Drive Carefully

[LTPVFD]

Last weekend, June 19th I believe, the Sahtlam Fire Department, which is just west of Duncan, B.C., was paged out to a grass/brush fire. One of their newly trained firefighters, age 19, was responding to the call, driving his Jeep YJ along a gravel road, at an unsafe speed, and not wearing his seatbelt.

This young fellow lost control on the gravel road. Not wearing his seatbelt, he was ejected from the vehicle, when the vehicle rolled. A short time later, this young fellow died of his injuries.

Tomorrow, I along with my fellow firefighters, will be paying our respects at his funeral. This will be the first "line of duty death" funeral I have attended. I hope it will be my last.

PLEASE, all you guys and gals who respond to the call, whether driving your own vehicle, or your department's apparatus, drive safely, arrive safely, and go home safely. Your family, your department, and your community will appreciate it.


LTPVFD

[scoop422]

God bless the family and the brothers.

Let's all be safe out there.

[Michael13]

My sympathies to the Department and his family. Always wear your seatbelt!! And no emergency is worth your life. By causing an accident responding to a call, you just make another call your department has to respond to. It's not worth it. Slow down and be safe.

[WFD999]

A prayer said.

[JGallagher]

I agree, there will be others there before you!! Take your time. If you are speeding you are a hazaed your self.

[TiSme]

Originally posted by iamvff
Hi Folks,
This is just a question, With the Volunteer dept's that use dash lites etc. to assist in getting to the hall a little easier, (and I know they would be handy) have you had or heard of any accidents involving volunteers breaking the road rules just to get to the firecall? I used to think that the lites would be a great idea, but a few years ago I was visiting a Town in Eastern Manitoba and the one evening we were just touring the town and I saw a liitle S10 coming up behind me with a blue lite on his dash flashing. He pulled around me and about a block down the road blew through a red lite at about 60MPH. When I saw the trucks leave the Firehall, I followed... (I know...I Know...don't follow the fire trucks, but you've got to see if they do things the same way we do...don't ya). anyway...I followed the fire truck and they went a couple of miles in to the country and ended up putting out a munure pile that was smoldering. Was this call or any call worth blowing through that red lite?I have always though since then that no matter how many guys on our dept would be responsible with the lites, I can always think of a least one that would not obey the rules. What are your thoughts on this? Sorry if this is spot for this post. It was just a spur of the moment thought.

Be Safe,
iamvff

iam

Hey iamvff

Just thought a reply would fit better in this thread.

At present our department does not use the green courtesy lights. Instead we as members to use there 4-ways. This is mainly for our own recognision of responding members. But wether you have a green courtesy light or 4ways or nothing at all. You will still have those that believe they are above the traffic law, or can bend it to there favour just because someone else is having an emergency.

Wether it be big or small. It is their emergency not ours, don't make their emergency your own. We regularly remind members both new and old that we are bound by the trafic laws same as anyone else. If you really feel it that important to break the law to get to the hall fast. Imagine how you are going to handle telling a mother and father that you are sorry for running over their child who was crossing the road because you needed to get to the hall for a grass fire in some remote field.

Also remember that when you do have an accident (because if you continue odds are against you) you have now reduce the effective ness of your department not only by you not showing up for the call. But also stretching there ability to respond to the original call because they now have to send equipment to your accident also.

Let's be safe out there!! ........ and PLEASE think when you are driving!!! I have kids out there I want able to come home safely, so do others.

Sorry if it came across as a rant

[bfrd22]

Originally posted by ltpvfd
Last weekend, June 19th I believe, the Sahtlam Fire Department, which is just west of Duncan, B.C., was paged out to a grass/brush fire. One of their newly trained firefighters, age 19, was responding to the call, driving his Jeep YJ along a gravel road, at an unsafe speed, and not wearing his seatbelt.

This young fellow lost control on the gravel road. Not wearing his seatbelt, he was ejected from the vehicle, when the vehicle rolled. A short time later, this young fellow died of his injuries.

Tomorrow, I along with my fellow firefighters, will be paying our respects at his funeral. This will be the first "line of duty death" funeral I have attended. I hope it will be my last.

PLEASE, all you guys and gals who respond to the call, whether driving your own vehicle, or your department's apparatus, drive safely, arrive safely, and go home safely. Your family, your department, and your community will appreciate it.


LTPVFD


My thoughts are with you and his family, It's sad and tragic event no matter how you cut it.

[iamvff]

Hi TiSme,
Thanks for putting it in the right thread. Sometimes I get reading things and a thought just kind of pops into mind. My First comment to your statement is....It wasn't me...I just witnessed this. I can guarantee you I do not drive like that. So don't take that tone with me ( just kiddin, I realize what your saying). My second curiosity is that whether you use 4-ways or beacons or a stick with a red flag, being that on route to an emergency call does not allow anyone the right to break the laws of the road. Even in emergency vehicles you still have to obey the rules of the road. Therefore, I wonder..... does the use of these devices actually get you to the hall faster...legally? Or does it create the potential of that one person, hoped up on adrenaline, the greater risk of having an accident? Just so you know I am not completely against the lights or whatever, and I do feel that each department should way the pro's and con's and make their own decision on whats best for them. I just wonder if they actually accomplish what the intention of them is.

