Immediately upon arrival at an operation on a highway, Officer must take steps to prevent?
SECONDARY COLLISION
- greatest danger of secondary collision- periods of light to moderate traffic volume with the usual accompanying high speed
- a passenger car traveling 70 mph will need over 500 ft to stop
Upon arrival of an incident on a highway, dispatch shall be notified to request?
PD
Where weather conditions (snow, rain, fog, sleet) or smoke blowing across highway LIMIT VISIBILITY, …?
HIGHWAY MUST BE CLOSED
All EXPRESS highway incidents..(limited access highways and parkways)..response of?
HIGH VISIBILITY SAFETY VESTS WORN
1 engine/ 1 ladder from EACH DIRECTION and BC
- no fewer than 2 units shall operate at an incident on an express highway or OTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ROADWAY
- atleast 1 vehicle (other than operating pumper) shall be used to divert or block traffic for DURATION OF INCIDENT OR ARRIVAL OF PD (assume traffic control)
-may need other units for area of safety..example: handline operating and extrication.
EMS responses on highways?
fire units shall position apparatus to protect EMS and fire members
-1 and 1 from each direction and BC
When EMS is on the scene and they request fire unit back up?
LADDER will be sent
- this unit will remain on the scene for duration
- high visibility safety vests worn
Fires and Emergencies involving motor vehicles on other than express highway?
1 Engine/1 LADDER
Placement of Apparatus?
pump panel protected
- between fire/emergency and oncoming traffic
- even if apparatus occurs of roadway, an apparatus must be placed to provide safe environment
- if pumper may be exposed to fire, may be place beyond fire vehicle-but 2nd or 3rd must be place as warning to traffic, in between traffic and operating forces
Blocking apparatus placed ?
at least 50 feet behind first operating unit
Avoid standing on highway pavement to the rear of second apparatus unless…?
placing flares, cones or signs, and traffic is stopped
Flares/Cones?
flares-Night or reduced visibility
cones-day and night
both-anytime
Placing flares and Cones?
- block one or two lanes
- at least 4-6 cones/flares used
- before leaving apparatus-light one flare
- stay off roadway(unless placing flare/cone), walk on shoulder/divider
- furthest flare is 2 feet from roadway, next placed equidistant back to scene,moving flare/cone about 2 feet further into roadway at each point, continued until lane is completely blocked
- NEVER walk with back to traffic
First Flare?
estimated HIGH SPEED (not speed limit)
60 mph= 6 x 60 + 60=420 feet
70 mph= 7x 70=490+60= 550
Flares burn for ?
30 minutes
- point flares away from body
- never look directly at flare
- avoid breathing fumes of flares
- carry in horizontal position
Where feasible, approach an express highway incident from..?
SAME DIRECTION as traffic
-often company traveling in opposite direction will get there first and commence operation across divider, as soon as possible, this unit should be released and function taken over by one operating from INCIDENT SIDE
-normally operating across a center divider should be avoided
-
Safety Tips?
- NEVER take partial lane
- request PD asap
- proper apparatus positioning-1st step to safety
- never allow traffic to come around both sides of accident
- BOTH APPARATUS and MOTOR VEHICLE shall be chocked
- approach from sides/upwind
- do not operate through front grill
- postion line between MV and exposures
- Ladder company members may be used to operate 2nd line to protect victims or extrication
- opening hood-CHARGED LINE
- trunk must always be searched
- some vehicles have 2 batteries
- remove NEGATIVE FIRST
- pneumatic Pistons used to hold up hood in open position are a serious danger at vehicle fires. Result of exploding hood Pistons. Rods can become projectiles, penetrating hood and grill. Danger to anyone standing in front of vehicle *
Hybrid Vehicles?
- high voltage battery/shock hazard
- do not approach from front or rear
- vehicle NOT OFF because its SILENT
- -never cut any high voltage cables-MOST ARE ORANGE/some ARE BLUE
- all hybrid batteries have safety switch or disconnect to disconnect battery from vehicles electrical system
- many use keyless system.make sure ignition is off-key 15 feet away-READY LIGHT NOT ON
