Report on Savanna Volunteer Fire Department's blue emergency lights. Shot on Panasonic HPX-370 P2 HD. Edited on Edius 5 Video and Editing by Alex Brown. Elizabeth Goodsitt Reporting.
I live in Ohio. We have red/white lights with sirens. Here is the issue, stop making them "Courtesy Lights" and recognize them as an emergency vehicle like here in Ohio.
Hi, also from ohio. Agreed completely, make them fully entitled emergency or public safety vehicles and also hold them to the same standards. Proper approval, training, and flash patterns/audible siren
At least stop calling them that. Most states don't use this wording in their statutes, but we have adopted this self depreciating term that tells people exactly the opposite of what we are asking.
@No Name I am right there with you I'm in Ohio. I am looking to sign up for volunteer fire department when I turn 16. Where I'm from we dont go to the station we go to the fire itself.
+Cody Haack Same in Texas but we can also run Blue. We are required to have a siren if we install lights. I am also putting a Wildland Fire Body on my F350 which will make it a State Authorized Fire Truck with Exempt plates. My department needs access to another Fast Attack truck.
He did okay until the end when he said it costs time if "we have to follow them all the way to the firehouse under the speed limit. " Blue lights don't authorize speeding, dude.
@Bentley he didn't but it was strongly implied. He said it'll take longer if we have to stay behind people and driver under the speed limit. You can say he means he wasnts to go exactly the speed limit but everyone knows that's not what's being said.
I am a volunteer fireman in central Kentucky. out of county or out of state drivers dont know what to do when they see flashing red or blue lights. you are right Keeper of the Cope, we do use red lights.
Wisconsin is the same way, if use red lights you must use a siren... If you have a failure ie siren dies on you, you then must turn off your red light or vice a versa lights fail then you must turn off your siren.....
MasterBASS95 thats because ILLINOIS don't have love for volunteers in that aspect, its a courtesy light and not supposed to speed or go through a traffic light unless its green in your favor.... The other reason why not allowed to use a siren is because Chicago PD runs blue lights and they don't want the confusion...
Here in NY Firefighters can use blue courtesy lights and chiefs can use red lights and sirens and they can drive the same as any ambulance or firetruck
@@Firebuff101 No they are still considered personal vehicles. Its is up to the chief/ assistent cheif to determine when to use the siren and go through intercections.
I live in NY. Nobody has pov's that are chiefs around my area as they all get official vehicles. That's their vehicle and they can go just about anywhere with them. When you become a chief in our dept, you're in for 6 years. Every 2 years, you move up a vehicle and the new Chief Engineer will get a brand new vehicle while the others get pushed down 1. We have 1 Chief Engineer and 2 Assistant Chiefs. The oldest active chief car gets removed from front line service and becomes a spare car for the deputy chiefs and then becomes a utility vehicle to haul the trailers around and for members to use to attend trainings with. Once the oldest chief car in the fleet gets retired from service, it's given back to the village where the police department uses it for mail run or the village uses it for miscellaneous things around the community. So we get like 10 years out of a vehicle before it's officially retired from the department. Our ex chiefs are considered deputy chiefs and are allowed to have red lights and siren in their vehicles for when they are asked to cover the community if the chiefs go out of town.
I’m from a volunteer fire company in NY our laws state a blue light is only a courtesy light and are not allowed to go over the speed limit and the chiefs out here are allowed 10 over with red lights and sirens all emergency vehicles have the same problem as far as ppl not willing to move the the right shoulder
I like how KY's law is written . A volunteer's POV is to be considered as a true emergency vehicle when responding to a call while using red lights and siren. Traffic is to pull over for your farm pick up truck just as if it was a E- One engine. Unless you are law enforcement, you do not use blue.
Its goofy if you think about it to reserve blue lights for law enforcement like some states do. For example, the law is already to pull over and stop for red/white flashing with siren right? So if you see blue, indicating law enforcement, are you expected to EXTRA pull over? Lol
Well which move over law, there are two. The move over for blinky lights behind you, and the move over for blinky lights stopped on side of road. In our area, only the latter applies as law. We highly suggest the former, but as this guy said, legally, they don’t have to.
I was a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT for 14 years in Colorado. We used red lights (with white if desired) and sirens. They really helped us get to emergencies faster. Before I moved to Colorado, I was a Volunteer Firefighter in Indiana. The blue lights didn't really make that much of a difference. Most drivers didn't respect them.
Savanna is in Illinois, located along the Mississippi River. From my understanding, their FD is completely volunteer, which is why having these lights is important. The footage you see of a fire scene in the middle of the story is that of a pizza restaurant that burnt down a few months before this story was aired. The restaurant didn't burn down because of anything to do with the volunteers, but it brought up a good point in making sure these volunteers are given consideration on the roads.
As volunteer firefighter here in Germany you are allowed to disregard traffic rules on the way to the fire station, this includes exceeding the speed limit or the disregard of stop signs, as long as you drive carefully and do not risk to put someone in danger. Of course this applies only for very urgent alarms, but it does apply. However, we must not attach flashing lights in any color in/on/below our vehicles, but unlit signs that show that we are on an urgent trip to the fire station.
