Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
This is a serious post today. Seriously!
I have a video and a news story that are really bothering me. I am asking what you think about the two situations. I would like to know what you all think and use that to better my knowledge!
First…
In Fredericksburg, Virginia the fire department is planning on building a new fire station. The City offered citizens, business owners, and others to a forum to discuss the plans, location, and any issues anyone might have with the new station.
What really got me was this:
Allen [City Fire Chief Edwin Allen] said fire engines would be equipped with emitters that communicate with traffic signals at intersections, so the traffic signal would automatically turn green in favor of the fire engine, eliminating the need to use sirens. Entire Story here
It was my belief that when using your lights you were required to use your siren by law (in Virginia at least). Sure, I know that at 3am, we might chose not to use the siren while going down a residential street with no traffic. But for a Chief to make this statement seems like a liability.
What do you think?
Secondly…
I will admit it, my department very rarely does vertical ventilation. This is due to the way we fight fire in my city and I think has a little to do with manpower (4 ladder trucks staffed with 3 firefighters each). In the video below you will see a house which ends up venting out the dormer window in the front of the structure. Then, firefighters make their way to the roof to vent the roof. For me, this seems redundant, unnecessary, and unsafe with the fire directly below them. I can’t tell, but it doesn’t seem as though they are able to complete the cut before being pulled of the roof.
What do you think? Is it necessary if the dormer is already vented?
