Conditions of fatal 2014 North Toledo fire a ‘perfect storm’

May 05--After days of listening to often-emotional accounts of the Jan. 26, 2014 fire that would claim the lives of two Toledo firefighters, a jury in Lucas County Common Pleas Court today began hearing about the factors that contributed to the first line-of-duty deaths in the fire department since 1969.

"I think the best lay term for how we ended up in this situation is, for lack of a better term, a perfect storm," Toledo Fire Capt. Mike Benadum told the jury.

That perfect storm included a series of factors out of the firefighters' control that day, he said, beginning with the investigators' conclusion that the fire at 528 Magnolia St. was intentionally set.

Arson fires, Captain Benadum said, typically burn faster, burn quicker, and spread faster particularly if they involve ignitable liquids.

Ray Abou-Arab, 64, of Oregon is on trial on charges he used gasoline to set fire to the apartment building he owned in order to collect a $420,000 insurance policy. Pvts. James Dickman, 31, and Stephen Machcinski, 42, died while fighting the fire.

VIDEO: Toledo Fire Capt. Mike Benadum describes for the jury a flashover

Captain Benadum said that among the other "uncontrollable" factors the day of the deadly fire was the fact that the fire station nearest the fire was closed for renovation, several units were at other calls or out of service for training, and the Craig Memorial Bridge, which would've provided the shortest route for responding crews, was closed for painting.

"Because of the longer distances, that equates to time and allows that fire to grow," he said.

Earlier in the morning, Captain Benadum described for the jury the 70 pounds of gear firefighters don for a structure fire. He said that while much of the gear is fire-resistant, it is not fireproof.

A fully-outfitted firefighter typically can withstand 15 to 30 seconds in what is considered flashover temperatures -- 800 degrees to 1,100 degrees -- although the lens of the face masks used by the fire department in 2014 could only withstand heat of up to 350 degrees before they would begin to disintegrate, he said.

Now, Toledo firefighters have masks that are designed to withstand a temperature up to 500 degrees.

Robert Miller, chief of the criminal division for the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, held up Mr. Machcinski's mangled and melted helmet and asked the captain, "Did that withstand the heat?"

"No it did not," he replied.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: [email protected] or 419-213-2134.

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