Diese Schilder sind kein muss und haben auch keine bedeutung für den straßenverkehr, auch beim parken macht das keinen unterschied (egal welche seite umgedreht ist). Bei beleuchteten Schildern bekommst du probleme, weil das ne lichtquelle ist und dann brauchst du ja ne zulassung und das ganze zeug.
In SC it’s red lights plus a siren in personal vehicles. They are also seen by law as emergency vehicles when responding to a call. There are laws governing minimum visibility requirements of the lights.
Boy I am glad I live in Kentucky as a volunteer firefighter. We run red lights and siren. When we get toned out we run code 3. We are considered an emergency vehicle at that point.
Michigan volunteers have sirens and lights; response times are significantly lower than volunteer departments who use courtesy lights because Michigan drivers treat them as they would any other emergency vehicle: by pulling over.
we in my town have a city department and a county department the county is volunteers. They run reds with the sirens and can over take traffic if needed so I think that maybe something to look into for the 24 7 vol department in this case
@@johnarat9618 yea, I wish we were allowed reds and a siren. That would make things a bit easier on days with heavy traffic. I have heard rumours that Alberta might do that as well but I doubt it will be anytime soon if they do.
@@johnarat9618 yea I'm pretty sure something like that happened. Maybe not exactly that but I heard a story where someone's family died so they want to either somehow speed up response times, or put at least 2 full time firefighters at each hall all the time. (Witch would cost way too much) last I heard the new premier was talking about that. But still agreed that it probably won't happen for a good while anyways.
I don't see why blue is the color of choice, in my area if you see blue you know to either stop or move out of the way, since you don't know if you're being pulled over or the cop if heading to a call. Blue/amber lights are for police, red/white/green for EMTs and firefighters, at least in my area. Also, if your POV uses lights you must also use a siren.
Awesome Friends Gaming around here only the chief and assistant chief runs red and blues and they must have a siren the rest of us are allowed to run straight blues with no siren
I agree with this story. In PA, if your not a line officer, you cant run reds and sirens, you must run blues. Alot of people dont pull over, (I do tho) and I look at it this way, line officer's all they do, is bark and give orders they dont go in the burning buildings and put out the fires, the VOLUNTEERS do, I feel that PA should change the law to where no matter what your ranking is in a station, all volunteers should run reds and sirens.
i have the same issue in nj. i wish more people knew that it is now a law in nj to yield to blue lights. not only is it a law to yield to us now you also have to move 1 full lane over for fire/ems/police and even tow trucks when we are on a scene
TEXAS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING that's the way it should be. You need all of that for a reason just like the actual fire truck has them for. Not because you wanna act cool but have a job to do!
We use green in ontario, blue are used for snowplows. Police use red/blue combo. We respond direct to scene usually while the duty firefighters respond with the trucks.
mcaddicts our strictly volunteer station has home responses almost always. If we are hammered with calls, or expecting to, or severe weather persists, we will crew the station to ensure adequate turnout, generally those of us with extended home response times. To our north and east, we have departments, also completely volunteer, who staff the station on daylight, to relieve those who respond from work, from having to leave for good ol’ smells and bells.
@@jaysmith1408 yeah most of our neighbouring rural departments are all volunteer operate that way. Our response system was set up by the uionized duty guys to justify their positions.
mcaddicts the good ol’ IAFF. A neighbouring city (also my residence) has a career department, that, due to a mayoral election, bestowed the power of operation of the department, staffing, hiring, payroll, and run cards, to the union. That being so, they have to call every single apparatus that has wheels, with every employee that has legs, to a call, before they can call for mutual aid. There is a mall, and far more importantly a hospital, that is three miles from their district’s house, and ten miles from their furthest, but a mere 1200 yards from the closest fire hall. Now this being a city with a major traffic and bridge problem, their district’s engine arrives in about ten to fifteen minutes. Waiting for the farthest engine would take easily half an hour, if not an hour, emergent. Closest departments, mind you volunteer, dispatch to scene in five minutes flat. Three departments could do that. Nope, have to drain the entire city department first. Like really, these guys are getting paid whether they’re working or not, a hefty salary. By no means am I suggesting jumping calls into their district, but just bloody call the closest stations. IAFF rant over, I’m not against career guys, hell, I wouldn’t mind a paycheque here or there, but why can’t they just be firefighters-who get paid, as opposed to high and mighty career guys. Our local career guys, great people, saved our bacon very willingly, even open to advice both ways, but once the union gets called in, it can’t be run properly. Strike that, it won’t be run properly. It’s nice to see a combination department that has the two play nice together, not holding assignments to the duty crew, or mandating callbacks (meanwhile, how long is this taking?), they call the entire department at the same time. Career personnel should be used to ensure minimum staffing, not BE the staffing. An instructor of ours is a career guy in another county. His jurisdiction is career, but crews with two. Two. Alrighty then, one driver, and a nozzleman. Working fire, callbacks, twenty minutes later, now you have four. Your fire is also six times bigger. Then, once callbacks arrive, you call outside companies.
