Tonight on MSNBC

MSNBC.com launches investigative series into firefighter safety.

Investigation reveals serious questions about safety equipment and lack of action by the federal government.

Cause for alarm

• 15 firefighters have died at fires where rescuers weren't given a chance to find them quickly. MSNBC.com's Bill Dedman reports.
• View in-depth video interviews, a photo gallery and a timeline of events, and learn more about a firefighter's protective equipment.

Documents with this series

You can read these documents online (in PDF files) to learn more about firefighter safety and the warnings that were raised:

• "Performance guidelines" for CDC fire protection engineer Eric Schmidt, from Dawn Castillo on Feb. 14, 2000

• Eric Schmidt's termination letter at the CDC, from Dawn Castillo on June 9, 2000

• Eric Schmidt's letter to the CDC's NIOSH director, Linda Rosenstock, on Oct. 2, 2000, warning about PASS devices and other firefighter gear

• CDC memo on hiring of Eric Schmidt and his qualifications, Feb. 22, 1999

• Eric Schmidt's "fully successful" mid-year performance review, Feb. 7, 2000

• The investigative manual for the CDC's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

• A warning on PASS devices from the National Fire Protection Association, Dec. 5, 2005

• The new standard on PASS devices from the NFPA