"Man killed in fire truck collision"

[mariomike]

"EVIDENCE-BASED OPTIMIZATION OF URBAN FIREFIGHTER FIRST RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 9-1-1 INCIDENTS":
http://naemsp-dialog.googlegroups.com/web/Topic002-Craig-OptimizingFireFirstResponse-PEC-2010.pdf
Alan M. Craig, MScPl, P. Richard Verbeek, MD, Brian Schwartz, MD

Alan Craig is a Toronto EMS Deputy Chief:
http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/about/senior-staff.html

Dr. Verbeek and Dr. Schwartz are from the Sunnybrook-Osler Centre for Prehospital Care in Toronto.

"RESULTS: The model predicts that FFR ( Firefighter First Response - mm ) lights-and-siren responses in the sample could be reduced by 83%, from 93,058 to 16,091 incidents, by confining FFR responses to 27 of 509 MPDS dispatch determinants, representing 7.3% of incidents but 58.9% of all predicted FFR interventions. Of the 93,058 incidents, another 58,275 incidents could be downgraded to safer nonemergency FFR responses and 18,692 responses could be eliminated entirely, improving the specificity of FFR response from 57.8% to 93.0%."

"In 1999, a U.S. national study found large fire apparatuses (over 26,000-lb gross vehicle weight) were annually involved in nearly 2,500 accidents, which killed an average of six firefighters and 15 civilians per year, and injured
more than 1,000 others. Civilians were 2.5 times as likely to be killed and four times as likely to be injured
as the responding firefighters."

Yeah, it's hellish fun. It's also scary-as-fuck sometimes.

Yes, it certainly is was. 
Andy Warhol turned it into a work of art he titled, "Ambulance Disaster":
Estimate $1,000,000 - $1,500,000 :
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4978875

 

[Scott]

You'll get no argument from me about rolling fire less and less. But hey, I only vollie now and don't have to guard my paycheque.

The issue is that it will never, ever be perfect. That time you keep fire in the barn and roll up for a simple SOB complaint is going to be when you're met with full arrest or Shamu waiting for transport. In the case of Shamu it's simple - have fire roll non-code for a lift assist, but with the arrest a possibility you will never have the puppet masters take that chance - so fire rolls.

I know it's never quite this simple, or easy, but this is what makes sense to me in explaining it.

 

[mariomike]

  At least Toronto dispatches somewhat according to the nature of the Emergency. Other GTA EMS services dispatch almost everything as an Emergency requiring lights and sirens. This puts many EMS vehicles (First Response  SUV and Ambulance) plus Fire on the road rolling "Hot" for calls that do not need such a rapid response and certainly not 3 medics and 5 Fire fighters.

Metro has "guidelines", Civvymedic.
S.O.P. 03.04.24
Emergency Warning Systems Guidelines
Emergency Warning Light Systems are recommended, but not limited to, the following
situations:
• While responding to the scene of an emergency call with a patient who has or may have a
possible life-threatening condition;
• Emergency Lights may be used on scene while the vehicle is parked when:
(i) the vehicle may pose a hazard to other vehicles or,
(ii) in the opinion of the driver, Emergency Lights will be beneficial for other
Emergency Services (i.e. EMS, Police, Fire) to locate the crew or,
(iii) in the opinion of the driver, Emergency Lights are necessary;
• To facilitate entry into the flow of traffic when departing a scene;
• When en route to hospital with a patient or injured person exhibiting a life-threatening or
possible life-threatening condition.
In order to enhance crew safety Emergency Lights must be activated at all times when you are
stopped at the side of a highway.

 

[mariomike]

Another in Mississauga. This time a wife and mother.
Apr 21, 2011
"It is now clear that the fire truck had a red light, police said.":
http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/996756--firefighter-charged-in-fatal-crash

Mississauga Fire Chief John McDougall, "...didn't rule out changes to policy or driver training procedures in the wake of the fatal crash."
That sounds like a good idea.

A study of Toronto fire services responses, led by a Deputy Chief of Toronto EMS, concluded that in only 1.25 percent of emergency medical calls did fire fighters have an opportunity to offer “critical” life-saving intervention prior to ambulance arrival.
"EVIDENCE-BASED OPTIMIZATION OF URBAN FIREFIGHTER FIRST RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 9-1-1 INCIDENTS"
Alan M. Craig, MScPl, P. Richard Verbeek, MD, Brian Schwartz, MD:
http://www.opffa.org/content/fireandems/Evidence-based%20Optimization%20of%20Urban%20Fire%20fighter%20First%20Response.pdf

"Finally, fire truck crashes, while fairly rare, can be catastrophic, largely because of the size and weight of fire apparatus. Therefore, optimizing FFR* response will limit the inherent risks to those calls in which there is at least a minimal probability of true benefit."

* Firefighter First Response