One time I saw a firetruck going the opposite way on a two lane one way bridge. No space for anyone to cram to so everyone had to reverse. Does not help the fact that it was a high bridge and traffic has already piled up. I know he has priority but damn you can't get through that.
Our dispatch sends the info to the tablet mounted on the dash, but the stupid GPS doesn't show the exact number. It shows a range that basically says any building on this block, so you have to exit the GPS and go back to the page to get the house number.
can confirm 100% I've been each of these guys at least once lol. man... 3 am after sleeping 15 to 20 minutes since the last call before it... just SO disorienting. I'll admit, anything fire or entrapment related would wake me right the eff up though.
@@edwardthompson1023 try that at 3am, on a 48, after running non stop, and the 15-20 minutes is the first sleep you have got in over 36 hours. Even the fire and entrapment barely wakes you. By the time you are there you are 100% awake and ready to roll but outside of that you are dragging.
You can also add "Urban your fault guy". Because so often people park illegally in a way a fire engine doesn't fit through anymore. Especially in poorly planned cities. I've seen it happen in a tight street where there was only parking on one side allowed, but EVERYBODY parks on both sides. First the firefighters had one get out and carefully tried to squeeze through with his indications, but doing half a car length in 30 seconds, the driver's face changed to a solemn "Right, screw this" gestured indications guy to get back in. Then he floored it and scraped along 25 or so cars before flying around the next corner, leaving two neighbours who had heard the scraping sounds speechless. It made the newspaper. Anyone who tried to claim their damages with the fire department was rewarded with a fine for illegal parking by the police, who no doubt apreciated, the self-incrimination those car owners did. Legally it's impossible to claim your damages in such a situation. If you parked illegally, you're considered the cause. It's only if you did no wrong and firefighters damage your car, that you can be entitled to compensation.
Same thing when someone tries to claim damages after they parked in front of a fire hydrant and get their windows smashed in to accommodate the hose. It’s especially funny when they bring pictures. “Thank you for providing us with more evidence against you, here’s your citation.”
My old colleague used to be a fire fighter and he was the "it will fit" type of guy. And to his credit, it always did even tho it was too close for comfort in more than one occasion. One time did he drive through a fate at a burning school, he snapped off all the side markings on the truck but the truck itself was unharmed. This opening was roughly 10mm wider (less than half an inch) than the truck itself and it was hell on earth to try and get the damn thing out through the gate again when they were done
I've seen a few "By the Book" ambulances literally going slower than the flow of traffic with their lights and sirens on. Personally, if I'm ever in need of EMS or Fire, I want the "First Due or Nothin'" responding.
My local FD must have a By The Book guy as their driver; I ended up behind their engine while driving to work, and even though they were running code 3 I was keeping pace behind them while still doing the speed limit (which was 40, BTW).
The G Shift (all ladies) NOT washing the rig as they’re supposed to be doing, but having a water fight on an exceedingly hot day. They looked like they were having fun!
ambulances sometimes drive slow if the patient is so unstable that too big of a jolt from the truck can worsen their condition. if an ambulance drives very slow with no traffic it is very bad..
Those bus drivers are the best. My grandma drove the short bus after semi-retiring from...driving a semi. Only person I've ever known personally who could catch air in a school bus on a county road.
When I got to ride in a fire truck, I asked the man: "Can you run the siren?" He said to me "This siren? It's only supposed to be used in "emergencies" (Yes, he used finger air quotes)... Oh hold on, we do have to test it!" He then smiled, flipped them on, then asked on the radio "Can anyone hear that?" and left them running.
@@GhostBear3067 Opposite here in Germany lmao, firetrucks usally drive through small villages without the siren because they dont want to wake up people, if its really early.
@@foty8679 you are supposed to run then as needed, so my policy was always pre 6am streets are empty and no need to drive people into slashing the tires of your truck in retaliation...
Pulled out of the way for a medic once, but some people panic because they are afraid to run a red light and don’t know what to do, so a guy thought the best idea was to block both his lane and another. I’ll never forget the medic over the intercom saying “Sir, what are you doing?! Please stop doing what you are doing. Sir, let’s go.” 😂
i had an instance like that, except i had a green. i kept going through the light and then pulled over asap. fire truck continues and holy SHIT those things are loud even at low speed, my poor camry shook for at least 3 seconds.
We used to have a fire fighter Years ago who was terrified of storms with lightning involved he would swerve and scream with every flash it's a wonder he never had an accident 😂
The "Close Garage door while exiting" guy, or the "floor it out the garage with shotgun door open" guy. Don't breed the firetruck with the building guys, you won't get anywhere.
