STATter 911

Can we please slow the hell down, way to many apparatus and private vehicle accidents when responding. Remember, you're in control until you're out of control and then it's too late!
 

Wonder how long before firetrucks and ambulances are outlawed? I mean, come on are we more of a danger to the public and ourselves or the fire? Seems every single day somebody wrecks a fire truck.
 

I understand your concerns and yes the driver should have been more careful, but it was an accident. I sure hope that neither of you are in a situation where you need emergency services because those men and women will be saving your ass!
 

Does anyone have the audio?
 

With respect to all who have determined guilt- the most important part is all will recover. As a citizen of the area serviced by this engine/company, I respect what they provide for my family and I. Suppose easy for me to lay blame and say speed was too fast, but was not there. If accountability is to be had by those involved, am confident they will take this responsibility as professionals. My hope is this can provide some positive outcome and foster recognition of safer driving habits. The lives of those who serve are as important as those you service. am glad all of you are okay- bruises and cuts will heal and engines can be replaced.
 

Before everyone goes bashing the RBVFC, it was an A.A.Co. FD career firefighter behind the wheel.
 

Career or volunteer.. it doesn't matter... What matters is that they all survived the accident and hopefully we ALL can learn from their mistakes...
 

First of all I wasn't putting the blame on the driver. Secondly I am one of those men who has worked and driven emergency vehicles for 30 years. The bottom line is most of the time speed and reckless apparatus driving is to blame... I'll stick by my original statement..SLOW THE HELL DOWN!!
 

All members are home safe and resting with their family's. And you all are right we need not to lay blame here volunteer or career. A mistake was made and an accident occured end of story! I can only hope that people can take somthing positive away from this SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES! thank god the officer and driver were wearing them!
 

As soon as its a career guy or as some like to call it "a professional firefighter", who's at fault, the career guys are the first to jump on and say "It doesn't matter if it was career or volly", BUT if its a volly those career guys are the first ones to point their professional fingers at the vollies. Everybody wonders why NFPA now requires new trucks to have the little black box in them-here's your answer why. Maybe they should make firetrucks like the old drivers ed car, put a 2nd brake pedal over on the officers side.
 

Why does it always have to go right to the whole career vs. volunteer thing. Bottom line is somebody screwed up and could have very easily killed or seriuosly injured any or all of the crew. I to drive fire apparatus for a living and can tell you first hand that we all drive to fast at times. Lets all try to learn from this accident so that hopefully one of us doesn't have to go through the nightmare that I'm sure at the very least the officer and driver will have to go through with the investigation. REMEMBER we are suppose to stand by our BROTHERS!!! I'm sure we all would want the support of the brotherhood if the roles were reversed. BE SAFE!!!!!
 

It doesn't matter how long you have been a firefighter (career OR volunteer), how long you have been a driver of the apparatus, or how cautiously you drive.... ACCIDENTS HAPPEN! What IS fortunate here is that all 5 are recouperating and able to be back home with their families. With every accident, there is a lesson learned... that driver knows that, the other 4 crew members know that... no need to state the obvious. What everyone else needs to do is take it as a lesson learned and move forward instead of dwelling in blame. Above all and definitely most important, when Fire Alarm sends you out on your next box, do everything you can to make sure.... EVERYONE GOES HOME!!!!
 

Maryland has a history of "beat the 1st due and cancel'em" attitude. Time to put the cool sunglasses away, strip your trucks of your macho sayings, and park your egos back at home with your wife who won't put up with your attitudes, and have the Chiefs rein in the cowboys. Too much cockiness individually and company level. Make all companies remove the cocky sayings and start to operate like a department not cowboys. The whole modern firefighter attitude and culture would make Hugh Haligan vomit.
 

I believe the driver knows what he could have done that night. I am positive he feels horrible! But...He still needs to face the consequences of his actions otherwise ppl will think that all you will get is a slap on the hand no matter what. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEE KILLED, but NOONE was. So that means that fate was trying to bring someone back to reality without truely hurting someone. Take it for what is. Proof that seat belts save lives and you never know when you are gonna need it!
 