I´m in a Volunteer Firebrigade too, but in germany. I like your idea with the blue lights. We in germany, can´t use blue lights or something else. We sometimes use our warning flashers but people don´t move. I wish we have red light at our private cars to move fast on.
I live less then a block from my Station so I dont even bother to turn my equipment on 90% of the time. My Diesel doesn't even get the chance to hit the speed limit before I get to the Station. In Texas we can run lights and sirens. I have on many occasions had to use my personal truck to respond to a fire to bring extra equipment or tires for our Brush Trucks. If we blow out a tire while fighting a fire that threatens structures its Code 3 to get new tires to the trucks and sometimes it a 40 mile drive from the Station to the fire.
you also need to remember in some states its against the law to have Emergency lights volunteer fire fighter or Not some states require that you must have a licensed to use the emergency lights/sirens/etc for a Personal vehicle.
Wow, down South try not pulling over for Blue lights.. thats the cops. Fire Rescue use red, the US should have a standard lighting system for emergency vehicles. So weird... and how bout some places that use lights only and no siren, just not safe. That's my opinion as an Emergency Vehicle Driver Instructor for my Dept.
Not standard in California. I've worked in EMS my whole adult life. Never heard of this blue light volunteer thing. Here close to if not 100% of ambulances and fire trucks will have flashing and solid red lights, police will have blue and red. All must have at least one solid red light to be legal emergency vehicles requiring drivers to yield.
You are absolutely wrong. Here in Michigan, blue lights are for law enforcement ONLY! Red, and white for Fire and EMS only. This is for volunteers and full time.
Here in the state of Indiana fire department POV run blue lights that must be visible 360 degrees. Then you can put them also in your grill and back window. Fire chief runs both red and blue. EMTs run green lights. You must also carry a permission slip from your county sheriff in your glove box to run emergency lights
In my old hometown of Penacook, New Hampshire our Volunteer Fire Fighter's and EMS/EMT personal use Red, White and Amber Light's with Siren's on all their P.O.V.'S, But when it come's to Blue Light's, those are for Police Vehicle's Only though - but I guess every state is either the same or different though.
Yep. PA used blue lights for volunteer department while reds are used by dedicated department vehicles. Meanwhile in GA and FL blue is reserved for the police while red is used by some PDs as well as all FDs and EMS.
I'm in New Mexico but neither FD or PD. I'm a fugitive recovery agent and I also do armed response security. As an agent I run red/blue in the back window and blue/white in front, but as armed response we run either green/amber or green/white. I do have a siren in my recovery unit but not in my security unit.
Depending on what state your in will depend on what color your allowed on a FD 's member personal vehicle some are blue some are Red .red/white or even green .....same goes with PD members personal vehicle when off duty
Yep. In Pennsylvania it was and still is blues for volunteers. Meanwhile in Florida blues are reserved for police. Funnily enough we've had some people from blue light volunteer states come to FL and lead police officers on for a while before eventually pulling over, thinking the whole time it's a POV, not a cop.
I pullover to the side of the road no matter if the color of the light is either Red, Blue or Both - Plus we're I am from Blue & White Light's are Police Vehicle's.
Hey in Colorado, firefighters are allowed to mount red, white and amber and a siren on their pov, just like the actual fire truck itself. But of course, theres outa staters that dont pay attention to POV's and even brush trucks. Really stupid honestly.
I don't understand what is holding states back from recognizing these volunteers as emergency vehicles. They should be treated like the first responders they are, they should be able to have red and whites and a siren.
@@Hobbitchoker Cool. I'm from Saskatchewan, and we see POVs as emergency vehicles too, as well as our neighbor to the East, Manitoba. SK requires reds with sirens, MB only requires reds, but no siren allowed. In either province, POVs can break road rules, are considered emergency vehicles, and it is an offense to not pull over for them when the warning devices are on.
It's so sick and funny how people are bugging over the fact that there are volunteers that have blue or any kinda lights on the personal cars trucks etc man they are trained ems fire officers they have to make it to the station or you don't save anyone point blank, we shouldn't be even talking about this this should be nation wide all voluntary officials that are fire responders should be able to have any lights and siren to get to a emergency when needed this is just plain stupid and a no brainer
Personally, I don’t want the lights on my car. My question is: why does anyone really care if a volunteer has the lights? And, why do people want to impede these volunteers?
im a vollie in PA its kinda of funny i have no problem with people pulling over when im going pov to the station with my blue lights on , but as soon as i get in the ambulance or the fire trucks they dont pull over for red lights and sirens
I had trouble getting them out of the way regardless of what I was driving. Though I will admit my last blue light set up wasn't too visible and slightly illegal.
