The Public Opinion Soapbox

ickerus · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7

Saturday evening on 5 April 08 there was an accident on RT. 30 West that closed a portion of RT. 30 between BackCreek Bridge and Hade Road/Twin Bridge Road. This area encompasses the development known as Laurich Estates. The accident was bad enough, but the rerouted traffic was a nightmare in the dark.

Laurich Estates has a road area of about one mile in a figure 8 configuration. It is heavily walked by its residents. The speed limit is 15 MPH. There are 3 ways into the development of which one was blocked during the accident. There are 3 dead end roads and 1 cul-de-sac. I think much of the diverted traffic managed to hit them all.

When the traffic was diverted at Hade Road I'm not sure the fire police told the motorists how to get around the accident scene. There are several ways know to the folks who are familiar with the area. Those who don't know the area such as out of towners or out of staters come through Laurich Estates seemily in a panic and at a high rate of speed. Some drive right into the dead end areas like a pied piper with other cars following. They are playing follow the leader but if the leader doesn't know where he is going or the configuration of the development road, it creates a traffic nightmare within a confined area. Especially when they must back up from the dead ends. Remember, it was dark. 15 MPH isn't very fast, but the way traffic was running around Laurich Estates it seemed like a road course race.

I'm thinking the fire-police should have been positioned within the development to divert the traffice through the development and back to Rt. 30 instead of just directing them off Rt. 30 and having them run amuck. There were certainly enough emergency folks at the scene to handle that part. Some should have been diverted to traffic direction and control. It is times like this that I would like to have the spike strips to throw in front of the cars to slow them down!

And while I'm at it, there should be an ordinance to disallow truck engine brakes along Rt. 30 from St. Thomas to Chambersburg. They are not necessary and sometimes I think truckers like to engage the engine 'jake' brake to make the noise just because they can.[/b]

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

Don't even get me started on my hatred for the fire police; for one thing, some posters may get mad at me. Also, as confident as I am at the incompetence of the vast majority of fire police in Franklin County (I can't believe we call them that; it's such a joke) there are some that I'm certain are quite competent and brought down merely by the traffic-directing buffoons that i come across whenever something is going on.

I can just about guarantee that traffic is worse when the fire police hit the scene than if traffic just went ahead and did it's own thing.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2572 Location: Chambersburg

Uh-oh
_________________
I demand euphoria!

ickerus · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7

mik27 · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

First of all there is not always a large amount of manpower not only for Fire Police but Firefighters as well. These people go out in the Cold, heat, rain, snow and do this in all hours of the night and they do this for free, they are volunteers. An accident scene isnt always going to be run perfectly everytime. Fire Police have to get to the scene and try and think of the best way to divert traffic from an emergency scene as quickly and safley as possible, and most of them do a fine job. They are there to protect the emergency personell trying to help someone that needs it, and if thats you in need of help you would want the best care you can get. So instead of trashing the fire police how about thanking one the next time you come accross one. You can also stop by your local Fire dept, get an application and become a fire policeman and try it yourself, I think you would find a new respect for them.

QueenofHearts · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 362

Ooooh, looky what I came across! I'll have to look in the Chambersburg section more often.

Coppy, I will grant you that there are a few fire police that cannot do their job as well as others. I blame that on their own company or their FP Captain. They need more training and education.

Most of the classes that we (Oops, didn't I mention that I am part of the Fire Police?) need to take are pretty far away and they take a weekend to do. One class at a time. However, have you noticed that things seem to always go haywire on weekends? It is very difficult to get some of the younger guys properly trained.

There are many older FPs who have been doing this for ages. Instead of being mad at them for making you take an alternate route, why don't you think about thanking them for all of their years of service?

Sometimes when there is an accident and the fire department goes out for the rescue of an overturned vehicle, a car into a house, a jack knifed semi on 81, or a head-on on Buchanan Trail East, the equipment might be out there for perhaps 30 minutes or maybe an hour. The fire fighters then go back to the station. Fire Police remain on scene until it is cleared by PSP, local PD, or even the coroner. My husband was on one once for 12 hours.

The role of the Fire Police is to protect the fire fighter, their equipment, the scene, plus crowd control, you know, all those "lookie-loos" who usually clog up the traffic more that the original problem.

FPs are doing this voluntarily, at all hours, in all types of weather. Usually when there is a big fire, the fire fighters are brought out refreshments donated by local businesses or people. The FPs tend to be forgotten about because they are away from the scene.

Coppy & Ickerus why don't you ask you local FD if you could go along with the FPs on a couple of their runs. Watch how people spit, yell, disobey, and disregard these fine people. I'll bet that you'll even get to see them almost get run over, too; that happens on nearly every call. Listen to people tell you that they live just right up the road, but they can't seem to remember their address. Listen to the Press people tell you that because they are the press they can go in. Not when you've been told that NO ONE is allowed past a certain point. Sometimes it is absolutely hilarious!

Ickerus dear, have you heard that volunteerism is down? We are having a hard time even getting fire fighters. You can imagine the low numbers for our Fire police. The company I belong to has only 3 that run regularly. No, I don't do the physical work. >imagining a woman rolling around in her wheelchair, directing traffic< Wink

I hope I have changed you minds, or at the very least, given you a little insight as to what these fine folks do. Give them a break. Try thanking them every onve in a while.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

Brian · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Chambersburg, PA

I'm a young (mid twenties) overweight (6' 240lbs) Fire Police.

I've had a bit of training and have more to go. Yeah I've screwed up (never causing an accident or anything... but I've been learning as I go).

The worst thing is State Police telling us to divert all traffic in a certain direction that may not make any sense to you, to me, or ANYONE... but by law... we do what they say.

Luckily this is far and few between. But also remember we are called out to divert traffic in other areas (areas where we aren't familiar with the roadways) and I personally do my best to get the people where they need to go, but by no means am I perfect.

Now all my training, time out in the rain, gas for running my car, is on me. Why do it? Our community needs it. To be honest I don't want to be the one running in the burning building (yeah I'll admit it) so this is the way I can help my community and Fire Dept. without putting myself in AS MUCH danger (albeit we have lots of danger of being hit... on a regular basis sadly).

So say what you will but your beef shouldn't be with the volunteers but the ones who direct the volunteers (who I might add... are paid).
_________________
On The Scene Blog: http://blogs.publicopiniononline.com/onthescene/
Photography Website: http://www.tellerphotography.com/

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2572 Location: Chambersburg

Brian · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Chambersburg, PA

LOL ok... thanks?

Tonight is probably the PERFECT example of people being pissed off at Fire Police. We had I-81-S closed for 4+ hours.

Since Fire Police direct traffic, we get the grunt of people's annoyance. Little do they realize (or care) that a young man was killed, while another was flown out and State Police had to do a lengthy accident investigation.
_________________
On The Scene Blog: http://blogs.publicopiniononline.com/onthescene/
Photography Website: http://www.tellerphotography.com/