r/Firefighting • u/TigerBack56 • 7d ago

General Discussion Whats your departments dumbest/strangest policy?

So i come from a military background and I know how stupid some policies can be. Our department has a few i can think of but I wanted to here from the community, what is your departments dumbest/strangest legitimate policy?

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u/Golfandrun 7d ago

Our departments policy is that no vehicle may exceed the posted speed even when responding code 1.

9

u/collude Engine company LT 7d ago

We have the same policy but it's universally ignored.

7

u/Golfandrun 7d ago

All our vehicles have tracking. I once got a notification for doing 100kph on a 1 mile long bridge at 3 in the morning on my way to a structure fire with possible persons trapped. I was driving my police special SUV.

4

u/username67432 6d ago

Well you were driving metric on an imperial roadway I see the problem.

4

u/chuckfinley79 27 looooooooooooooong years 7d ago

I worked for a department that had a policy of full and complete stops at all red lights and stop signs. That’s written by a lawyer purely so they can throw you under the bus and wash their hands of you if you wreck.

9

u/RaptorTraumaShears Firefighter/Paramedic 7d ago

Do yall not take full and complete stops at red lights and stop signs?

4

u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 7d ago

Depending on the area? Honestly no.

There are some areas where lights exist because of daytime traffic and you can clearly see the intersections for a long way off. One intersection comes to mind is a long on/off for a highway, with a Walmart parking lot on the other side. At 3 on the morning, there isn’t a reason to stop,  unless you can see another car (obviously you shouldn’t blast it at full speed).

Other places have nearly blind intersections you can’t see until you’re at them,  and no one can see you until you’re at them. You better stop there and take a good, long look.

1

u/fish1552 FF/EMT who thankfully doesn't have to do medical 6d ago

No. But the policy is to verify traffic is stopped and eyes are looking at you to then do that slow roll through. Otherwise, you stop. But no, nobody but an idiot is doing a 60 mph through a red light like they are a Korean bus driver. (You military personnel will know what I mean)

1

u/RaptorTraumaShears Firefighter/Paramedic 6d ago

That’s fair. I’d be lying if I said I came to a complete stop even 50% of the time. As long as people are slowing down and making sure traffic is stopped, I see no issues.