Blue Lights

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Audy on June 23, 2009 at 1:33pm

in my dept no one is allow to run lights at all.....blue are red in povs......jrs need to watch and learn first and get some experience ......as always stay safe

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bulldog324 on June 25, 2009 at 6:02pm

im from new york and i have always run a blue light never seen a green light run by ems

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry on June 26, 2009 at 12:58am

juniors shouldn't even be allowed to carry flashlights===much less blue lights. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying we shouldn't have juniors/explorers but they should be there to watch and learn. In my state if you are a junior/explorer then you have not been to the FIRE ACADEMY yet. So of what benefit would it be to the rest of the dept. or the community to have a teenager going 80mph with flashing/strobing/rotating/alternating/wig-wag blue or red lights endangering other people or possibly their self on the roadway enroute to a fire call and when they get there all they can do is just stand back and watch. Going into a fire scene when you haven't been to the academy and trained is not only dangerous but could also be a liability. Same goes with passing out emergency lights and allowing someone who just got their driver's license 1-2 years prior to go 90 to nothin'. Dangerous and a liability!!!

STAY SAFE BROTHERS & SISTERS

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Frederick Georges on June 16, 2009 at 8:22pm

People,

Everyone who has the duty of reporting to the fire station should have proper devices and placards to do so if they have been trained extensively and pass exams in the proper protocol in traffic safety and vehicle operation under a code 2 or 3 scenario .

The problem as I see it is simple and is very common among the police service especially. Public service operators seem to me to be under the impression that they are exempt to the traffic laws or feel it is more important that they arrive as fast as possible when they are responding to emergencies. This is obviously wrong headed.

I have no doubt that all will agree that no emergency is so important that we must risk causing yet another one possibly more serious in an attempt to respond expeditiously. I have seen such extreme disregard for the publics safety by public safety officers, as the police call themselves now, that it was truly frightening.

We have all seen the photos of fire equipment crashed so it is obviously not just the cops doing this stuff in all fairness but it is more common within that area of service.

I feel we all need to be better trained in proper vehicle operation and accept that indeed a life or property may be lost because of a delayed response time by the needed public servants, but that is no reason, excuse or justification for endangering others who for the most part were well and safe.

Understand everyone that it is just as important to prevent accidents as it is to respond to them.

Be well and safe everyone.

Respectfully,

Frederick Georges

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by david hoyt on June 16, 2009 at 8:53pm

jrs can not run lights on there cars . if thay are on a truck they need too be with the fire chief or with a compy officer only on unemer calls. . firefights can runn blue and clear or amber/blue lights and a siran 100 wat
officers can run 1 red light . with blue/clear or amber lights with siran ..with out and siran we can not run are lights only on scene. we got go thru drivers tranining and get a blue light card and a lights and siran permat.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by anne potter on June 17, 2009 at 7:55am

We are allowed to run blue lights must get a special card from Chief and carry at all time with us..I not for sure why a junior would need a blue light.. Would have to be full trained for a fire.. Not kicking at JR's I think it is great to have these programs out there, but have to admit not trained as a adult yet ... We all have to remember that it is not a Hey you move it over here I come light it's a light of yes I am heading to a fire driving at a safe speed and if you could give me the right away... If not then I am stuck behind you till I get where I am going light...... Every body be safe

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on June 18, 2009 at 12:33pm

In New York EMS runs green, Vol Fire Runs Blue

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio on June 18, 2009 at 1:29pm

Upon a performance evaluation and Chief's authorization, I do think Junior firefighters should be permitted to run blue lights. With the situations many departments are in with limited man power, I think Juniors should be permitted to run a blue light, leave school for confirmed structure fires (with parental permission) as well as performing more on fire ground duties. I've seen departments where the Juniors were more dedicated and knowledgable than the regular firefighters.

The foggy part with the lights is vehicles must be registered through the State Police to run an emergency light. Atleast in the state of PA it's like that. So if you have a driver's licence and have a vehicle registered in your name, then you should be permitted to operate a blue light.

Pennsylvania:
BLUE (courtesey only)- Volunteer firefighters, officers below chief officers
RED (must have siren)-Chief Officers

Some departments don't allow any use of emergency lights.

Ya, I'm a whacker lol...I have a blue LED Whelen mini-edge on my truck.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio on June 25, 2009 at 5:45pm

After thinking about this, That was prob the dumbest thing I could've said. I guess it would be a bad idea for juniors to run an emergency light. Paul has a point...insurance policies won't permit it and Juniors are limited on most firefighting tasks. As far as leaving school for a fire, I do believe that if a member is 18 in High School, he/she should be permitted to sign themself out to leave. A firefighter at the age of 18 is no longer a junior and is an adult.

Blue Lights in general:
Ya I know that it's a courtesey but many people do yield the right of way to a POV with an emergency light. I hear a lot of people say that firefighters drive faster with a blue light but face the reality...a reported structure fire with entrapment, I guarentee that every single officer, and member of the department is going to be hauling ass even if they don't have a blue light. SO, at least if you have a blue light or whatever color light you would run, you'll be more visible to the other drivers and they will see that you have a reason why your driving faster and not thinking that your some a**hole in a hurry to go nowhere.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Austin on June 21, 2009 at 2:20pm

Just trowing it out there, what is your thoughts on white/yellow lights for Jrs or (adult) FF's that are on departments that don't allow them to run blue,red,green, or any other color?

stay safe and be smart,
Austin

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brian D. on June 22, 2009 at 4:14pm

What the hell do you want with a yellow light? Does anyone ever pull over for a tow truck?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on June 21, 2009 at 2:33pm

Jeff...well said.....BUT...What does your insurance people say about Jrs. ? In this very litigious society we are in if a Jr gets hurt or God forbid killed...someone will lose a Fire Department and the town, village, city will pay dearly. Stay safe....Keep the Faith......Paul

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last