I normally don't have a problem until I get to the station like you said we had a confirmed gas leak in a trailer and the guys stove was still on so me and the driver took our tanker priority 1 because gas and high heat don't normally mix well and people were really getting on my nerves airhorns and sirens apparently have no effect lol a 60,000 lb vehicle isn't easy to slow down or stop when people want to stop in the middle of your lane
This is one of the few volley departments actually following the DOT rules for emergency lights. Under DOT guidelines certain types of vehicles are permitted certain color emergency light. RED = LAW ENFORCEMENT BLUE = FIRE / EMS YELLOW = TOW/ROAD SERVICE & MAINTANCE GREEN = SECURITY PURPLE = FUNERAL
In New mexico we can have any color except for red coming from the front and NO siren on our POVs. Most of the time people pull over for us but for example the other day I was heading to the station to grab our rescue unit and this guy in front of me would not pull over for shit. Slowed down and then flipped me off as soon as I had gotten into a passing zone I passed him then. Then he tried following me to the station and was like you got a problem with me and I just asked him if he was from around here and he said no then I told him when you see flashing blue lights that means pull over. Then when I was taking off with the rescue unit (red and blue lights with a siren) I had someone who was refusing to pull over again. Some people's kids man.
Here in the Philippines, we are not allowed to use sirens/ blinker lights as a volunteer. And honestly it's very difficult to respond to an emergency without sirens/blinkers. We can't complain because you know, here in our country if we allow the use of sirens/lights it will lead to abuse. Because other people even they don't need it they using sirens/lights to swerve traffic.
"The new law has nothing to do pulling out of the way for volunteers that are responding to an emergency (that still remains a courtesy on part of other drivers). The new addition to the "move-over" law is directed towards volunteers that are ON SCENE already attending to an emergency. Essentially, the addition in the law adds that if you see blue or green flashing lights on the side of the road you must do your best to safely move away from them as you would for red and white or amber lights (as already existed in the law)."
Andrew Kolata Vic O. Mike Litoris Anyone in NYS who doesn't move over for blue lights, volunteer firemen. Or green lights, volunteer ambulance are scumbags.
In va we can run red or red and white but no sirens on pov. Which is confusing for people at traffic lights. You cant go through a red light, and they dont know what to do, they think you are going to go through and its just confusing. I think anyone who has had evok and sufficient experience with their departments response or utility truck should be allowed to equip lights and siren on their pov. So those people can get to the station and get the engines and trucks out the door sooner rather than later.
The state of Tennessee does not allow lights at all on any POV been law for a while. Only time we can turn any on is on the scene and must be red. Or amber
well good for u .. i have serious problems over here ... a lady once told me she didnt see red she wasnt moving over LOL seconds count .. Did u really volly?
Here in pa the law is weird. Chiefs can have red lights and siren, paramedics can have red light and siren, regular fire fighters can have blue lights, and emts blue lights. You have no choice but to pull over for red light an sirens. Blue lights are still considered courtesy lights but under the new move over law you have to yield right of way if one is behind you but not if one comes up to an intersection if all oncoming traffic yields then the blue light can go. On the plus side the traffic lights in my area of pa all change to green when they sense a flashing light so we really never have to worry about that
NJ mandates that you have to pull over for blue lights from what I've heard. Blues are still courtesy down there. I believe chiefs can use reds and sirens. But here's the fun part. Blue light vehicles in NJ can legally use an electronic airhorn to further compel non emergency traffic to pull over.
where i am at in far south burbs many POC's ( PAID ON CALL or PISS ON CALL as i and other full time firemen call them ) do abuse the blue lights so much i never pull over anymore
in mass its Red or red/white on POVs just like the Depts Units..and yeah people alot of times DONT move or pull over when they see the lights of course it happens with the dept vehicles (Police, Fire, Ambulance) too .ya learn in drivers ed to Move over when ya see n or hear but people are more n more forgetting what they learn or dont give 2 squats endangering others who need the help
What state are you in i know hear in PA vol firefighters can have 2 blue lights and haft to be on the roof and haft to be seen 360 PA laws are really annoying
Meanwhile, Volunteers in germany are only allowed to put a yellow, non lightable sign on their roof and hope for good luck, for people letting them pass.
I know in Ohio my Grandpa was a paid fireman. They had take home cars/suv's. He had a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with a Whelen light bar and some hide aways. It was a pretty cool ride. Nothing compared to mine as a police officer though haha.
In Canada every police service in every province police have to use red and blue all over front to back but for firefighters they can use red purple yellow and white lights green is allowed too but that's for volunteer and Ems uses red and white
Only Ontario, Quebec and Alberta allow green lights for volunteers, Saskatchewan and Manitoba can use red lights. All other provinces don't have any lights for volunteers. BC is currently fighting for green lights. Blue lights in ontario are still used for snowplows. Edited in 2023
@@mcaddictsSaskatchewan volunteer firefighters have sirens too. Pulling over for them is a must. Green light provonces have no siren for POVS, and greens are just courtesy.
@johnarat9618 I'm aware being that I am a volly from Ontario. The green lights alone were a fight. But Ontario up until 20 years ago only had red lights for emergency vehicles. The cops got blue and recently fire and ems were allowed them.
@@mcaddicts Well which Province's POV laws do you like? Personally, I like Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as they are the only Provinces to allow emergency vehicle status for POV, and red lights. SK allows reds with sirens, MB only allows reds, but it's still the same as SK, other than the siren part.
@@Evercreeper But if you're in a VFD in Saskatchewan, your municipality must designate your POV as an emergency vehicle. Then you must get trained. After that, bam! Reds and sirens ymfor you.
