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Question on what we can legally do.
Hey I'm from a smaller fire dept in upstate NY we deal with more drafting and tankers then actually using hydrants up here we do have them in the town but that is realitivly small compared to the rest of our responce area. Now my question is if your dealing with a structure fire (room of contents, full involved ect.) and there is a car parked in front of the hydrant are we legally allowed to break through the windows and put a line through to get to the hydrant or not ?(yeah like in backdraft), just decideing to feed my curoisity
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
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On a small vol. dept. I would try to find another way like going around the car just for P.R. reasons black eyes take a long time to heal. But if there is no other way its easier to beg for forgiviness than to ask for permission.
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Permalink Reply by Scott on
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well yeah i mean personally thats what i would probally end up doing What im really asking is, is that even legal to do or not moreso with the more urban fire depts
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yes there is a no parking sign in front of the hyrdant as there should be
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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
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The legality of damaging the vehicle in order to use a hydrant during a fire is up the your municipality. More then likely you're exempt from civil/criminal penalties by local code but check your local laws now so you know if it happens in the future. Don't know about hydrants on private property. Just think of the lawsuit from the home owner against the car owner/driver if the parked car hindered the fire fighting causing more damage to the house. Like Justin said, be reasonable and find another way to use the hydrant if possible. The car owner can be dealt with by law enforcement later. TCSS
PS I would be tempted to reenact the Backdraft if it happened to me. I'm going to check my local codes now, bye. TCSS
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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For the firefighters who chose to just go around. If you had great water like some hydrants do, with 2000-3000 capacity mains, I have to ask, if you cannot dress out all three ports especially the larger steamer cap, then how much have you lost from that hydrants total capacity?
Ohhh there I go again morphin away from the original post, sorry Joe.
BTW: This is a once in a lifetime occurrance to begin with. The car would have to be parked tight to the curb and the hydrant would have to be placed very close to the edge of the curb, for the car to really be blocking the steamer. I am sure any slight set back of the hydrant or the car and the steamer may be accessible without smashing up the car like backdraft.
Looked pretty damn cool on the movie though...
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Permalink Reply by rfdjumper on
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I have people park in front of hydrants, out to the street corner on half streets, double park etc.. Half the people don't have insurance so are they going to complain......I don't think so??? I'd do it. (Only if it's a structure though)
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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http://www.imagepoop.com/image/473/Fire-Hose-Through-Car.html
this image always comes to mind when I hear the question asked.
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Permalink Reply by anne potter on
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I know what we all want to do.. Being from upstate ny also.. It is usually pumper to scene,and have a sec to draft point.. Most townships have dryhydrants... No I would not break the window.. Your chief should be planning a alternative backup for this problem... I do think there is a law about parking in front of a hydrant.. So call law enforcement.. and let thewm deal with it...
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BMW go figure. That FD should have a short section of hose so that their "leakiest" connection was inside.
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Permalink Reply by Kimberly A Bownas on
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You know, we have hydrants in town and a couple just outside of town and we have had problems with people thinking they can put a sign or something in front of the hydrant. It pisses me off cause that hydrant may be used to put a fire out at their local. As far as a car in front of a hydrant? My opinion only is oh well you aren't suppose to be parked there in the first place so, oh well and I guess you wont do that again. Is it the right thing? probably not but it sure would make me feel better. Legal wise you have to check your local laws on that. It is illegal to block a fire hydrant the last time I knew...
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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This is why we carry mallets and spanners on the trucks.
Seriously, they should have taped the windows with duct tape first to keep the glass from going everywhere.
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