How NOT to drive a firetruck.

[wconlon53]

Amazing with all the stories online about accidents involving apparatus responding to calls that people still drive like this with no reguard to public safety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QYGh...eature=related

[BoxAlarm187]

If you think this one is bad, look in the right hand column on the same page for the video "E371 Foote St Job." Same department, different incident. The quality of the video is less, as is the driving. When it comes to the attitudes towards driving EV's, it's a county unlike the rest of the US....

Some of the replies to said videos were penned by yours truly. These were posted several months ago, and have been rightfully criticized by most who watch them -- but a few still seem to think it's okay. What a shame...

[wconlon53]

If you think this one is bad, look in the right hand column on the same page for the video "E371 Foote St Job." Same department, different incident. The quality of the video is less, as is the driving. When it comes to the attitudes towards driving EV's, it's a county unlike the rest of the US....

Some of the replies to said videos were penned by yours truly. These were posted several months ago, and have been rightfully criticized by most who watch them -- but a few still seem to think it's okay. What a shame...

You're right the other video is worse then the first one. I don't know what was worse passing on the right of other vehicles,blowing through the red lights muscling other vehicles out of the way or the ridiculous speed they were traveling especially down the secondary streets. These guys need to realize you wont be much help if you don't make it to the scene. If anyone in my department ever drove like that it would be the last time they ever got behind the wheel.

[CanadianFyrTrks]

I'm afraid to even link to the other after watching that video....

That is scary, to think that anyone who believes in public safety and fire Protection drives like that is off their rocker. This I hope is a very isolated incident involving one poor driver.... I'm sure that the very next poster will tell me different however.

I really hope there is a police officer or sheriff from that county having seen that. That's not community safety, on more than one occasion it seemed as if that engine was ready to roll, at the very least cause a devastating collision.

I hope that many an operator take a hard look at their driving style after that.

[FIREMECH1]

Hold on.... I'm catching my breath.......Whew. Breath....

I can't count how many times I cringed, when he went through red lights, speeding thru curves, and then going in the opposing lanes with a green light. I thought I was sure to see a rollover, or personal injury collision.

That wouldn't fly here. He is one lucky SOB. And it will catch up to him/her sooner or later.

FM1

[BoxAlarm187]

I'm hoping Harve will chime in on this, since he'd be intimately familiar with the normal driving practices of this county...

But, to answer the question about this being isolated to one driver or department, I sadly say, no, it's more rampant that you might imagine...

[islandfire03]

First off I'm guessing prince george county MD?
Second you mean to tell me that this MORON drove like that to go to a medical assist call when the ambulance is already on scene. This clown would not only never drive one of our apparatus , they would no longer be on the department. I lost track of how many violations [blown stop signs, & red lights , unsafe lane changes, passing stopped traffic by swerving back & forth across multiple lanes, unsafe speeds,] occurred during this 6 minute video . These clowns are stupid enough to post evidence like this on the internet. Would I love to be a shark representing someone injured by a big red truck in this county. Slam dunk multi million dollar settlement after showing the jury this six minutes of evidence. Around here I might even point the district attny in the direction of the video and ask them to investigate whether or not to file criminal charges against the driver and the officer that allows this type of bad behavior!

Apparently the term drive with due regard to the safety of the public means nothing in MD.

[dragonfyre]

I just find it hard to believe that someone would post these videos thinking how cool they are. Don't they realize that the people they serve, including municipal supervisors, watch these and can form the same opinion we all have?

[Lieutenant387]

I just find it hard to believe that someone would post these videos thinking how cool they are. Don't they realize that the people they serve, including municipal supervisors, watch these and can form the same opinion we all have?

Ditto... The Videos would serve as a witness point in removal as a driver forever!!

[CanadianFyrTrks]

First off I'm guessing prince george county MD?
Second you mean to tell me that this MORON drove like that to go to a medical assist call when the ambulance is already on scene. This clown would not only never drive one of our apparatus , they would no longer be on the department. I lost track of how many violations [blown stop signs, & red lights , unsafe lane changes, passing stopped traffic by swerving back & forth across multiple lanes, unsafe speeds,] occurred during this 6 minute video . These clowns are stupid enough to post evidence like this on the internet. Would I love to be a shark representing someone injured by a big red truck in this county. Slam dunk multi million dollar settlement after showing the jury this six minutes of evidence. Around here I might even point the district attny in the direction of the video and ask them to investigate whether or not to file criminal charges against the driver and the officer that allows this type of bad behavior!

Apparently the term drive with due regard to the safety of the public means nothing in MD.

Very well Put!