I treat the blue lights the same as if it were the red lights with a siren, I get the hell out of the way. For all I know, they're headed to my house.
More people need this mindset. You got a good head on you.
@@FurryWrecker911 agreed.
@@n150cz9 yes
I live in Ohio. We have red/white lights with sirens. Here is the issue, stop making them "Courtesy Lights" and recognize them as an emergency vehicle like here in Ohio.
Hi, also from ohio. Agreed completely, make them fully entitled emergency or public safety vehicles and also hold them to the same standards. Proper approval, training, and flash patterns/audible siren
I'm not from Ohio and I agree with both of you!
At least stop calling them that. Most states don't use this wording in their statutes, but we have adopted this self depreciating term that tells people exactly the opposite of what we are asking.
@No Name I am right there with you I'm in Ohio. I am looking to sign up for volunteer fire department when I turn 16. Where I'm from we dont go to the station we go to the fire itself.
@@SharkBoy178 who puts it out
When lights come on stupid comes out
says who?🤡🤡
Whackers
Agree 100%
@@jimlahey5733 Says everyone. No matter what happens, no matter where you are, there will always be idiots on the road.
In Wisconsin you can have red and white lights and siren, and it is the law to pull over for POVs.
+Cody Haack Same in Texas but we can also run Blue. We are required to have a siren if we install lights. I am also putting a Wildland Fire Body on my F350 which will make it a State Authorized Fire Truck with Exempt plates. My department needs access to another Fast Attack truck.
What does pov mean?
@Cody Haack - Same here in New Hampshire.
Georgia Allows Red/White With Sirens As Well
@@dts642almost the same in ohio too
Really the only guy that they could find to do one on camera video was some dude that had only two years on a department.
He did okay until the end when he said it costs time if "we have to follow them all the way to the firehouse under the speed limit. " Blue lights don't authorize speeding, dude.
@Bentley he didn't but it was strongly implied. He said it'll take longer if we have to stay behind people and driver under the speed limit. You can say he means he wasnts to go exactly the speed limit but everyone knows that's not what's being said.
@@liamhilt1822 What he said is that people have purposely slowed down below the speed limit. So yes, it would take longer to get to the station.
That guy’s one huge liability
Lol right
yea i live in the town
nothing like creating a medical emergency while going to an emergency
Was that Peter Griffin being interviewed?
What’s he gonna save the foundation
In Kentucky we use red lights. Also if we equip our POV with lights, we must also equip a siren
Keeper of the Cope same in Ohio we are permitted entire red/white and siren, visible 360°, I find it to be the most effective way
I am a volunteer fireman in central Kentucky. out of county or out of state drivers dont know what to do when they see flashing red or blue lights. you are right Keeper of the Cope, we do use red lights.
Wisconsin is the same way, if use red lights you must use a siren... If you have a failure ie siren dies on you, you then must turn off your red light or vice a versa lights fail then you must turn off your siren.....
In Illinois we are only allowed blue and white and it’s illegal to use a siren
MasterBASS95 thats because ILLINOIS don't have love for volunteers in that aspect, its a courtesy light and not supposed to speed or go through a traffic light unless its green in your favor....
The other reason why not allowed to use a siren is because Chicago PD runs blue lights and they don't want the confusion...
Here in NY Firefighters can use blue courtesy lights and chiefs can use red lights and sirens and they can drive the same as any ambulance or firetruck
Because the chiefs' cars are considered a department vehicle, not a personal vehicle
@@Firebuff101 No they are still considered personal vehicles. Its is up to the chief/ assistent cheif to determine when to use the siren and go through intercections.
I live in NY. Nobody has pov's that are chiefs around my area as they all get official vehicles. That's their vehicle and they can go just about anywhere with them. When you become a chief in our dept, you're in for 6 years. Every 2 years, you move up a vehicle and the new Chief Engineer will get a brand new vehicle while the others get pushed down 1. We have 1 Chief Engineer and 2 Assistant Chiefs. The oldest active chief car gets removed from front line service and becomes a spare car for the deputy chiefs and then becomes a utility vehicle to haul the trailers around and for members to use to attend trainings with. Once the oldest chief car in the fleet gets retired from service, it's given back to the village where the police department uses it for mail run or the village uses it for miscellaneous things around the community. So we get like 10 years out of a vehicle before it's officially retired from the department.
Our ex chiefs are considered deputy chiefs and are allowed to have red lights and siren in their vehicles for when they are asked to cover the community if the chiefs go out of town.
I’m from a volunteer fire company in NY our laws state a blue light is only a courtesy light and are not allowed to go over the speed limit and the chiefs out here are allowed 10 over with red lights and sirens all emergency vehicles have the same problem as far as ppl not willing to move the the right shoulder
@@georgesmith6491 - Here in N.H. - Blue Light's are only on Police Vehicle's.
I like how KY's law is written . A volunteer's POV is to be considered as a true emergency vehicle when responding to a call while using red lights and siren. Traffic is to pull over for your farm pick up truck just as if it was a E- One engine. Unless you are law enforcement, you do not use blue.
