OPERATIONS

When an emergency vehicle is approaching and it is displaying emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?

Please pull to the right and stop when it is safe to do so. If you are on a four lane street and are driving in the left lane, if possible, move into the right lane. This will provide fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles clear lanes to safely and quickly continue to its response.

I noticed that at times the emergency vehicles will respond with lights and sirens and then suddenly turn them off. Why is that?

On occasion when the fire truck is driving with red lights and sirens and then suddenly turn them off, most of the time it means we have received information through our 911 Communication Center that the caller or incident is no longer an emergency. Any or all of the trucks may continue to the call without red lights and siren, or perhaps some will return to the fire station.

Why do you block lanes at car accidents, sometimes more lanes than necessary?

We block traffic lanes for the safety of our personnel and our patients. Blocking extra lanes keep our personnel safe when they go back to the truck to get more equipment, and it helps protect the casualty we are trying to stabilize.

Do the firefighters on the fire trucks respond to medical calls?

All seven SJRFD First Response trucks are equipped and respond to medical calls as first responders when asked by Eastern Health. All firefighters are trained in First Aid, CPR-Level C, Defibrillation, and Oxygen Administration. Firefighters are trained to assess and treat patients until the arrival of the ambulance.

Why should I be careful not to drive over a fire hose?

Running over fire hoses can be dangerous to our firefighter. If the hose is damaged, a firefighter in a fire at the end of the nozzle could have the water interrupted, possibly causing serious injury.

Why do firefighters break out windows and cut holes in a roof during a fire?

Firefighters ventilate smoke, superheated, poisonous, or explosive gases from a house or building for safety and visibility. This allows firefighters to get inside the building to find and extinguish the fire. This also reduces the chances of a possible dangerous smoke explosion.

What do you do when you are not fighting fires?

Fighting fires is only a small portion of a firefighter's duties. Medical emergencies and other types of calls keep firefighters busy. Firefighters are responsible for the care and upkeep of all apparatus and equipment used in fighting fires and caring for patients. Maintenance of apparatus and equipment is vitally important to the fire service. This not only assures us of proper operating conditions, but it constantly familiarizes members with the technical aspects of our equipment. Firefighters also are responsible for the care of the fire station, a host of daily chores, and participating in ongoing training.