The crux of my argument with firefighters is this - Stop fighting street safety improvements.
If you woke up tomorrow and simply said “we will work with others to make safer streets while being adequately equipped to do our jobs” I would have nothing more to say.
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The trucks might be 5’ shorter.
You might respond to more EMS calls in squad trucks than ladders. You may even be asked to consider metrics beyond fires in your definition of safety.
But you would scrape fewer people off streets. You might even have MORE downtime. And I would
What is especially insane is that driving to/from calls is the 2nd highest cause of death FOR firefighters.
The end outcome of my argument are fewer firefighter deaths and injuries too.
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Jason,
@jasonc_nc
Replying to @jasonc_nc
2/ The 2nd largest cause of death for a firefighter is an accident in transit - i.e. on the road.
~80% of calls are for medical aid &/or traffic control, the majority from auto accidents & cyclists/pedestrians hit by an auto.
Reforming how fire departments operate, the
I’d add regulations that make housing more difficult and expensive to build without any substantive benefit in fire prevention (eg, support single stair reform). If you want a regulation, show us the evidence that it’s cost effective and effective effective.
This one is especially frustrating in light of the fact that multifamily buildings are far safer. You’re fighting against the forms that have fewer fires and FAR fewer fire deaths.
Do you think it’s the firefighters or that city planners throw firefighters under the bus as convenience and if not the firefighters they’d choose police/EMT?
Houston under John Whitmire. It's so bad that the fire union guy is running for county judge. As a Republican.