Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on September 4, 2008 at 8:46pm

Sorry Chris, I'm not sure I follow what you mean. Are you talking about responding to accidents, or what?

Permalink Reply by chris carillo on September 5, 2008 at 10:14am

hey joe, i was talking about using fire apparatus to block the road to protect the responders

Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on September 5, 2008 at 12:47pm

Oh, gotcha. Yes, we try to block roads whenever possible by using vehicles, fire police or law enforcement. Fortunately we do not have four lane highways with limited access; they are all 2 lane with 55 mph speed limit.

Permalink Reply by chris carillo on September 5, 2008 at 3:50pm

hi capt, we do stretch a line at the mva's, but usually if the officer doesn't have rescue training or has his head up his ass and gets tunnel vision,it is sometimes an after thought, that is why i became lieutenant of the truck company, cause you have to affect change from the inside(enough people at our station gripe and complain,and that does nothing)

Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on September 6, 2008 at 7:52pm

It depends on the situation. Any extrication or smell of gas around the vehicle and we pull a 1 3/4 preconnect with a vindicator nozzle. On roll-overs and vehicles off road we frequently stand by until the tow truck ops are finished doing their thing.

We confer with the law enforcement officer too to see if he/she wishes us to stay or get gone.

Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on November 3, 2008 at 7:26pm

I think as a equipment operator your first duty is to protect your crew and scene with proper truck placement even if the Chiefs say or don't say otherwise! Everyone goes home.....

Permalink Reply by Chief 29 on January 16, 2009 at 3:52pm

Scene safety being # 1 we use the trucks to block traffic. The vests are a great add to our gear but they don't help the drivers who don't pay attention or better yet are color blind to add to the rubber neck problem. So I would rather have them hit a truck than one of my guys.

Permalink Reply by Doug on January 18, 2009 at 3:10am

we respond with an engine rescue and a qrs unit. we do block at least one full lane of traffic. our chief is very strict with safety measures and that is certainly a safety measure when your personel is not fully protected on the highway.