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Somebody's not getting the message...

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Posted by locomutt on Monday, March 1, 2010 10:28 PM

tree68

We use fire trucks to block highway lanes when we're working on an accident scene, but I really don't think that was the case here.  Someone needs a lesson in situational awareness....

Very much agree on the situational awareness, bet that particular company does some serious operator/engineer training in the next little bit. (maybe the entire fire dept.)

No laughing matter here, I'm very surprised that a fire dept. has a company numbered 13.

In the Fire Service, that number is generally considered to be bad luck, no matter how superstitious people may be.

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

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Posted by petitnj on Monday, March 1, 2010 9:20 PM

 Unfortunately, the Fire Department is so used to parking a fire truck anywhere convenient that parking on the grade crossing was natural. The truck will block traffic as in an accident clean up on the highway. This is the consequence of doing things the way we always do them. Be aware of doing things the way we always do them. This is an excellent lesson in situational awareness as opposed to following procedure. We need to train folks both ways.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, March 1, 2010 8:58 PM

We use fire trucks to block highway lanes when we're working on an accident scene, but I really don't think that was the case here.  Someone needs a lesson in situational awareness....

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Ted Marshall on Monday, March 1, 2010 7:40 PM

chatanuga

Where are Gage and DeSoto when we need them?

Kevin

In my "Emergency" DVD collection, right next to "Adam 12" Wink

 

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Posted by aricat on Monday, March 1, 2010 7:35 PM

My son is a St Paul Minnesota firefighter and he says that ALL the blame should be on the firefighter who drove a $600,000 piece of equipment on the tracks in the first place. His department has responded to fires on railroad property and in 1995 I believe, saved the life of a CP employee at Pig's Eye yard in St Paul who was trapped after a derailment.

On his department,who drives a fire truck is negotiated between the City of St Paul and the firefighters union. The training to drive a fire truck is the responsibility of the fire department only and who operates a fire truck is under the department's control only. The state of Minnesota or the DOT have no control. No CDL is required to drive a fire truck; but other states may have their own rules.

Also, the Detroit Fire Department should have contacted the railroad immediatly when the firetruck was driven on to the tracks,the Amtrak crew could of been at least warned. The fire Captain in charge or an assistant Chief should have taken care of this

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Posted by chatanuga on Monday, March 1, 2010 7:09 PM

You'd think that emergency personnel would know better.  Guess not.  Fortunately nobody killed or seriously injured.  Unfortunate that it's an obvious embarrassment to the fire department there.

Captain Stanley would never have allowed something like that to happen.  Where are Gage and DeSoto when we need them?

Kevin

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, March 1, 2010 3:45 PM

Among other items --Since you have to carry a CDL to drive a firetruck the feds should require the CDL to be suspended for 5 years, If I drove a 18 wheeler and did this they can require suspension. That will short circuit the union.

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Posted by zardoz on Monday, March 1, 2010 3:28 PM

Of course it was truck #13.....

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Posted by wabash1 on Monday, March 1, 2010 3:08 PM

Ive come up on crossings where they parked ambulance on the crossing. with people inside,

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Posted by CopCarSS on Monday, March 1, 2010 2:32 PM

Oooof...perhaps Operation Lifesaver should spread their message to Emergency Personnel in addition to through them.

-Chris
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, March 1, 2010 2:19 PM

Carl, that link isn't working for me.  Here's another one that did -

http://www.freep.com/article/20100301/NEWS01/100301028/1003/news01/Amtrak-train-collides-with-Detroit-fire-truck 

Apparently the fire truck was parked across all 3 tracks at a grade crossing - and it's now a 'total loss', according to the article.  What were they thinking ?  Not !!  Well, maybe the manufacturer and its employees get to build a new one now . . .

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, March 1, 2010 1:40 PM

oops....

and unless I am not seeing it right, that looks like one of the real "trucks" as opposed to an engine.  Looks like it was a ladder truck, now "unladdered"....

Not insignificant damage either!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Somebody's not getting the message...
Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, March 1, 2010 1:29 PM
...but maybe Amtrak can help drive it home, in this case. We have a few firefighters on the Forum here who could give lessons to these Detroiters. This just happened a few hours ago.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22704631/detail.html

Amazing...

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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