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Problems with On-Street Parking
I am the Safety Officer for a small suburban volunteer fire department. Our service area includes many subdivisions of newer homes on cul-de-sac type roadways.
We recently had a call for an unresponsive female to one of these areas and were not able to get any equipment to the scene because of cars parked on both sides of the street due to neighborhood parties that weekend. One of our county squads was able to make it there after creeping through the cars.
This incident caused quite an argument between the residents and our Chief this week at a township meeting. The chief wants no parking signs posted to ensure safety, the residents want curbside parking.
The streets are curbed and about 20’ wide. NFPA states roadways are to have 24’ of clearance. Our state law states 20’ clearance.
My question is this: Has anyone else had this type of problem, and if so what have you done to solve it?
Thanks for your help,
Doug
We recently had a call for an unresponsive female to one of these areas and were not able to get any equipment to the scene because of cars parked on both sides of the street due to neighborhood parties that weekend. One of our county squads was able to make it there after creeping through the cars.
This incident caused quite an argument between the residents and our Chief this week at a township meeting. The chief wants no parking signs posted to ensure safety, the residents want curbside parking.
The streets are curbed and about 20’ wide. NFPA states roadways are to have 24’ of clearance. Our state law states 20’ clearance.
My question is this: Has anyone else had this type of problem, and if so what have you done to solve it?
Thanks for your help,
Doug
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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So I made a suggestion to request a parking restriction be drafted by authorites... I know that takes time.
In the meantime, I suggest in the event there is a big fire on the same day in which the neighborhood is having a party and you can't pass.... start PUSHING CARS.
Somebody will get the picture.... more than likely it will never happen though.
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Permalink Reply by Douglas Crowell, Jr. on
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You are correct. But I beleive they are currently abiding the law by requiring the current road width.
I have been told, now, that they could enact a parking ordinance and the Sheriff should enforce it.
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I always wanted one of those big "cow catchers" like you see on old trains, and put it on the engine!! Think the Chief will notice? Cooool!
All joking aside, I think that is just what we are going to push for. It would be in residents best interest, like it or not.
Doug
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Permalink Reply by Moose on
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Here is an idea, since all of the others I had have been said already...
Drive the trucks right up on their lawns, dig em up, tear up every lawn in the neighborhood and when they complain simply tell them they wanted their precious curb side parking, but this family wanted their precious loved ones' life saved, we had to get the rig there some how...(shrug) Maybe then they will agree to the parking laws after they spend their entire weekend raking out and re seeding their lawns after the Sherrif tells them there is nothing they can or WILL do against the fire dept for attempting to reach someone who needed help.
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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No joking, those big outward facing bumpers are there for a reason. Unless this is brought to the attention of your local authorities it is a lose-lose situation. They will bitch about parking, they will bitch about having to move their vehicles, and when it's them that need your help they will bitch about you not getting there quick enough. Take all of the suggestions you've gotten on this thread to your local government. Something needs done, or you will have to use that bumper. It's not a question of if, it's a question of when. Oh, and when you have to push their vehicles out of the way, they'll bitch about that too, but they can't do anything about it. And they'll have to pay for the repairs to your apparatus too, brilliant!
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Travis on
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this is one of those discussions that makes me happy im a rural department..... good luck with this one!
Jessi<3
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Crowell on
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Doug, I did some digging with the cheif and found that the county has a minimum of 22 feet for a roadway to have parking on it. I think we need to get the county engineer involved to sove this problem. Another way (for future referance) is that the fire code states that the FD can require a 20 foot fire lane for acess to areas. This can be done in the plan review of new sub-devisions. If they want curb side parking, they will have to do something so the FD can get through. May cause some "waves" but its all in the name of safety.
Tim
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Doug, Developers all across this nation have either done this or attempted to do this. More land to develop if they dont have to designate as much for roadways. Difficult to do much about what is but all efforts should be applied to insure that development in the future adheres to the road standards you support. Our City has good road standards because we are involved in the development planning process. We must approve everything about a project or it dosnt happen. Out in the county or rural areas it has been a major problem. However, in the last 5 years we as a Chiefs Association along with our State Fire Marshals office have made some considerable headway in establishing development standards and we now have the support of the County Government to oversee it. We must still stay involved with the development process to insure it stays the way we want it to. You can never set back but stay involved to see that the future is what you want it to be. As to existing narrow streets. Convince these folks that its in their best interest to safety or live with it.
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I like what you have got here. Can that fall under your state building codes also? Our county dosen't have a code enforcement department and I wonder if having one would help this problem.
Thanks for your help.
Doug
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Which county are you talking about? Home or work? So far, I like the "push bumper" idea the best. :)
Doug
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The sad part about this is we are a rural department, and there are more important issues that need delt with than where people should park thier cars. My cheif has been flooded with calls from the angry mob all week over this one. It's crazy!!
Doug
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I just hope it dosen't come to that. As cool as it seems, I would not want to be the one to give that order. Honestly, I would go through the yard, like Mr. Jones (below) said, before I would take the cars.
Thanks for the comment.
Doug
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