Its goofy if you think about it to reserve blue lights for law enforcement like some states do. For example, the law is already to pull over and stop for red/white flashing with siren right? So if you see blue, indicating law enforcement, are you expected to EXTRA pull over? Lol
not a courtesy light in NJ any more
someone finally got smart & made blue lights part of the move over law
in nj are we aloud to have a siren
if you have a "red light and siren" permit you can. Otherwise you can only use an air horn
Well which move over law, there are two. The move over for blinky lights behind you, and the move over for blinky lights stopped on side of road. In our area, only the latter applies as law. We highly suggest the former, but as this guy said, legally, they don’t have to.
Miles Noonan neat. The caviat is that the officer who would enforce it, is tied up (or better be) responding to the same call, and can’t divert.
Miles Noonan oooo, that IS a fun fact
I was a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT for 14 years in Colorado. We used red lights (with white if desired) and sirens. They really helped us get to emergencies faster. Before I moved to Colorado, I was a Volunteer Firefighter in Indiana. The blue lights didn't really make that much of a difference. Most drivers didn't respect them.
They still don't sadly.
@@MoFire312Reds and sirens for Volunteer Firefighters POVS here in Saskatchewan. Pulling over for them is a legal requirement.
Solution: sirens
Saskatchewan, Canada uses reds and sirens for their Volunteer Firefighters POVS. Pulling over for them is a legal requirement.
Savanna is in Illinois, located along the Mississippi River. From my understanding, their FD is completely volunteer, which is why having these lights is important. The footage you see of a fire scene in the middle of the story is that of a pizza restaurant that burnt down a few months before this story was aired. The restaurant didn't burn down because of anything to do with the volunteers, but it brought up a good point in making sure these volunteers are given consideration on the roads.
Herr in Saskatchewan, Canada, our Volunteer Firefighters POVS use reds and sirens. You must pull over for them.
As volunteer firefighter here in Germany you are allowed to disregard traffic rules on the way to the fire station, this includes exceeding the speed limit or the disregard of stop signs, as long as you drive carefully and do not risk to put someone in danger. Of course this applies only for very urgent alarms, but it does apply.
However, we must not attach flashing lights in any color in/on/below our vehicles, but unlit signs that show that we are on an urgent trip to the fire station.
that's neat.
Ah I wish I could live in Germany... They've actually got it together over there.
Here in Texas, volunteer firefighter POVs use red flashing lights and a siren.
Diese Schilder sind kein muss und haben auch keine bedeutung für den straßenverkehr, auch beim parken macht das keinen unterschied (egal welche seite umgedreht ist). Bei beleuchteten Schildern bekommst du probleme, weil das ne lichtquelle ist und dann brauchst du ja ne zulassung und das ganze zeug.
FlorianSteinfurtNews a sign? seriously? if Germans weren't such an efficient, machine-like people, I'd think that was stupid
In SC it’s red lights plus a siren in personal vehicles. They are also seen by law as emergency vehicles when responding to a call. There are laws governing minimum visibility requirements of the lights.
Boy I am glad I live in Kentucky as a volunteer firefighter. We run red lights and siren. When we get toned out we run code 3. We are considered an emergency vehicle at that point.
Same here in Saskatchewan, Canada.
@jarred kraft I live in CT and the lights can go anywhere on your vehicle grill, dash, mirror
Michigan volunteers have sirens and lights; response times are significantly lower than volunteer departments who use courtesy lights because Michigan drivers treat them as they would any other emergency vehicle: by pulling over.
we in my town have a city department and a county department the county is volunteers. They run reds with the sirens and can over take traffic if needed so I think that maybe something to look into for the 24 7 vol department in this case
I live in Alberta Canada and we use green lights here, out dept is quite low budget so you have to get them yourself
I'm in Saskatchewan, Canada. We use reds and sirens for our Volunteer Firefighters POVS here.
Pulling over for them is a legal requirement.
@@johnarat9618 yea, I wish we were allowed reds and a siren. That would make things a bit easier on days with heavy traffic. I have heard rumours that Alberta might do that as well but I doubt it will be anytime soon if they do.
@@ryattlarge9597 Don't think they will, unless one of em politicians had their kids or wife die in a fire.
@@johnarat9618 yea I'm pretty sure something like that happened. Maybe not exactly that but I heard a story where someone's family died so they want to either somehow speed up response times, or put at least 2 full time firefighters at each hall all the time. (Witch would cost way too much) last I heard the new premier was talking about that. But still agreed that it probably won't happen for a good while anyways.
@@ryattlarge9597 Manitoba has the exact same POV laws as Saskatchewan, minus the siren part in MBs end.
I don't see why blue is the color of choice, in my area if you see blue you know to either stop or move out of the way, since you don't know if you're being pulled over or the cop if heading to a call. Blue/amber lights are for police, red/white/green for EMTs and firefighters, at least in my area. Also, if your POV uses lights you must also use a siren.