Be Safe,
iamvff

[bcfire]

WE USE REVOLVING RED LIGHTS AND HAVE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS NOW. THEY DO HELP IN GETTING TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER FOR YOU. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE RULES OF THE ROAD STILL APPLY TO RESPONDERS IN THEIR OWN VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE FIRE TRUCKS THEMSELVES. WE ALSO ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE DIRECT RADIO CONTACT WITH 911 DISPATCH, AND AS THE TRUCKS ROLL, DISPATCH PAGES ON WHAT APPARATUS IS OUT. THIS ALLOWS OTHERS RESPONDING TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE SCENE. TAKING THE TIME TO RESPOND SAFELY MEANS EVERYBODY ARRIVES SAFELY. SPEEDING LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL DOES NOT MAKE ENOUGH OF A DIFFERENCE IN RESPONSE TIME TO JUSTIFY ITS DANGEROUS AND INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES, AND ROARING THROUGH RED LIGHTS IS RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH SIX BULLETS IN THE CHAMBER! I DON'T THINK HAVING THE LIGHTS HAS CAUSED ANY-ONE TO DRIVE ANY MORE RECKLESSLY. THOSE THAT DO, RISK ALL. THE POLICE ARE NOT IMPRESSED EITHER! IN OUR PROVINCE A PERMIT IS ISSUED FOR THE LIGHT AND IT CAN BE REVOKED BY THE CHIEF, IF ABUSED.
TAKE CARE, BCFIRE

[bestcoast]

BCFire, i'm assuming you are somewhere in the province of BC by your username. Whereabout's?? Reason i am asking is that all the volunteer fire department's in the lower mainland have no lights or any other devices on their personal vehicle's. At least none that i have seen. Most have a plate added to their license plate with the name of their department. Just wondering if it is common practice elsewhere in BC why they don't do it down here. Just curious!!!:D

[Michael13]

Ill admit I used to drive way to fast. We have been warned by our chief to slow down. Some guys still go fast, but its up to their discretion. A few of our members have been pulled over for doing about 100 in a 50. If its 2:00 in the morning and the streets are empty I'll go quickly but if its 4:00 and kids are getting off the bus I go slow. The worst thing I ever saw was at 4:00 and our main street was packed with cars and children, 2 OPP cars came through going at least 120!!!!!!! I couldnt believe it! that was the most wreckless thing i have ever seen

[bcfire]

SORRY, BESTCOAST. I AM ON THE OTHER COAST. INITAILS ARE DEPT INITIALS NOT PROVINCIAL.
TAKE CARE, BCFIRE

[bestcoast]

Thanks for the reply BCFire.....:D

[WFD999]

We have looked at the issue of green lights for our members. And our department has decided not to adopt them. For a couple of reasons.

1- SOP To respond to the hall within the hiway safety act. and all municipal regs.

2-Our community is very small pop 1800 and we have assigned coridoors to traverse the town. IE avioding parks, school zone etc.

3-Strong discplinary mesures up to and inculding fireing for "agressive" driving when responding to the hall.

These actions were taken close to 10 years ago when a member had a MVC on his way to the hall. He was hit by a driver whom was running a stop sign.Yes he was traveling at 55 KPH in a 50 zone. Thank god there were no injuries.Just bent tin and pride. Bit of a black mark though and a serious PR issue. We being in the safety world were forced to be reactive to this issue instead of proactive. Not so good eh. And to be real 30 sec to 1 min more to get to the hall is no big one considering the alternitive.

Be Safe

[TiSme]

Originally posted by iamvff

I wonder..... does the use of these devices actually get you to the hall faster...legally? Or does it create the potential of that one person, hoped up on adrenaline, the greater risk of having an accident? Just so you know I am not completely against the lights or whatever, and I do feel that each department should way the pro's and con's and make their own decision on whats best for them. I just wonder if they actually accomplish what the intention of them is.

Be Safe,
iamvff

I short probably not. At least not in our area. We use this mainly as a way for us to identify responding members so that other members who may not have thier pagers with them, for what ever reason, are aware there is a call and they can respond if able.

For the lights to work in relation to the general public. You would have to ensure the general public is educated on there meaning.



Lets be safe out there!!

[fireman2697]

I USE A RED LIGHT IN MY VECHILE,HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST TEN
YEARS. SOME DRIVERS WILL PULL OVER FOR YOU SOME WON'T.I DON'T FORCE THE ISSUE WITH THE ONES THAT DON'T PULL OVER [ FLASH LITES BLOW HORN ETC.] THEY KNOW WHAT THAT LIGHT MEANS.IF THEY DONT PULL OVER THERES NOT MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT IT . WE ALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS ON THE ROAD .HOWEVER I HOPE IT AIN,T THERE HOUSE THATS B
URNING:D ALSO I SEEN DRIVERS THAT THINK THEY ARE IN A NASCAR RACE VERY UNEXCEPTABLE.WHY RISK YOUR LIFE OR SOMEBODYELES OVER A GRASS OR FLUE FIRE .