MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - A report indicates that fire managers had “underestimated” the risk posed to a Glacier National Park backcountry dormitory that burned last year.
The Missoulian reports the investigation report by the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service notes lessons learned following the lightning-caused fire that damaged the dining hall and destroyed the dormitory of the Sperry Chalet last August.
A learning analysis notes that fire staff incorrectly believed that the building’s fire-retardant shingles was adequate when coupled with the expectation that water could be applied to all areas of the roofs. Firefighters had lacked water pressure during the blaze.
The analysis also notes that park firefighters were not trained in fall protection that could have allowed them climb onto the building to wrap the roof in fire-resistant materials.
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Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com
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