Awesome Friends Gaming around here only the chief and assistant chief runs red and blues and they must have a siren the rest of us are allowed to run straight blues with no siren
I agree with this story. In PA, if your not a line officer, you cant run reds and sirens, you must run blues. Alot of people dont pull over, (I do tho) and I look at it this way, line officer's all they do, is bark and give orders they dont go in the burning buildings and put out the fires, the VOLUNTEERS do, I feel that PA should change the law to where no matter what your ranking is in a station, all volunteers should run reds and sirens.
we have the same problem in pennsylvania they just keeping heading up the road been a volunteer with airville fire company for 11 yrs know
i have the same issue in nj. i wish more people knew that it is now a law in nj to yield to blue lights. not only is it a law to yield to us now you also have to move 1 full lane over for fire/ems/police and even tow trucks when we are on a scene
Here in Texas in my county we have to use RED/Blue with 360 visibility and a siren of 100 watts or greater
TEXAS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING that's the way it should be. You need all of that for a reason just like the actual fire truck has them for. Not because you wanna act cool but have a job to do!
Here in Concord, New Hampshire, Blue Light's are only on Police Vehicle's, ALL Fire Vehicle's have Red, White & Amber Light's.
We use green in ontario, blue are used for snowplows. Police use red/blue combo. We respond direct to scene usually while the duty firefighters respond with the trucks.
mcaddicts paid on call, or just have duty rotation?
@@jaysmith1408 duty rotation is a mix of full time and part time firefighters.
mcaddicts our strictly volunteer station has home responses almost always. If we are hammered with calls, or expecting to, or severe weather persists, we will crew the station to ensure adequate turnout, generally those of us with extended home response times. To our north and east, we have departments, also completely volunteer, who staff the station on daylight, to relieve those who respond from work, from having to leave for good ol’ smells and bells.
@@jaysmith1408 yeah most of our neighbouring rural departments are all volunteer operate that way. Our response system was set up by the uionized duty guys to justify their positions.
mcaddicts the good ol’ IAFF. A neighbouring city (also my residence) has a career department, that, due to a mayoral election, bestowed the power of operation of the department, staffing, hiring, payroll, and run cards, to the union. That being so, they have to call every single apparatus that has wheels, with every employee that has legs, to a call, before they can call for mutual aid. There is a mall, and far more importantly a hospital, that is three miles from their district’s house, and ten miles from their furthest, but a mere 1200 yards from the closest fire hall. Now this being a city with a major traffic and bridge problem, their district’s engine arrives in about ten to fifteen minutes. Waiting for the farthest engine would take easily half an hour, if not an hour, emergent. Closest departments, mind you volunteer, dispatch to scene in five minutes flat. Three departments could do that. Nope, have to drain the entire city department first. Like really, these guys are getting paid whether they’re working or not, a hefty salary. By no means am I suggesting jumping calls into their district, but just bloody call the closest stations. IAFF rant over, I’m not against career guys, hell, I wouldn’t mind a paycheque here or there, but why can’t they just be firefighters-who get paid, as opposed to high and mighty career guys. Our local career guys, great people, saved our bacon very willingly, even open to advice both ways, but once the union gets called in, it can’t be run properly. Strike that, it won’t be run properly. It’s nice to see a combination department that has the two play nice together, not holding assignments to the duty crew, or mandating callbacks (meanwhile, how long is this taking?), they call the entire department at the same time. Career personnel should be used to ensure minimum staffing, not BE the staffing. An instructor of ours is a career guy in another county. His jurisdiction is career, but crews with two. Two. Alrighty then, one driver, and a nozzleman. Working fire, callbacks, twenty minutes later, now you have four. Your fire is also six times bigger. Then, once callbacks arrive, you call outside companies.
I´m in a Volunteer Firebrigade too, but in germany. I like your idea with the blue lights. We in germany, can´t use blue lights or something else. We sometimes use our warning flashers but people don´t move. I wish we have red light at our private cars to move fast on.
I live less then a block from my Station so I dont even bother to turn my equipment on 90% of the time. My Diesel doesn't even get the chance to hit the speed limit before I get to the Station.
In Texas we can run lights and sirens. I have on many occasions had to use my personal truck to respond to a fire to bring extra equipment or tires for our Brush Trucks. If we blow out a tire while fighting a fire that threatens structures its Code 3 to get new tires to the trucks and sometimes it a 40 mile drive from the Station to the fire.
Where’s my volunteer fam at
you also need to remember in some states its against the law to have Emergency lights volunteer fire fighter or Not some states require that you must have a licensed to use the emergency lights/sirens/etc for a Personal vehicle.
In florida sherrif uses blue, pd and state trooper uses red and blue combo with some amber. Fire truck and ambulances uses red and white combo
Wow, down South try not pulling over for Blue lights.. thats the cops. Fire Rescue use red, the US should have a standard lighting system for emergency vehicles. So weird... and how bout some places that use lights only and no siren, just not safe. That's my opinion as an Emergency Vehicle Driver Instructor for my Dept.
FireKat down south? What state?
BigJ 1187 probably they mean all southern states like Florida Georgia South Carolina Alabama Tennessee Mississippi Louisiana etccc
all volunteers use blue lights unless otherwise permitted, it is standard
Not standard in California. I've worked in EMS my whole adult life. Never heard of this blue light volunteer thing. Here close to if not 100% of ambulances and fire trucks will have flashing and solid red lights, police will have blue and red. All must have at least one solid red light to be legal emergency vehicles requiring drivers to yield.
