Post Your Comments: Fire Chief Runs Blocker for Responding Unit

Here's a video from YouTube posted a while ago that someone on the Watch Desk just posted a link to. It's a chief's vehicle running as a blocker ahead at intersections for a responding unit.

Then he speeds up as the unit passes and then blocks the next one...and so on.

What is your department's policy on this type of situation? If the responding engine/truck is already going at or above the posted speed limit, what must the chief officer be doing to from full stop, to pass it, and then speed ahead to block the next intersection.

Curious everyone's thoughts on this one ..

Stay safe! Web Chief

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Comment by William E Brooks Jr. on August 25, 2008 at 11:39am: This has got to be one of the dumbest things that I've ever seen. I wouldn't attempt this even with police in place of the Chief. What kind of driving S.O.P.s does this Dept. have to do this? What other kind of unnecessay risks do they take? What type of call was this for? Even if it was a structure fire with occupants trapped I can't see a big enough difference in arrival time to warrant this. The Chief's car passing on the right after each intersection takes the cake. Is there any value placed on the lives of the responders? Why risk them? This is a terrible game of Russian roullette.

Comment by fyrtamer on August 25, 2008 at 11:37am: OK, not a good plan on the Chief's part. I have had Police cruisers block intersections for me like this on some occasions, but it is NOT in our SOG's for Chiefs to do it. I appreciate it when I can get it, as our city tends to go with the lowest bidder, and as a result, my rig is somewhat under-powered, so when I slow to my 5-10 mph before an intersection going uphill, it takes something just short of forever to regain speed (I have had cars pass me while driving code 3 because we are SO SLOW going uphill).
I would still be slowing into the intersections though, and by the way the lights were changing on this run, I am thinking the rig may have had an opticon in use anyway, so the Chief was not really helping much, more just freaking out other drivers...

Comment by steve golla on August 25, 2008 at 11:37am: one other thing i just thought about the last time i took EVOC the number one rule is to drive with due regard to public safety in my opinion neither the chief or the apparatus driver did this. our mission IS public safety if we cannot get to the scene without causing additional chaos then we are practically useless of course this is my opinion

Comment by steve golla on August 25, 2008 at 9:54am: i think in a city atmosphere blockers can be effective in increasing the visibility of responding apparatus,however i do not think that it should be a fd/ed vehicle doing it if the police dept could block an intersection on our route that would be great. but overtaking an engine just to block an intersection is not the thing to do in my opinion. i think he would be more useful sizing up the scene or starting to set up command

Comment by Tom Eades on August 25, 2008 at 9:33am: He's just using "blocking traffic" as an excuse for his reckless driving. This is nothing more than our man allowing his testosterone to do the driving.

Comment by ENGINEMAN64 on August 25, 2008 at 9:01am: Both the drivers of the fire truck and the car and the Officer of the fire truck where in the wroung here regardless

Comment by ENGINEMAN64 on August 25, 2008 at 8:57am: If we have a high pritory call like a Caradic Arrest we get the Police to block the main intersetions and thats it we call ahead to get them to set up before we get there and they dont keep blocking while we move. A Company close to mine had that just happen recinetly the person was behind the Ambo in the medics chase car going to the hospital. The Ambo ask for the Police to block the main intersction as they came threw, Dispatch advised the Ambo that all Police units where busy so the person driving the chase unit took it upon themselves to pass the Ambo and block the intersction. Needless to say that person is no longer a driver with that Company.

Comment by WHM61 on August 25, 2008 at 8:55am: I think this depts. Board of Commissioner's, should suspend this Chief and demote him with no chance of reappointment for two years. As for the driver of the apparatus he is running block for, that driver should be given 90 days suspension from the driver's list with reinstatement only after sucessful completion of a EVOC course and an apparatus Drivers course. Bothe individuals are guilty of wrongful driving, just think if they were to have caused an accident...

They are both wrong and regardless of how bad the volunteer ranks are in any dept. the lack of proper discipline is not a reason for improper driving habits being allowed.

Comment by Katie Moon on August 25, 2008 at 8:50am: Interesting to see, though almost scary to watch. It would take one driver pulling out to really make a scene that might delay the apparatus and leave unforgettable images in the minds of those inside. Old tactic, not for today's world.

Comment by turk182 on August 25, 2008 at 8:39am: I think that it is crazy for him to do this toward the end of the video he even cuts that white car off. I do not think that fire departments should be doing this it is a big safety issue.

Especially with how easy drivers get confused now days.