At 10:47 a.m. on November 19, 1990, the Tacoma Fire Department received a call
to assist in the rescue of a victim who was unconscious from unknown circumstances on
board the S.S. Gem State. This ship was an ocean-going freighter undergoing repairs at
the Port of Tacoma. The victim was a civilian employee who had been working in the
lower decks of the ship.
During the ensuing operations several firefighters were overcome by high levels of
carbon monoxide, and were transported to the hospital.
After an investigation by the Washington State Department of Labor and
Industries, the Tacoma Fire Department was cited for four “serious” violations. This
report is an account of the initial response, search and rescue operations, the subsequent
investigation, and the lessons learned by the Tacoma Fire Department.
History of Preparedness
In June 1989, the Tacoma Fire Department started to address the recognized need
for specific confined space rescue training, and the supplied air respiratory systems that
would be required for that task. By August 1990, a training program had been developed
with the help of the local distributor for a major fire breathing apparatus company.
While the training got underway, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were still
being developed. Unfortunately, the S.S. Gem State Incident occurred before either the
training or the SOPs could be finalized.
Next » Initial Response
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