Volunteers with Lights and Sirens

What do you think, should volunteer firefighters be allowed to have and use lights and sirens in their POV ? Should only the Chief an ASST. Chief be allowed to have them ?

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Permalink Reply by Billy B Casteel JR on February 15, 2009 at 10:43pm

No light and sirens should not be used on pov. when you put them on your vehicle you just now made it a emergency vehicle. We made it our sop not to use them.

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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on February 15, 2009 at 10:59pm

Our ff run blue lights viz 360. Our Chief/AC red w siren

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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on February 15, 2009 at 11:07pm

I disagree with 30 yrs of age. If your a C or AC you run lights and sirens. What makes a 30 year old w no training a good Chief? Your age has nuthing to do with the way someone runs a scene, acts, or drives.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on February 15, 2009 at 11:25pm

This topic has been bantered around the FFN several times now since I got involved with this site last year. The use of Code 3 equipment ( lights and siren ) is restricted to only emergency vehicle in my state and county. This is a cultural thing, with departments in the mid-west and back east typically using one or both of the warning devices. With that said, I understand that folks need to be able to respond to the fire station for an incident, but to be honest, I'm not sure if the lights and siren will make that much of a difference. Couple this with several private vehicles running code to the station and it seems like your chances of an accident occurring as as result is a lot higher. Risk verses benefit applies here but remember, I work for a paid career department and we only have vehicles with state license plates outfitted with Code 3 capabilities. Local and state law enforcement agencies are absolutely against private vehicles driving Code 3. A key question here is if someone responding to an emergency gets invovled in a MVA, will the department / jurisdiction be in any way liable? There's your answer Robbie...

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Permalink Reply by Brandon on February 18, 2009 at 11:00am

i am in missouri, you are right but we are also considered an "emergency" vehicle and we can go 10 over the posted speed limit from what I understand from my department and from what i looked up on missouri laws. they don't have to pull over for us. We can go through red lights and stop signs, but you must slow down and stop. Also, make sure that everyone, i mean EVERYONE sees you before you proceed on. Let me know if I am wrong or not, thanks

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Permalink Reply by jonathan on February 18, 2009 at 12:09pm

all should be able to use code3 lights an sirens cause in my town we have people that will pull out in front of you with out thinking our sop states as long as we dont unlawfuly use our lights an sirens we can have then an run them on all calls ecept ems asst unless we are told its a code3 response

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Permalink Reply by Fred Parker on February 19, 2009 at 8:43pm

Well I am just starting with white rock FD in missouri but i live in bella vista, the fire chief told me that i would be responding to the accidents on the highway and even though he doesnt allow his guys to run code, that an exception would probably be made for me to run code due to being first on scene in my car. So that being said can anyone let me know the lights and siren regulations for northwest arkansas. What color how many, all that. thanks

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Permalink Reply by bruno on February 19, 2009 at 8:56pm

sirens are a no go . lights do help u get to the station quicker but not alwys. i run strobes and a dash muont . don't need anything else.lights are just a way to keep u and others safe on the road ways.sirens just startle people even more and may cause the next accident.

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Permalink Reply by R Griffin on February 19, 2009 at 9:01pm

In ohio you have to have both operating to be legal Red or red and white with siren.I personally do not have lights or siren in my pov and I get to the station within a couple minutes after the guys who do run them NOT 100% of the time .

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Permalink Reply by Kevin on February 19, 2009 at 9:33pm

In the state of INDIANA you are only allowed your blue lights and last i checked that was up to your dept as to what lights you can run.I dont think sirens are a bad idea but you should have to pass a course on the response able use of them and a driving
course prolly wouldnt hurt either

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Permalink Reply by 144Truck on February 19, 2009 at 10:24pm

In our area, (Connecticut) we are governed by state statute.... Members are allowed blie lights, permit issued by the Chief. Blue lights are a courtesy light only and do not constitute an emergency vehicles. Each department is allowed four red or red/white and siren permits which are issued by the DMV. Vehicles displaying red or red/white AND using the audible device ARE considered emergency vehicles by statute.

The caveat for emergency vehicles is that they are required to operate with due regard to all other traffic.

144Truck