Lights or signs for Retained Firefighters

[toby14483]

I don't mind people with signs on their windscreen or bumper saying 'firefighter on call' or whetevr. It gives some people a nudge to be a bit more courtous.

As a rule a retained firefighter should not have to break any traffic laws to get to the station within plenty of time. If they do, then they perhaps should not be a retained firefighter at that station. I know one or two people that have been simply told to "move house or you are out".

Although I may be being a little harsh as I do not drive and run to the station for all my calls. I still beat the guy who lives next door to me and drives... huzzah for footpaths.

[DG]

I agree with firebird, this would be a bad idea.  My girlfriend is retained and im sure she thinks she is invincible in her car when responding to her bleeper, she is far from it.  The implications of this could be terrible.

[Mike Buckley]

The implications are terrible. In a brigade I was serving in a retained Sub O put crashed his car, broke his back and put himself into a wheelchair for the rest of his life responding to a call. It ain't worth it!

Think of it logically not only was the retained crew short, but the brigade had to mobilise extra resources to deal with the RTA.

[xan]

If I get an unmarked civilian veihcle with a fire sign and flashing headlights in my rear mirror with flashing headlights I will certainly not pull over or get out of the way. I may even deliberately cause an obstruction....

it could be an FDS officer though that you are holding up though,as unmarked civi cars like this are used in some counties.

[JC100]

Excuse my ignorance but why are FDS officers any different to retained firefighters when travelling? If unmarked civi cars are used then they should obey the rules of the road like every other road user.

[Midland Retty]

If I get an unmarked civilian veihcle with a fire sign and flashing headlights in my rear mirror with flashing headlights I will certainly not pull over or get out of the way. I may even deliberately cause an obstruction....

it could be an FDS officer though that you are holding up though,as unmarked civi cars like this are used in some counties.

Flexi Duty Officers normally have removeable or disguised blue lights fitted to their vehicles and have received appropriate advanced driver training.

If they are entitled to use them, and appropriately trained thats fine, if they dont have blue lights fitted then they must obey normal traffic regulations.

In my county FD Officers are being asked not to respond on blues and twos except in circumstances where it is essential that a senior officer is needed to take control of an incident quickly (ie where a crew commander is OIC)

For all other incidents where a senior officer is required but not immediately a secondary response is used. It was also decided that flexi duty acting as Monitoring officers have no need to respond on blues and twos unless at a very large incident and things like decontamination procedures are to be audited.

[xan]

If I get an unmarked civilian veihcle with a fire sign and flashing headlights in my rear mirror with flashing headlights I will certainly not pull over or get out of the way. I may even deliberately cause an obstruction....

it could be an FDS officer though that you are holding up though,as unmarked civi cars like this are used in some counties.

Flexi Duty Officers normally have removeable or disguised blue lights fitted to their vehicles and have received appropriate advanced driver training.

If they are entitled to use them, and appropriately trained thats fine, if they dont have blue lights fitted then they must obey normal traffic regulations.

In my county FD Officers are being asked not to respond on blues and twos except in circumstances where it is essential that a senior officer is needed to take control of an incident quickly (ie where a crew commander is OIC)

For all other incidents where a senior officer is required but not immediately a secondary response is used. It was also decided that flexi duty acting as Monitoring officers have no need to respond on blues and twos unless at a very large incident and things like decontamination procedures are to be audited.

There are a number of protocols where it is not a 'blue light run' i.e. classed as  'non emergency calls'.No doubt these vary from brigade to brigade.

[Midland Retty]

Indeed my point being however that you will never be holding up an FDS officer because if an FDS officer needs to get through he or she should have blue lights if not then thats tough luck.

[xan]

Indeed my point being however that you will never be holding up an FDS officer because if an FDS officer needs to get through he or she should have blue lights if not then thats tough luck.

but possibly not if you are behind 'Big T'!

[FSO]

If I get an unmarked civilian veihcle with a fire sign and flashing headlights in my rear mirror with flashing headlights I will certainly not pull over or get out of the way. I may even deliberately cause an obstruction....

it could be an FDS officer though that you are holding up though,as unmarked civi cars like this are used in some counties.

Of course if it is an RDS officer and they are on blues, this would be an offence under section 1 of the emergency workers obstruction act 2006.

[JC100]

Of course if it is an RDS officer and they are on blues, this would be an offence under section 1 of the emergency workers obstruction act 2006.

Yes that would be an offence.

I think Big T was refering to people waving signs, flashing their headlights etc though rather than someone actually having blue lights fitted to their car.

[FSO]

Still dont obsturct, calmly pull over, take the registration number and report them to the police. Also put a complaint into the brigade concerned.

Most would take this complaint very seriously.

[toby14483]

All of them would FSO. It's bringing the brigade into disrepute and they don't look kindly on that at all.

I'd hope if any retained firefighter was that desperate to get into the station, it would be because they are the only driver or something of a similar nature, not just wanting to get to the station before others to get a turnout and a few extra pennies. Still doesn't excuse it though. I've seen some shocking driving to get to retained stations in my ( fairly short) time. I just hope when I decide to drive, I wont turn into one of the divs.

Let them pass, and put in a complaint, would be my best answer too.

[JC100]

I think the big issue with some (not all i'm sure) retained fire fighters is that they think they are responding to a call when their bleeper goes, in my eyes, they are going to work. They only begin responding when they have enough bums on seats in the vehicle.

[FSO]

I have seen some shocking driving including jumping red lights.

Even in the middle of the night I do not see this as acceptable. I understand that some retained FFs are very keen to get to station to get the lorry out quicker, but the fact is they are creating unacceptable risks for themselves and people around them.