Oh boy. I was at the firehouse with some of the other guys today and we were discussing our tanker and the use of red lights and sirens when responding to the scene. Some of us think its okay, some just say no. I'm not sure which states, but some states have it that any new tanker built cannot have red lights or sirens.

What's your opinion on this?

Views: 3757

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

It has been good.  Nasal surgery so I can finally breath right for the first time in my adult life!  Add to that about 6 weeks until retirement from my career FD and life is looking pretty sweet.

Take care of yourself Brother.  I hope life makes a 180 degree swing for you and things look up!

 In Indiana by law, all emergency vehicles are to run lights and sirens to any a emergency. 

  Does this happen. Nope. When the Police want to be sneaky, they don't in order to get a leg up on the bad guys. Once in a while they ask us to come in sneaky too. 

  When you need water the tanker needs to get there asap. We have a few places that need tankers and all our tankers run lights & sirens. In fact I can't think of one dept. Paid or Vol. that does not run lights and sirens on there tankers in Indiana? 

 We have a few places that need tankers and all our tankers run lights & sirens. In fact I can't think of one dept. Paid or Vol. that does not run lights and sirens on there tankers in Indiana?

So what about once a water supply shuttle has been established? I think that may be part of the point here, it isn't about getting that first tankful of water to a scene, but once a shuttle has been established, there really is no more reason to run lights and siren, just to wait in line. There have been a few here who have mentioned running hot after dumping, to refill, only to get back and wait in line. Once there is a supply shuttle established, running lights and sirens is no longer necessary.

John, I surrender to these you have to run the red lights and siren whenever hauling water to an incident crowd.  Just so you know I agree 100% with what you wrote here.  But it just isn't worth trying to explain it to people who won't listen.

Frankly, I think it is more about looking cool, and the look at me I am going to a fire, thought process than safety.  But who cares?  It doesn't affect MY FD or the way I believe WE should operate.

Once the shuttle is established the tanker will not run emergent. Then again the few areas that do require tanker operations are very near hydrants. Therefore we are not traveling the distances that the rural departments may have to.

  Do all fire departments in your state let insurance companies dictate there responce policy?

    Next thing you know, they'll say putting out fire is to dangerouse, you may only hand out safety paphlets at fires.

   Have you looked at other insurance companies?

 

   I know it is not you doing this, don't want you to think I am busting your balls over it. Just I have never heard of such a thing! 

    

Wi,  tech schools that i attended . a tanker is a aircraft used in firefighting. a tender is used by fire depts to tend water supply on ground. as far as lights and sirens, my former instuctor  was against, using them.  after the first round. but most depts here at least run with lights, while on water movement.

David,

If they are traveling down the road with red ights and no siren they are in violation of Wisconsin State law.

 

Never seen it enforced in our area . if you are running with lights you need to run siren.

 a tanker is a aircraft used in firefighting. a tender is used by fire depts to tend water supply on ground

Yeah, true, but realistically only after all the NIMS crap that went on several years ago. Prior to that the majority of depts called a tender a tanker. Heck, we used to call the ambulance a squad or rescue around here. Funny how there didn't seem to be an issue until the feds came in to muck things up. I especially love the numeric system of dept designation. Weird how despite how this was to make things "easier" we still called each other by their depts and even asked "who" when a numeric designation was given.

Interesting topic.  Many departments in my area run "cold" on certain types of runs.  Example is on an automatic fire alarm, the first due company runs "hot" lights and sirens and the 2nd due companies run "cold" no lights/sirens.  Personally I believe in if you have a fire or possibility of a fire, it should be an emergency response.  Now I stress an emergency response doesn't mean drive like a crazy person, one still has to use caution, follow laws and get the crew there safe.  To me, a tanker is a necessary rig in some area where the water is needed, therefor a lights and sirens response should take place.  But all with caution, just like any other rig or type of response.  Accidents are not caused by the use of lights and sirens, in most cases it's due to drivers driving recklessly or not properly trained.  We should still be stopping at red lights at intersections and proceeding with caution.

We run lights and siren on all of are vehicles during emergency responses. We are a rural area with limited places for people to move over. We run them for are safety

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Find Members Fast


Or Name, Dept, Keyword
Invite Your Friends
Not a Member? Join Now

© 2024   Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.   Powered by

Badges  |  Contact Firefighter Nation  |  Terms of Service