Fire Chief Arrested For Blocking Roadway

[hudson144 150]

oh boy.here we go!!! throughout the nation emergency responders are killed in situations such as this, recently a change in the response was put out in the dept that I work for basically because we need to "block" the scene for our own people. Also an engine co with 2 firefighters and an officer is not adaquate to take care of a situation such as a car fire or MVA. By undersaffing the apparatus the officer who is ultimately the IC has to get involved leaving no one to watch over the scene. how many times have you been on the roadway and another accident occurs because of rubber neckers doing 60+ mph. the highway safety class teaches the blocking method. most police agencys have had their close calls on these highways. everytime you watch video clips with cops on highways you see what happens. if it was me,i would leave the rig where it was and the officer could "book me"! be safe!

[Scottyk107 9]

I understand what the officer was saying but why did he just put up a couple of cones or flares to warn of the lane closure and let the fire department work?

[ajsbear 11]

Hudson, remember EVOC teaches rig placement at the scene. Use it to protect the scene. The firedepartment should be called to the scene right away. As for what Scotty said, the trooper is capable of putting out flares, he should have a big box in his car. I have been to a great number of MVA's since i moved up here and I have seen troopers, Westchester County cops and Putnam Sherifs all lighting flares and asking for cones. Sounds like these agencies need to learn to work together.

[mikelouf2 0]

I think that officer should go back to safty school and locking up a chief

for being safe on a high way that officer should be sign to desk work

[IzzyEng4 427]

It will get thrown out of court and the chief will be exonerated.

[x152 179]

This type of case is unfortunately not new or isolated to the State of New Jersey.

I am not sure what State law in New York or New Jersey allows, but Connecticut has a law that clearly gives a FIRE officer the sole authority to make this type of decision at the scene of an emergency.

Ref: Connecticut General Statutes # 7-313e "The Authority of a Fire Officer at an Emergency".

[ems731 0]

That is unbelievable, he got arrested for protecting rescue workers. I personally feel that on all highway and major roadway MVAs that a fire apparatus should block off a lane providing a buffer zone.

I was on a highway MVA last week and when we got on-scene there was a fire rescue acting as a blocker, then as we were about to begin removing the driver from the vechile the rescue left the scene and we were now standing in traffic. cars continued to drive by and we even got some dirty looks from passing cars. I would have really liked to have had a blocker at that point.

[Truck4 48]

I am closing this thread. This particular incident is isolated and typical example of "there must be more to the story." Only speculation and bashing would follow. I have provided links for members to research this particular incident further and/or to follow any developments in the case:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../611290337/1203

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/s...Category=NEWS01

http://www.rockawaytownship.org/fire%20department.html

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/njsp/

http://www.news12.com