A. Traffic Laws: It is the responsibility of volunteers, when responding to an alarm in their own personal vehicle, to observe the motor vehicle code and all safety rules, realizing that they have the responsibility for welfare of the public. All traffic laws are to be obeyed. Upon reaching the station, personnel are to legally park in designated stalls in front and in back of the station.
B. Route To Station: Personnel responding to emergencies will be required to take the most expedient route available to the station.
C. Code Three Runs: In any emergency when lights and siren are used, the operator will perform in a manner set forth in the following guidelines: Arrive at the emergency scene as quickly and as safely as possible. Be alert and exercise due care. Keep speed at a level which enables you to avoid hazards. Keep vehicle under control at all times. When driving at high speeds, use siren and red lights. Keep as near to the center of roadway as possible. Never pass on the right except when no other course is open; proceed with extreme caution. Allow motorists and pedestrians an opportunity to yield the right of way. Drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. Personnel driving code 3 may park or stand irrespective of Utah Code Annotated section 41-6-14; proceed past red or stop signal, or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; exceed maximum speed limits; disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions, so long as he/she does not endanger lives or property. Other traffic laws may be violated as needed, but does not relieve the driver from maintaining proper and safe control of the vehicle at all times, and from exercising ordinary and responsible care over circumstances then existing. The use of red lights and siren does not protect the driver from consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.
D. Response Requirements:
1. In City Response: Upon responding to an emergency within the city limits, the first individuals to arrive at the station will man and take the pumper with which they are most familiar. The pumper, whenever possible, will be fully manned by four (4) firefighters, including the driver, before leaving the station. The pumper may leave the station with less than four (4) people if there is a one to two (2) minute lapse in time with no other firefighters showing to the fire station. The driver will make the call as when to leave the station based upon the nature of the call. If less than four (4) firefighters are present on the pumper, the following guidelines will be followed: three (3) firefighters will perform limited offensive operations and after size up of the scene, backup called if needed; two (2) firefighters will do defensive operations only and backup will be called for before leaving the station. Safety of the firefighters is of the utmost concern in all responses. The position assignments for structure fire on the pumper will be: Pos #1-driver; Pos #2-radio/interior attack; Pos #3-interior attack; Pos #4-hydrant/observation. Additional personnel arriving at the station will man and take the second pumper or brush truck as a backup vehicle.
2. County Response: Upon answering a call for county response, a pumper fully manned will respond. Additional trucks and/or equipment will be taken to the scene as the emergency dictates. In cases where other fire departments request the city's assistance (mutual aid), only those items of equipment requested will be taken. At no time will the city be left without sufficient personnel and equipment to respond to additional calls or an emergency. Any calls for aid to the Woodland hills area will be aid and control. No fire equipment or personnel will be dispatched to that area without approval of the mayor, except to protect city responsibilities in Loafer canyon.
E. Radio Response To Calls: It is the responsibility of all volunteers in charge of any vehicle that is responding to an alarm or other activity to see that the central dispatcher is notified of such response. The person in charge of the first unit at the scene of an alarm will immediately notify the dispatcher of his/her arrival, the extent of the fire or emergency, and need of additional equipment or manpower and any environmental hazard or unusual condition or situation.
F. Placement Of Apparatus: When locating apparatus at alarms or other activities, volunteers shall take care to see that the apparatus is not in danger and that is will not block or impede the movement of any apparatus at the scene or which may arrive later. When apparatus must be parked on a road or roadside, proper warning lights shall be displayed for the protection of the equipment and volunteers.
G. Arrival At Scene: The person in charge of apparatus or crews arriving at the scene of an alarm shall report his/her arrival and location to the officer in charge and shall await direction from the officer in charge before committing his/her truck or manpower. If no other is present at the scene of a fire alarm, the senior individual present shall be deemed the acting officer in charge and shall assume all reasonable responsibilities, duties and authority until relieved by an officer.
H. Protection Of Scene: Reasonable and necessary efforts and precautions shall be used by all individuals to protect the premises and involved property at the scene from theft or vandalism. All individuals shall make every effort to see that no unnecessary damage is done to the premises and property involved in a fire. Good practices shall be adhered to at all times in combating, extinguishing and overhauling of a fire scene.
I. Safety At Scene: All volunteers shall be alert for any hazardous condition or situation at the scene of an alarm or other activity. It is the duty of the person who discovers any hazardous condition or situation to warn all persons nearby and to take reasonable steps or measures to correct or eliminate the hazard. If the hazard cannot be corrected or eliminated, then it should be marked as a warning to others and the officer in charge notified immediately of its existence. The public shall be kept away from close proximity of a fire scene and will not be used for any firefighting activities.
J. Evidence: Individuals shall be on the alert for evidence as to the cause of the fire. Any evidence found shall be properly preserved, particularly any evidence of suspected arson or incendiaries. When necessary, and with the proper authority, the fire scene shall be secured while the investigation as to the cause of the fire is determined.
K. Return To Station: Unless otherwise instructed, volunteers returning to the fire station after an alarm are to return that truck to service as quickly as possible, and then to stand by until all units have been released or returned to the station.
L. Items Found At Scene: No individuals shall take or appropriate any property, material or object from the scene of an alarm for a souvenir or for personal use. Any volunteer finding money or valuables at the scene of an alarm shall report his/her finding to the officer in charge. Under no circumstances shall a volunteer turn over valuables to any unauthorized person.
M. Fire Involving Mail: Fire in United States mailboxes, post offices or trucks shall be controlled if possible without breaking mailboxes or sacks. Every effort shall be made to preserve the mail until the arrival of a postal authority.
N. Response: Upon receiving a report for a fire call or a wash down, the entire department is to be called out, unless otherwise directed by the fire chief.
O. Seat Belts/Exiting Apparatus: All volunteers will comply with the provision of using seat belts and rear/step belts when operating or riding in or on the apparatus. No volunteer will jump off or get off from the apparatus until it has come to a full stop.
P. Alarm During Meeting: When a fire alarm sounds during a department meeting or assembly, the chief will assign crew to respond with the proper turnouts and vehicle assignment.
Q. Release Of Apparatus From Scene: No firefighter shall leave the scene of an alarm or remove department apparatus or equipment from the scene without being properly released by the officer in charge.
R. Familiarization With City: All volunteers shall acquaint and familiarize themselves with the location of the main topographical features (such as roads, fire roads, peaks, canyons, communities, landmarks, street addresses, fire hydrants, etc.) of the area so that they may readily find their way to assignments or so that they can easily understand and follow reasonable directions to alarms and emergencies.
S. Use Of Radio: Proper radio procedures will be strictly adhered to at all times. Radios are only to be used for official department business. All messages are to be courteous, short and to the point. No unnecessary conversations will be permitted. Personnel are encouraged to study and use the "10" code as much as possible.
T. Order Of Response: The following is the order for the initial response of the fire equipment. Structure fire, city: pumper (22J610), followed by pumper (22J611) as backup. Structure fire, county: pumper, followed by pumper as backup. Grass fire, city: brush truck (22J620), followed by pumper (22J610) as backup. Grass fire, county: brush truck (22J620) followed by pumper (22J610) as backup. Automobile fire, city: pumper (22J620), brush truck (22J620) as backup. Additional equipment to be called for as needed. Mutual aid: as requested by department requesting aid. (Ord. 96-5-14-2, 5-14-1996)