WHAT IS A VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE OFFICER-Continued?

Traffic Control and Safety at Emergency Scenes

Fire Police will control the flow of traffic to ensure emergency vehicles have a quick, safe entrance and egress to the incident. They may halt traffic, block a road off or detour you in another direction, because of the situation and the dangers involved.

Fire Police protect the victims, their valuables and property and preserve evidence at a scene. Fire Police may be asked to provide a scene guard in order to prevent looting or theft. Also, they may be called upon to monitor unattended Fire equipment.

Police Assistance

Fire Police are often called upon by Police and other Law Enforcement agencies to provide manpower. Many of the above tasks also fall within the area of responsibility of the Police, but Fire Police when on the scene may allow the Police to concentrate on other more specific areas of expertise.

They also assist the police performing road closures, traffic control, crowd control at public events, missing persons searches, parade details, salvage, security, etc. The primary role of the Fire Police is to provide support for operational requirements at moderate to major incidents.

Crowd Control and Liaison

Fire Police are there to control the actions of a crowd, and keep them at a distance for everyone's safety. There is always potential danger at the scene such as explosions, toxic fumes, deadly chemicals and other unpredictable situations.

Residents, owners, occupants, relatives, transients, spectators, and the media are among those who may approach the scene of an incident. Fire Police have a responsibilty to prevent them from coming into harm, and from hampering the work of emergency services personnel at the scene. They are often the first point of contact and as such must have good public relations skills.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I COME ACROSS A FIRE OR ACCIDENT WITH A FIRE POLICE OFFICER ON DUTY?

FIRST AND FOREMOST - BE ALERT ! ! ! SLOW DOWN ! ! !

It is easy to be confused and become angry when roads are closed or detoured. Please slow down and watch out for emergency personnel at the scene of an incident. Both Firefighters and Fire Police have been injured and even killed from being struck by passing motorists. In addition to the risk to emergency personnel, fire trucks and ambulances have been struck by other vehicles passing or approaching an incident scene. Please help us, volunteers to our community to return home safely to our families by slowing down when approaching an accident or fire scene.

Please yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles by pulling as far to the right side of the roadway as possible and come to a complete stop. This should also apply to any vehicles using “blue lights” on personal cars. Although these lights are classified as “courtesy lights” Pennsylvania State Law permits them and you are asked to give the people using these lights the “courtesy” of allowing them to safely pass. These blue lights are used by our firefighters to aid them in getting to the stations more quickly in order to respond to a call for emergency help.

Please follow the traffic direction signals of the Fire Police at an Intersection, accident, fire scene, or at other special events.

If you approach fire hose on the roadway, do not drive up to or over the hose except at the direction of an officer of the Fire Company or a fire police officer. Driving over a fire hose may cause it to burst and therefore cut off the supply of water needed to fight a fire. This could also result in the injury of firefighters or even cause the loss of life. Driving over a fire hose is a traffic offense in Pennsylvania and you can be fined.

Do not enter an area that has been cordoned off by yellow or red caution tape. This is for your safety as well as ours. If the incident involves a criminal act then this tape is also used to cordon off an area that may contain evidence.

If you have special needs or concerns or an emergency situation – (is YOUR HOUSE on fire, or YOUR CHILD in the accident) - PLEASE identify yourself to the FIRE POLICE OFFICER!! We will put you in immediate touch with the proper authorities - and save you from stumbling about in a panic where you may injure yourself or someone else. IF you are asked to detour from your route and do not know an alternate route, please pull over to a safe location and an officer will assist you as soon as possible. Please do not stop in the middle of an intersection to ask questions. Distracting an officer while standing in an intersection can put that officer in danger if they are not aware of other traffic that may enter the intersection. Many time drivers get distracted by all the fire apparatus and lights and do not see us.

A special thanks to you for taking the time to read this and help each of our volunteer fire company serve our community safely.