Recently I have responded to two MVA with entrapment. This is a common occurrence as I have been a member of my departments rescue company for nearly 5 years. What makes these two calls different is that I needed to drive past the accident to get to the firehouse. My company does not allow POV response outside of our line officers. The officers rarely use this power. It is rather strange and may look bad if responding with your POV emergency lights on. Imagine if you need help and weren't a first responder, you see flashing lights coming down the street at you, only to turn or drive past. Some of firefighters will turn their lights off if they drive past the scene. However, both of these accidents occurred on the main road in my township and both were within 2 blocks of the firehouse. With traffic backing up and not moving, I was left with almost no other option other than to drive past with my lights on. Bystanders had stopped traffic and waved us around traffic and the accident scene (myself and other firefighters responding POV with our emergency lights).
How do you handle these types of situations? Does your department allow you to respond POV? Have you ever been able to not reach the fire house due to the emergency blocking your way?
What has keep you out of the smoke?
