Thomas Brooks

Three Pittsburgh (PA) Fire Department firefighters died after a stairway collapsed, trapping them in the basement. Captain Brooks, Firefighter Conroy, and Firefighter Kolenda died from asphyxiation when they ran out of air while operating a hose line in the basement. Investigations by the City of Pittsburgh and others after the fire indicated that problems with incident command and accountability were key factors contributing to the firefighters' deaths. Other factors included a possible lack of crew integrity and a failure of the crew to take emergency survival actions that may have helped them escape. All of the deceased firefighters were wearing PASS devices that were found in the "off" position. The fire was incendiary and a suspect was arrested. As part of the Major Fires Investigation Project, the U.S. Fire Administration conducted a detailed analysis of this incident, and its findings are contained in the report, "Three Firefighters Die in Pittsburgh House Fire."