Wasn't it New York where fire crews would get the rigs clear, then wait until the garage doors were fully down before proceeding to scene, because crackheads would slip under the doors to rob the firehouse?
My favorite engineer to work with is an ‘angry guy’. One time we were pulling up to a nursing home on a possible stroke and there was some dingus parked in the fire lane, just sitting in his car. And the engineer pulls in and keeps going. Does not even hesitate. Dude in the little Ford Taurus probably shit his pants, I’ve never seen someone get in gear so fast lmao. He moved though! And the Lt did not bat an eye
The first volunteer ambulance crew I worked on had a driver that was also a driving instructor. Didn't matter if we had a run of the mill call with no code, or a full stemi with full code, we drove EXACTLY speed limit...
I am every one of those...depending on when I’m driving 😂 I just started driving last month, so the idea of “I get to drive a big ass truck” still hasn’t worn off yet
My detective partner is the opposite when it comes to the rules he’d be like ‘well I know it says 45 but ya know I’ll go 85 just to be sure’ I mean he’s a remarkable driver I’ll give him that....and never tell him his egos damn big enough as it is but he’s a bit of an idiot sometimes😂
Brake Check Guy is a huge reason why I _never_ ride the rear-facing seats on the engine-the motion sickness gene in my family is bad enough facing _forwards_ in the back seat! Don’t even get me started on how half our first-due area and mutual-aid response area involves mountain roads! 🤢
I would completely be "the new guy" if I were allowed to drive something with lights and sirens. Otherwise, I'm a by the books angry driver in my own car. I've ridden with a brake check guy once and I swear I had whiplash for a week from my head flopping back and forth. I love these shorts you guys do. It's like SNL except your skits are funny and informative. You should totally do a first responders show that is on the comedy side. Sirens was only on for like 2 seasons. I guess 911 and 911 lone star have some fire and EMS stuff but I don't know for real it is.
Welcome to the ranks! I've been a CNA for over 7 years now, been working in a hospital on night shift for the past 3. Trusy me when I say that everytime you think you've seen everything, you get that one patient/resident that makes you pause and go "Well that's new 😦😨😱". One up side to this is that after a while nothing but the rare, random, and bizarre will faze you. Another is that you'll have plenty of stories ranging from hilarious to "Holy Shit, WTF?!!!"
You should do one for the other drivers on the road because as I'm sure you know from experience not everyone does what they are supposed to I work at a place that builds fire trucks as an engineer and we currently have a truck in for repair from rolling over due to someone not getting over which made the fire truck driver decide to drive around. Unfortunately his wheels went into soft ground causing the truck to roll into it's side. Fortunately as far as I know everyone was ok and we build our trucks robust enough that there was very little damage at least to the apparatus.
Thanks to my own curiosity from over the weekend, I wondered out loud (to the fam in the car) after seeing a firetruck make a turn "I wonder if you need a CDL in order to drive a firetruck..." and had to look it up and found out, No, you don't.... :D
I swear some bus drivers love to check their brakes (or acceleration) right when seniors are trying to get to a sit or sit down. The amount of time I've seen seniors fall down to rapid acceleration/deceleration is just cruel.
In Ladder 49, one of my favorite parts was when they were heading to the first fire (not the opening) and the driver was blowing his horn at a car. The car finally recognizes the rig heading towards them at the last minute and the driver blurts out “MOVE OUTTA THE WAY, ASSHOLE!”
Everyone has been the "First time driving" guy..... After nearly 9 years in the Firies, I'm currently the "Angry Guy" driving.... too many idiots don't know how to give way to the big red trucks with blue and red lights here in Australia hahaha
as a bit of a "rule bender" guy, "by the book" guy annoys me so much.... only stupid people obey stupid rules... (unless there is a cop or someone watching you of course....)
Quick question from a civilian, when you guys get calls, do you have to physically put the information in your GPS, or does dispatch or someone automatically put it in for you guys and you hop in and go? Does it vary from dept. to dept.?
We get the address sent to our phones, so we can use those. But usually we know where to go. I know every address in our district and how to get there.
@@JackR_TV Novel idea! I wish someone would train our crew. Left one day on call for a location not 100' from the house. County on mutual assist arrived first because numbnuts made a right out of the drive and got 2 blocks down the street before the gps kicked in.
That was me the first time driving. You got the siren, horn and LIGHTS!!!! What's this? people are pulling over to let me through this is awesome!!!!!!!
