(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DCFEMS) received the final accident report from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Major Crash Unit on Friday, October 9. The report indicated that faulty brakes on the fire engine may have caused of the accident that occurred at 4:09 p.m. Monday, October 5 on the 2700 block of Porter St. NW.

“We have received the accident report provided by the Metropolitan Police Department,” said DCFEMS Chief Gregory M. Dean. “We will continue to test our apparatus to ensure that their braking systems are fully functional and allow our vehicles to stop safely.”

An independent review by the Department found an imbalance in the braking system that pulled the vehicle to the left. A device called a ‘cage’ was engaged on the rear right axle. This device, which manually releases the parking brake for towing, may have contributed to the apparatus to being pulled hard to the left when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was last towed in August 2014.

The members did notify the Apparatus Division on the morning of their tour of duty about an air leak from the braking system. The leak was not sufficient enough to place the apparatus out-of-service.  A significant air leak would have restricted the apparatus from moving until enough pressure had returned.

Prior to the accident, the vehicle was last seen by the Apparatus Division on September 23, 2015 for the synchronization of the clock meter. Brake work was last done in June 2014. 

Since the accident, the Department has instituted a plan to evaluate all of the brakes in its fleet beginning with all apparatus that have been recently towed.

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