By John W. Mittendorf

It is the evening rush hour. Traffic is heavy and congested. Long lines of cars with windows rolled up and stereo radios blaring are carrying tired and impatient people home. Suddenly, a fire engine--with siren screaming and lights flashing--enters the equation. Its goal: to respond with minimal delay. As the fire engine charges through the dusk, the surrounding cars appear to be almost a blur. One of them soon makes itself known, however, by swerving abruptly into the path of the oncoming fire engine.

How the driver of this fire engine reacts will affect not only the drivers and passengers of nearby vehicles but also many others during the response to the incident and the return to the fire station. The driver can assist them on their journey home, can cause delays, or can be responsible for an accident that may cause injury or even tragedy. The driver has an important degree of control over the future of the personnel on the fire engine and those around him.

Is our driver mature and skilled? Does the driver know the rules of the road? Is the driver aware of his responsibility for the welfare of personnel on the fire apparatus and civilians? These questions are answered each time a driver operates fire department apparatus.

It is the responsibility of all drivers (regular or acting) to operate fire department apparatus in a prudent, timely, and safe manner. State laws have given the fire service the right-of-way when driving emergency under most circumstances, but a good driver never demands it. A good driver also drives defensively, keeping aware of changing conditions. He is aware that, at times, motorists and pedestrians may not see apparatus or hear warning devices and thus may not always yield the right-of-way. Additionally, a good driver keeps the apparatus under control at all times and never takes anything for granted.

In the fire service, an accident caused by irresponsible driving has many repercussions. Lives and property that could have been saved may be lost.

Firefighters, civilian drivers, and innocent bystanders may be injured or even killed. A fire service driver (and responsible fire department) may be held accountable for unsafe operation of fire department vehicles. Lawsuits and/or criminal prosecution could be initiated as the result of negligence. However, the smooth, efficient, and safe operation of apparatus will result in a response that is prudent, timely, and safe.

Let's restate the last sentence from a different perspective: "When operating fire department apparatus, drivers must exercise sound judgment coupled with sensible well-timed operations designed to exactly meet the needs of the occasion that will result in a response that is free from danger, damage, and injury."

Drivers must realize that the safety of fire department personnel, civilian drivers, and the people at an incident hinge on the safe operation of apparatus. Fire department personnel cannot perform their duty as public servants if they are unable to get to the location of an emergency in a timely and safe manner.

In parts 2 and 3, we will briefly consider the basic skills needed to safely drive fire department apparatus during emergency responses.

John W. Mittendorf joined the Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department (LAFD) in 1963, rising to the rank of captain II, task force commander. In 1981, he was promoted to battalion chief and in the year following became the commander of the In-Service Training Section. In 1993, he retired from LAFD after 30 years of service. Mittendorf has been a member of the National Fire Protection Research Foundation on Engineered Lightweight Construction Technical Advisory Committee. He has provided training programs for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland; the University of California at Los Angeles; and the British Fire Academy at Morton-in-Marsh, England. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Fire Engineering and author of the books Truck Company Operations (Fire Engineering, 1998) and Facing the Promotional Interview (Fire Engineering, 2003).