Possibilites while responding

[mdoddsjffhnfc]

"Camden County, Engine 6912 Responding with 6"

"Ok 6912"

"Camden County 2910, on location with a 2 story colonial frame, 2nd story fully involved, hit the all hands"

"ok 2910, All Hands Operating"

From what you've read above, you now know that Station 29-1's OIC is on location with a 2nd story fully involved. Your engine is responding to this call when right in front of you a power line falls to the ground and is arcing. This call is in your Mutual Aid area, which is also in 29-1's local. It's a threat to the people in the area. The officer on your engine is trying to decide what to do. Lets weigh the factors:

1) Your the first engine to sign on for the dwelling call, and so far its only you and your stations 2nd due engine on the road. But your 1 minute ahead of your 2nd engine.

2) Is there a report of people trapped in the dwelling?

3) Is the OIC requesting an expedited response from your Engine?

4) since you've radioed in the wire down, have police been sent out to the wire location?

After all this, the officer of your engine orders your 2nd engine (6911) to go to the wire location until it can be safely moved. Your engine, now having been delayed about 30 seconds, is now responding to the dwelling again. You arrive and start Fire supression.


What might you do in this situation?

[firenresq77]

Kevin, I don't believe that's what he's asking. I believe he's asking what you'd do if you are the engine officer on the 1st due engine that came upon the wire down............

You were dispatched to the structure fire. Go to the fire. Unless you are in an accident, continue on with your initial assignment. That goes for all crews that were dispatched on the initial structure fire. Contact mutual aid to respond to the wire down.

[kghemtp]

Edited...

Ok, earlier message taken out for misinterpretation. Call it tunnelvision!

I don't see too many disputes with the logic behind this, but I suppose one question would be why turf the power line call on Engine 2 just so Engine 1 can go to the fire? It's not as though the fire scene was without an officer, which I would totally understand the mutual aid engine wanting to get a Captain or LT there. And while thinking on that downed line HAZARD, would the first engine actually leave it for a minute or longer while the second was still enroute? Anything can happen in a minute, from Johnny on his bike being curious to Engine 2 being involved with a new incident on the way. I would say choosing to stop commits that piece indefinitely. If the guy riding the seat chose to just call it in and keep moving, ok, assign another company to babysit the line.


~Kevin
FF/Paramedic

[firenresq77]

one question would be why turf the power line call on Engine 2 just so Engine 1 can go to the fire?

You were dispatched to the structure fire. No fire units on scene, except an officer who can do nothing........ Which do you think is a higher priority? Since you are the first unit, and closest to the structure fire, continue on to at least initiate suppression/rescue operations........