[wconlon53]

First off I'm guessing prince george county MD?
Second you mean to tell me that this MORON drove like that to go to a medical assist call when the ambulance is already on scene. This clown would not only never drive one of our apparatus , they would no longer be on the department. I lost track of how many violations [blown stop signs, & red lights , unsafe lane changes, passing stopped traffic by swerving back & forth across multiple lanes, unsafe speeds,] occurred during this 6 minute video . These clowns are stupid enough to post evidence like this on the internet. Would I love to be a shark representing someone injured by a big red truck in this county. Slam dunk multi million dollar settlement after showing the jury this six minutes of evidence. Around here I might even point the district attny in the direction of the video and ask them to investigate whether or not to file criminal charges against the driver and the officer that allows this type of bad behavior!

Apparently the term drive with due regard to the safety of the public means nothing in MD.

It's Ritchie VFD in Prince George County,MD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQ3MltwvTw

http://www.ritchie37.com/index.php
They even have a ride along form available in the download section,I don't think I'd ever feel that adventurous. Hopefully those videos are from just 1 or 2 drivers,if not then they have a serious lack of driver training,and command issues to say the least.

[volfirie]

Drivers. Did they get a licence out of a packet of cornflakes? I wouldn't ride with a driver like either of those two - not more than once anyway (and one effort like that would have you in the back seat for a very long time).

PPE - fantastic. Red shorts and a white muscle top. Get off of the fireground.

Over four minutes and STILL no water flowing through those feed lines. And the first line was run before they got there.

I'm sure those guys do some things right - can we see a video of one of those times?

PS. No, we're not perfect. But bloody hell!

[dragonfyre]

It's Ritchie VFD in Prince George County,MD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQ3MltwvTw

I can't believe they use part of the other video in this one also. Not even 1 minute into it they're showing the shift to the far right lane and cross over all 4 lanes to make a left portion.

[Tower47]

I'm scared!

Holy Sh$%, I counted 4 stops signs and 2 red lights that they never even yield for nevermind stop. The last turn, I hope that was a parked vehicle or the people in it need ne underwear! How many different lanes die he use?

I have suspended operators for less!

[Tower47]

I can't believe they use part of the other video in this one also. Not even 1 minute into it they're showing the shift to the far right lane and cross over all 4 lanes to make a left portion.

This one was only 3 red traffic lights and 1 block of driving into oncoming traffic. The command vehicle that pulled was moving quite fast as well. Maybe this why it is allowed!

[skipatrol8]

I can't decide what is more terrifying...the driving in the videos or the comments posted below them.

"Impressive and inspiring for any driver-engineer looking for an lesson in doing it right!
An absolute EXCELLENT video!"

"Excelent driving. Know how to use the whole road. "

Greattt...

[islandfire03]

Drivers.

PPE - fantastic. Red shorts and a white muscle top. Get off of the fireground.

Over four minutes and STILL no water flowing through those feed lines. And the first line was run before they got there.

I'm sure those guys do some things right -

But he did have his genuine FDNY wannabe radio strap and holder over his shoulder!
The thing that scares me is that this type of behavior does not happen without the approval of the officers and the chief of the department.

[wconlon53]

I can't decide what is more terrifying...the driving in the videos or the comments posted below them.

"Impressive and inspiring for any driver-engineer looking for an lesson in doing it right!
An absolute EXCELLENT video!"

"Excelent driving. Know how to use the whole road. "

Greattt...

Surely you can not be serious.

[BoxAlarm187]

Surely you can not be serious.

He is ... just scroll down and read some of the comments under each of the videos ... it really does make you shake your head in disbelief.

[1OLDTIMER]

Here are a few photos of the Ritchie "crew." Can you guess which one of [these clowns] was the D/O on the infamous video?

http://www.ritchie37.com/gallery.php...218&isalbum=1#

If you choose the correct one...you can be eligible for a A FREE CAB RIDE-ALONG...with the same D/O...

Minimum Requirements:
1. be at least 18 years old, and provide proof of legal citizenship of the U.S.A.
2. provide your own NHRA [approved] crash n' burn, full body protection
3. provide a NHRA [approved] crash helmet [NOT a fire helmet]
4. have at least a basic [approved] First-Aid Course cert.
5. sign the "Ride-Along" agreement...notorized by a Fed. judge
6. anything [of your choice] that wILL provide minimal protection from flying debris; window glass, traffic signal [crashing down], etc.
7. someone available to pry-open your hands [after the exciting, fun-filled ride].

The contest will end with the first person to providing the correct answer...GOOD LUCK!