Hey Bro's ,
Whats everyones opinion on what seems to be starting as a new trend for fire appartus response, by this I mean the ever popular , "cancell all units or hold everything in quarters"
Now don't get me wrong if the Cheif or any line officer and PD are on scene and there is obviously not a thing going on then I agree hold us there, for safety sake and no need to burn the fuel for nothing. But when PD is not there and the Cheif or line officer is enroute and you can hear over the radio which ever officer (mostly chief) is responding hold in quarters till i asses" that to me is just wrong at the very least roll us code 2 so if the reports to dispatch are wrong we are enroute and just have to light em up to get there quicker. So what do you all think and use and are you seeing this more. Thanks
We roll everything, usually a couple of engines @ least, until the first officer or engine is on scene and then they will let everyone else know if we need to continue or hold or slow our response. OR if we need more than the apparatus that has arrived, they will ask for a second alert & let everyone else know that we need EVERYTHING & EVERYONE to ROLL!!
Earlier today I noticed a company had a structure call and the caller called back to cancel. Everyone was sent back without making contact with the caller. To me this is a reciepe for bad situation.
Last week there was a 2 alarm AFA. 4 years ago there was a 3 alarm burglar alarm. These things happen.
Also reduce speed, does that mean no lights or siren and stop at all lights or just go a little slower?
Permalink Reply by T.J. on November 10, 2008 at 10:04am
Yes I agree with, on my department only a senior FF can cancel use, if law tells use to cancel we still continue, there cops not firefighters and we've found that out before.
Earlier today I noticed a company had a structure call and the caller called back to cancel. Everyone was sent back without making contact with the caller. To me this is a reciepe for bad situation.
I agree. At least one piece of equipment needed to continue.
Last week there was a 2 alarm AFA. 4 years ago there was a 3 alarm burglar alarm. These things happen.
To me this is a balancing thing. Too many times we've had equipment tied up on an ringer, etc only to have a full arrest happen. Another engine from out of district would have to respond to handle this. The response time on this ACTUAL life threatening is of course unacceptable. A low response to the AFA to me is the lesser of 2 evils.
When I started, the FD running automatically on all EMS calls was not done. The possibility of having 2 calls at the same time was not great. So emptying the house on every/anything was probably a good idea. The problem is we still do that with call volumes having tripled in the last decade. I just think this is a recipe for death.
We don't listen to PD either. Usually our first firefighter or officer on the scene calls comand and will tell the in comming units to disregard, proceed with caution, or tell us we have a serious one.
Permalink Reply by FETC on November 11, 2008 at 3:11pm
I am sorry but this is not a new trend my friend. This has been happening for as long as I have been in the business.... with many stories of a Fire Chief holding all companies until he checks it out "mentality" to only roll into a ripper every once in a while.
Things usually change after the big guy looks like an a-hole to all of scanner land.
Permalink Reply by John on November 11, 2008 at 3:14pm
Depending on the call we will go enroute until either the first due is on scene and or the Battalion or Chief and then will decide wether to level 3 all others or to cancel them (level 3 is stage in a safe area or at quarters) What gets me is that on mva's PD always gets there and advises no injuries and they will cancel us, I think the medics should still show to check on injuries, cause that has happened before, the medic arrived and found out there was injuries that PD said there were none.
The only thing i dont like is when the PD tells us not to resopond or that there is nothing there.. When they have a burgaler alarm or a hold up alarm we are not tell them to not respond or there is nothing there. And the hole thing with keep everyone in quarters all i can say is i hope they cover there A** with putting that over the radio, because if some one gets killed and they pull the tape they lawers are going to ask who was that and i know it wasnt me.
ALWAYS ROLL UNTIL A CHIEF OFFICER GETS ON SCENE AND ADVISES OTHERWISE. OUR AGENCY ROLLS THEN IF ALARM COMPANY CALLS OR HOMEOWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER CALLS AND SAYS IT IS A FALSE ALARM WE KEEP PRIMARY ENGINE RUNNING EMERGENCY AND ALL OTHERS TO ROUTINE UNTIL FIRST ENGINE CAN CONFIRM FALSE ALARM.
In my county, three departments are called out on any one fire, like a BOX but here they call them IRIS. My first question is does the PD (im guessing police dept.) do they have any fire training ? If your answer is no, then by most state code only the fire officers can place units in service, becuse if your chief allows PD to place units in service, and chief goes in service then if something happens to the building or some ones life, your chief is the main man in trouble. The CHIEF is ultimatley responseible for his fire distric. In most cases here, we have to have confirmation from an ON SCENE FIRE LINE OFFICER before returning, or first engine on scene before returning.