For many of us, hearing the phrase “red light, green light” brings back many childhood memories of playing that backyard game where we couldn’t wait to be the first one to reach the caller to win. It’s ironic that the game has many similarities to responding to fires: We’re running with reckless abandon but, in this case, responding with our foot on the accelerator trying to get there quickly without getting caught in a predicament. Also, it’s funny that in this game there is no yellow light and, in some instances, while driving we disregard that warning, too. We’ve all heard it before, but do we really pay any attention to “If you don’t make it to the scene, you don’t do those in harm’s way or your fellow firefighters any good”?
Red traffic signals. You are only fooling yourself and playing Russian roulette with those lives on the rig with you and the civilians with the loud music on in their cars approaching the same intersection when you can’t adequately stop your apparatus. Red means STOP! Sure, we’ve all coasted through a few of those lights BUT only after making sure that other vehicles have yielded to our apparatus. Often, we forget that yield means they’ve stopped their vehicles to let us proceed. Just hope that since they’ve stopped, the car behind them doesn’t start cursing at them and pass them on the side and come flying into the intersection. That’s also very prevalent on roads with more than one-lane intersections; remember, today someone may be texting, talking, or looking for music on the phone. We all know which intersections are the most dangerous in our response areas; it could be those blind intersections where the buildings protrude right to the corner and don’t allow us to see anything coming until we’re right at the corner, or it’s the one on the crest of a hill that prevents us from seeing what we’ll encounter at the top. If you’re lucky enough that your city has installed those new crosswalk signals with the seconds displayed, use them to know what the light is going to do as you approach the intersection. If you are approaching the red light and you notice the opposite side is changing, don’t keep accelerating; be prepared for the “light runner” and to use the brakes. Also, where are the other units responding from? We usually know where we’ll meet up with other responding companies, but what if they are responding from somewhere other than quarters? Be aware of the weather: Is the road wet and oil slicked from a fresh rain? Is there snow or ice on the road?
RESOLUTION: Be in control of the fire apparatus, and be able to STOP it at the intersection!
Slowing others down. We have those “Keep Back 200 Feet” decals on the back of the rig, yet we see that car in our mirror swerving in and out of traffic following us or those trying to pass us on a highway or multilane road. Think about taking up two lanes and slow them down; we’re the ones with the lights and sirens on responding to an emergency. How many times have you tried to keep the apparatus in a “tight” lane and hit the storm drain and thought the apparatus was going to jump into the other lane or lose the front end? Or what about going into a curve where you know the rig has a habit of walking over the line if you’re not right on your mark? Have you ever thought about slowing down those following you, especially when you are responding on a highway?
If you’re responding alone, stay off the curb, and take up a little of the adjoining lane, making sure no vehicle can pass you on either side. If you’re the second apparatus, let one vehicle take up one lane and the other split another lane; of course, leave an appropriate distance between vehicles to be able to stop. Not only does this slow down the vehicles trying to race past you so they do not get stuck behind you, but it also allows you to pull up to a scene and use the apparatus as a blocking device. You can do this safely because you slowed traffic down behind you and made it easier to park at an angle without the fear of pulling out into a lane of fast-approaching traffic.
RESOLUTION: Use your apparatus to slow down those following you and as a blocking device to protect you at an emergency scene.
Air horn. The air tanks on the apparatus control the brakes and air horns and possibly more on older apparatus. You use the air horn as a warning device during responses to move traffic to the side of the road to allow apparatus access and at intersections to warn others of your approach. It is not meant to be used from the time you leave quarters until you arrive on scene. That could cause some problems, including low air pressure and braking issues, missed radio messages, and difficult communication among everyone riding in the crew cab.
RESOLUTION: Use the air horn properly, to warn others when necessary.
Response delays. If you receive a run while you’re at the opposite end of your response district, it’s important to notify the dispatcher and other units of this fact. Trying to speed so you don’t get “beat in” can cause the chauffeur to take more risks while responding and increase the probability of being involved in an accident.
RESOLUTION: Notify other units when you will be delayed responding to a call.
You are responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle; this year, resolve to drive safely!
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 29-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.
For related video Go TO http://bcove.me/2x17l44l
Fire Engineering Archives