I force myself to stare at these pictures to remind me to slow down. I get caught-up in the moment just like everyone else and I need to remind myself that I never want to have an accident like this. That’s the real lesson, learn from other’s mistakes. I’m glad everyone is ok.
 

I have to disagree to an extent that this was an "accident". This driver was driving WAY TOO FAST for this to happen. They were only a couple of blocks from the firehouse when they hit the pole and then skidded/slid almost 200 feet further down the road!!! If he was driving under control, this NEVER would have happened.
I'm glad that everyone was home as I personally know a couple of them. Seatbelts saved their lives!!
 

The last poster hit the nail on the head. But for the grace of God go I...WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS & BE CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING.
 

To the comment regarding the MD style of "beat em in their first due, and cancel'em" Give me a break man. They were running a medic local, so Im sure in this case it was because they were trying to "beat the medics in", right? Don't confuse pride and ownership of the job by individual companies with the lack of responsibility and awareness of some. The true fireman mentality is a dying breed, and when you come across someone who really respects what this job is all about, they really stick out above the rest. The bad part is, we have gotten behind the 8 ball, now days its mostly the firemen who have been on the job for 15 years bickering about how they dont want to train and dont want to do this and that.
Yes we must all get to the scene in a safe manner, everytime. That is where the "safety" mindset of the fire service should be enforced. As for some of the other onscene safety BS...its just that, BS. Check out Chief Ray McCormacks theories in his speech at FDIC this year. Maybe you "loads" will get some pride and ownership back yourselves.
Best Wishes to the firemen injured.
 

First of the fire engine did not crash a couple of blocks from the station. Does anyone really realize where the accident happened? The turn where the driver lost it is only a few hundred (if that) from where they came from. Meaning that there is no real possibilty for the drive to get an excessive speed up before he made the turn. The driver did one heck of a job from the men that know what happened because he did not roll the engine (the engine has rolled once before) and that he was able to get away from the pole after he hit it because he did not want his crew to be in any more danger when they got out. Yes there was an accident and that sucks, but there are 5 guys who went home the next day. I just hope they all are resting at home with their families and make a speedy recovery.
 

others were suppose to be on that call. it would of been a full house going to a medical call. They stayed behind. Seconds before I put my gear away the power shut off. Usually the generator kicks back on, it didnt. I made my way through the dark bunk room. The bay doors were left open from the engine just leaving. I seen the other 2 that stayed behind walking outside & i heard another member say " OMG that telephone pole is split in half!! Its hanging out the lines". I ran over through MCdonalds parking lot and wires were every where. The lines were arching & the generator box had fall off the pole, started to spark & catch fire. I starting running backwards so I didnt get shocked. I wasnt really thinking clearly. My first thoughts were, "were is the car"? I didnt expect to see my fire truck way down the road on the wrong side with the hose hanging off the back. I made it to the scene, 200ft down the road, & seen the driver climbing out but I see my volly officer trapped inside. I was devestated. I think when our ambo crew pulled up & got out everyone just kinda had a blank stare. FFs got out of the back of the engine, I helped cleaned a maybe 2 up. but the officer was still trapped. Other engines on scene did awesome to get him out. They took him to the back of a medic, I followed. just him talking to me was good. They took the other FFs to the hospital & everyone was ok. Sitting at the station waiting to hear if the officer was ok was hard. Our other volley who had called said him & the career guys need a ride back to the station. It was a long night. I will say the fight between vollys & career comes is coming into play. No one can ever except they make mistakes. They want to blame. All in all, in my own point of veiw, speed was totally a factor. Driving that fast around a turn to a fever call was ridicilous. The officer in the accident is still rehabing possibly looking at surgery. I honestly think the driver should learn from this & hopefully does the right thing. Were out of a SAFE engine now. Deal with your mistakes.
 

Speed was a factor, maybe reckless driving?? It was raining. Multiple times crashing a fire truck, this time a total? IS there something wrong with this picture?
 

JUST FIGURES...WHAT'S WITH THE WHOLE FIREMAN MENTALITY THAT THEY THINK THEY'RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE AND ABOVE THE LAW? YOU KNOW LIKE THE POLICE DO WHATEVER...
 

You cant do anything unless you get to the scene alive! Now theres two incidents instead of one! Come on guys, slow down, drive safe, and get to the scene