Question: Does your department respond all units dispatched to a reported structure fire Code 3 (lights and siren), or do you do something different? Why?
You can’t go a week or so without hearing about a vehicular accident that occurs while a fire department is responding to a fire. Statistically, less than 10 percent of the reported fires to which we respond are working fires. That doesn’t mean that we should not respond or should respond with fewer resources because of the likelihood of becoming involved in an accident or because there is a slim chance that the incident will be a working fire.
If all apparatus drivers (and firefighters driving in their POVs) drive responsibly and follow their state driving laws, many of these accidents could be avoided. However, not all of the accidents are our fault. Citizens driving and acting erratically when they see our lights and hear our sirens (or not) also contribute to the accident rate.
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