suppression Instructor Development Program (ZFID)
Sunday October 23, 2005 was the final day of the class
Last of the 16 normally scheduled evolutions
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

22. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Because of an issue with one candidate the Curriculum Specialist was monitoring evolution #16 basement fire
This meant one additional staff member was evaluating the candidates going to the basement
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

23. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Fire sets were built by adjunct staff which were equivalent in size to a Resident Program
Why?
Motivate candidates
Create a condition that if seen in an acquired structure would be cause for concern (Go/No-Go)
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

24. Live Fire Evolutions during ZFID class
Started and proceeded
Candidate Safety Officer recognized and reported a smoke condition different from previous evolutions
Crews entered assigned areas after all radio checks were verified
A radio transmission stated “firefighter down”
Confusion among outside staff
Is this a staged emergency?
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

25. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
Discussions among outside staff in an attempt to clarify radio message
This resulted in delaying assistance
EMS crew is advised of “possible firefighter down”
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

26. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
RIT team sent to basement after several minutes
Basement crew exited via exterior stairwell with victim
Emergency evacuation/PAR conducted
Patient care started immediately by the ambulance crew along with EMTs and Paramedics who were students or staff
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

27. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
Full-time staff members begin emergency notification process and site security measures
Victim is transported to Lewistown ER after helicopter is put on stand-by
All persons directed to write statement of incident immediately
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

28. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
Contacts made:
State Fire Commissioner
State EOC
PSFA Administrator
Altoona FD Chief
CISM team is requested
All students and staff held at facility (guests)
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

29. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
Captain Gallardy is transferred from Lewistown ER via helicopter to Lehigh Valley Burn Center at Allentown with burns over 50% of his body
The Gallardy family notified by the Altoona Fire Department
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

30. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
CISM Team meets with entire group then splits into staff, student and guest groups for defusing
After defusing all persons stay for light meal and well-being check before traveling home
A graduation and informal critique of the ZFID program was conducted in an attempt to conclude the day on a positive note
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

31. EMERGENCY HAS OCCURRED
State Fire Commissioner Mann calls NIOSH twice and leaves message requesting an investigation
All persons depart PSFA promising to check on one another and stay in close contact
Billy Goldfeder is notified for national distribution of incident
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

32. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
TRAGEDY STRIKES
Captain Gallardy spends 2 bad nights in burn unit
Family and friends surround him at Allentown
Bob passes away late Tuesday morning
NFFF, State EOC, participants from Sunday’s class are notified
Altoona Fire Department and Fire Commissioner Mann agree to allow Altoona to hold LODD Funeral in Altoona
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

33. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
NIOSH Arrives
Tuesday October 25, 2005
NIOSH Investigator Steve Berardinelli arrives to begin investigation
Full cooperation is promised by Fire Commissioner Mann
Fire Commissioner Mann pledges to “tell the world” when the NIOSH report is released
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

34. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
NIOSH Investigation
Investigator Berardinelli takes 3 days to complete work at Lewistown
interviews persons
reads statements
takes pictures
closely examines burn building
fire training grounds
victim’s PPE and SCBA
Works closely with PSFA staff and displays professionalism while explaining as much as possible
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

35. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

36. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
What is the solution?
State Fire Commissioner, PSFA management and staff discuss possible causes, changes, and remedies
March 2006 test burns are conducted by NIST with staff and NIOSH investigator present
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

37. Live Burn Policy Changes since October 2005
Operating alone anywhere in the building is strictly prohibited
Two instructors are now required for ignition and stoking of fires
One person must remain outside of burn room in visual contact when the other person is in burn room
Fires on multiple floors require multiple ignition teams
Additional charged safety lines are added to live burn training sessions
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

38. Live Burn Policy Changes since October 2005
Stand-by ambulance MUST be BLS during live burns in acquired structures; ALS is highly recommended
Use of any combustible liquid is prohibited
All live fire evolutions are conducted in accordance with NFPA 1403
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

39. Live Burn Policy Changes since October 2005
Rapid Intervention Team
Must be six people
plus a RIT Officer who is a suppression instructor
two of those must be ready for immediate deployment
could be a RIT not associated with the class
A suggested list of tools
Charged hoseline
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

40. Resident Course Specific Changes
Increased number of adjunct instructors
Two ignition officers plus safety officer
Additional charged hoselines
A formal gear inspection required for all resident programs
Baseline vitals taken prior to live fire activities
Vitals required for staff and students after exiting live fire during rehab
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

41. Resident Course Specific Changes
ALS Ambulance on-site during live fires
Simulated emergencies during the ZFID program removed because they were not producing the intended result
A redundant accountability system
Maximum fuel load is more clearly defined
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

42. THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED
Information Sharing
NIOSH investigation findings have yet to be released
NIST is currently compiling data from the test burns.
Upon completion two presentations are scheduled
Fire Academy Staff and Adjunct Instructors
Local-level instructors
October 2006
THE DAY THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENED

43. Closing Comments and Questions

44. Contact Information
PA State Fire Academy
1150 Riverside Dr.
Lewistown, PA 17044
(In PA)
Tim Dunkle – Fire Academy Administrator