Even though you have standard operational procedures (SOPs) warning of the hazards of vertical ventilation on roofs, command instructed the ladder company to perform rooftop operations. The ventilation team was tasked to open a large ventilation hole over the fire. The aerial ladder was placed on a safe portion of the roof away from the fire. The ventilation team sounded the roof as they advanced to the weaker area of the roof near the fire.
Due to the urgency of needing the roof, open command did not allow the ventilation team to place another ladder for egress off the roof in the event something went wrong. As they began to cut the ventilation hole, the stronger part of the roof began to buckle and then collapsed. The entire ventilation team was killed.
Later, during the fire investigation, it was found that the business owner had replaced the HVAC system in the attic and the contractor had cut several trusses and modified them in order to install the unit. The business owner was aware the trusses had to be modified and did not want an engineer to redesign the truss system due to cost.
Should the building owner, contractor, or command be liable for the incident? Why, or why not? Should criminal charges be filed? Why, or why not? If so, who should be charged?
