Harbour Grace firefighters aim to douse lookie-loos
By Craig Westcott
Harbour Grace Mayor Terry Barnes is warning motorists not to interfere with emergency vehicles when they are answering calls.
The issue was brought to council at last week’s public meeting when the Town’s liaison with the fire department, councillor Lee Rogers, who is also a member of the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade, related an eyebrow raising incident that had occurred the night before, on February 15.
Firefighters were on their way to an emergency call when traffic on Harvey Street interfered with the fire truck.
“People see the flashing lights but don’t pull over,” said Rogers. “If you see lights, hear sirens, hear somebody wailing on an airhorn, it’s a good indication there’s somebody behind you trying to get by, emergency people.”
Barnes noted when such incidents occur involving ambulances, the attendants sometimes record the licence plate numbers and report them to the RCMP and suggested the fire department should do the same.
Rogers said that’s where it’s leading.
“We had one truck (driver) who decided to put on their four-way flashers and at a high rate of speed continue in front of our truck,” Rogers said. “He went down the Southside at a very high rate of speed and at one point pulled out and passed one of our trucks that had stopped at the residence where assistance was needed. And only for the guys had looked in their mirror and seen the truck coming, it could have been a bad scene with the vehicle flying (by). So, this is just a reminder to everybody, and our residents, if you see fire trucks or ambulances going, it’s not a time to jump in your car and chase them. We’re going to try to aid somebody in distress, so just stay out of our way and let us do what we’ve got to do.”
Mayor Barnes said the fire department should write the RCMP about the incident.
Rogers said he had spoken with the Fire Chief and that is a likely outcome from the latest incident.
“Volunteer firefighters are exactly what that means, they are volunteers,” said Barnes. “They don’t want to take their lives in their hands because of the way somebody is driving.”