“Members of the Middletown Division of Fire should move forward from this incident as a learning tool. ... The fact that two members nearly perished and one city worker lost his life performing his job is clear evidence that confined space incidents are a clear danger and should be handled as such,” the report stated.
Fire Capt. Todd Wissemeier, 44, a 20-year veteran of the fire department; Fire Marshal Bob Hess, 47; and firefighter Thomas Allen each were hospitalized after breathing fumes inside the manhole while trying to rescue Jabin Lakes, 31, the city worker who was killed.
Galloway said the firefighters were doing what they thought was right to save a man’s life, because they thought he was still alive, but acknowledged they missed some precautions in their rush. “Those guys, they went in there and tried to save a life,” he said.
The EMA recommended that the fire department revise its policy on confined space entry; implement a procedure for monthly calibration of all department gas meters; and consider using the county Technical Rescue Team on future calls.
Les Landen, Middletown Law Director, said he and Fire Chief Steve Botts have received the report but have not yet had a chance to review and discuss next steps.
In rush to aid city worker, rescue crews may have jeopardized their own lives
A new report on the response by the Middletown fire department to a deadly incident inside an manhole shows that while firefighters rushed to save a life, they nearly put their own in jeopardy.
The report, obtained from the Butler County Emergency Management Agency through a public records request, outlines the scene where Jabin Lakes, 31, was killed while inspecting a manhole near Air Products & Chemicals and what led up to the hospitalization of three firefighters who tried to rescue him.
On May 7, just after the clock struck 8 a.m., Middletown police dispatchers received a call from a city worker at 2500 Yankee Road reporting Lakes had fallen into a manhole and was unconscious. His injuries were unknown. Less than five minutes later, fire crews arriving on scene found an open manhole with a victim — ashen in color and unconscious — about 20 feet down at the bottom of the sewer cavity.
Fire department District Chief Tom Snively said he could see Lakes taking only about three breaths a minute, his eyes open and pupils fixed. That’s when the crews began setting up ropes and harnesses for entry into the manhole, according to the EMA report.
Fire Capt. Todd Wissemeier stepped over to the manhole with a department gas meter, went down on one knee, stuck the device into the sewer cavity about an arm’s length deep, and took an air reading. The information indicated it was normal, so the captain decided to enter the hole using the harness, tucking the meter into his belt as he proceeded down.
As Wissemeier entered — less than eight minutes after receiving the call from Lakes’ co-workers — Fire Marshall Bob Hess had arrived on scene. According to the EMA, a medic asked Hess to retrieve an air pack just as Wissemeier proceeded down the storm drain and was heard saying “I see how this guy fell,” before falling unconscious just three to four feet below the surface. He began descending further down the hole.
Crews rushed to help firefighter Tom Allen, who was securing Wissemeier’s harness, as he tried to hoist him to the surface. Hess “leaned into the opening mid-sternum” to prevent Wissemeier’s head from hitting the side of the manhole, and within 45 seconds, he was unconscious and also falling down the hole.
It’s then that Middletown police Sgt. Chris Alfrey grabbed Hess’ belt and pulled him back to the surface. Others on scene were able to pull the captain out “after several minutes,” according to the report.
According to accounts by Snively and a medic on scene, Wissemeier’s gas monitor “was flashing in 'alarm’ mode when he was brought to the surface.”
Both Wissemeier and Hess were in respiratory distress and their skin was turning blue when they were pulled from the manhole, according to the EMA report.
Jeff Galloway, county EMA director, said while the firefighters made mistakes during the rescue attempt, “they believed they were doing the right thing.
“They just overlooked a couple of valuable things that had to do with confined spaces before they made this entry into the manhole opening,” he said. “But they were performing their job.”
Galloway also said that nitrogen, which the investigation has shown was the gas displacing the oxygen inside the manhole, rarely can be found in sewer drains in such concentrations.
City Law Director Les Landen said after reviewing the EMA report, there has not yet been an “organizational discussion” on what steps may be taken following the incident. He said it would be up to Fire Chief Steve Botts to decide whether any disciplinary actions would be taken, and likely no decisions would be made until the city is assured the nitrogen leak has been resolved.
Air Products & Chemicals, which has found leaks in two nitrogen lines running between its facility and AK Steel Corp., is currently making repairs, he said.
Staff Writer Josh Sweigart contributed to this report.
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