You are absolutely wrong. Here in Michigan, blue lights are for law enforcement ONLY! Red, and white for Fire and EMS only. This is for volunteers and full time.
In the UK all our emergency lights are blue only red ones are the traffic advisors in the back
Here in the state of Indiana fire department POV run blue lights that must be visible 360 degrees. Then you can put them also in your grill and back window. Fire chief runs both red and blue. EMTs run green lights. You must also carry a permission slip from your county sheriff in your glove box to run emergency lights
In my old hometown of Penacook, New Hampshire our Volunteer Fire Fighter's and EMS/EMT personal use Red, White and Amber Light's with Siren's on all their P.O.V.'S, But when it come's to Blue Light's, those are for Police Vehicle's Only though - but I guess every state is either the same or different though.
Yep. PA used blue lights for volunteer department while reds are used by dedicated department vehicles. Meanwhile in GA and FL blue is reserved for the police while red is used by some PDs as well as all FDs and EMS.
We use red and white lights. They do not have to move over, but it is very nice for other drivers to move over.
In Pennsylvania the PSP will give you a ticket for using any interior lights atleast back in 2014
they changed it as long as you can see it 360
I'm a volunteer firefighter. In my state, blue is reserved for law enforcement only, and law enforcement here can only have blue lights
Same Here in New Hampshire.
I'm in New Mexico but neither FD or PD. I'm a fugitive recovery agent and I also do armed response security. As an agent I run red/blue in the back window and blue/white in front, but as armed response we run either green/amber or green/white. I do have a siren in my recovery unit but not in my security unit.
where i work in nj the volunteers need to have the blue lights and where i live we have the blue lights tooo.
same here in Indiana. All city fire department personnel can not have a blue lights on their trucks or cars.
Depending on what state your in will depend on what color your allowed on a FD 's member personal vehicle some are blue some are Red .red/white or even green .....same goes with PD members personal vehicle when off duty
Yep. In Pennsylvania it was and still is blues for volunteers. Meanwhile in Florida blues are reserved for police. Funnily enough we've had some people from blue light volunteer states come to FL and lead police officers on for a while before eventually pulling over, thinking the whole time it's a POV, not a cop.
Savanna Illinois is where this is.
wow! this is a local fire dept. :)
They dont move for ambulances or firetrucks 10x's bigger than them with sirens and lights. They aren't gonna move for a volunteer's POV
I’ve never figured out why people have such a disdain for emergency vehicles.
I pullover to the side of the road no matter if the color of the light is either Red, Blue or Both - Plus we're I am from Blue & White Light's are Police Vehicle's.
Give way , give life
Hey in Colorado, firefighters are allowed to mount red, white and amber and a siren on their pov, just like the actual fire truck itself. But of course, theres outa staters that dont pay attention to POV's and even brush trucks. Really stupid honestly.
I don't understand what is holding states back from recognizing these volunteers as emergency vehicles. They should be treated like the first responders they are, they should be able to have red and whites and a siren.
it should be granted, that everyone pulls over, no matter which color the lights have
I saw blue lights on those firetrucks so they are also emergency lights. Blue on those trucks mean get the F outta my way.
I like the chevy avalanche they have
Me too
In Missouri it is now law, that you have to pull over for blue. And if you want to look it up, look for the revised statute.
Are POVS considered as emergency vehicles in Missouri? Ik Tow Trucks can run red and blue with sirens, as well as the typical amber there.
@johnarat9618 Yeah, POVs are considered emergency vehicles now. But to run blue lights you also have to run a siren.
@@Hobbitchoker Cool. I'm from Saskatchewan, and we see POVs as emergency vehicles too, as well as our neighbor to the East, Manitoba. SK requires reds with sirens, MB only requires reds, but no siren allowed. In either province, POVs can break road rules, are considered emergency vehicles, and it is an offense to not pull over for them when the warning devices are on.
It's so sick and funny how people are bugging over the fact that there are volunteers that have blue or any kinda lights on the personal cars trucks etc man they are trained ems fire officers they have to make it to the station or you don't save anyone point blank, we shouldn't be even talking about this this should be nation wide all voluntary officials that are fire responders should be able to have any lights and siren to get to a emergency when needed this is just plain stupid and a no brainer
Personally, I don’t want the lights on my car. My question is: why does anyone really care if a volunteer has the lights? And, why do people want to impede these volunteers?
im a vollie in PA its kinda of funny i have no problem with people pulling over when im going pov to the station with my blue lights on , but as soon as i get in the ambulance or the fire trucks they dont pull over for red lights and sirens
I had trouble getting them out of the way regardless of what I was driving. Though I will admit my last blue light set up wasn't too visible and slightly illegal.
I normally don't have a problem until I get to the station like you said we had a confirmed gas leak in a trailer and the guys stove was still on so me and the driver took our tanker priority 1 because gas and high heat don't normally mix well and people were really getting on my nerves airhorns and sirens apparently have no effect lol a 60,000 lb vehicle isn't easy to slow down or stop when people want to stop in the middle of your lane
This is one of the few volley departments actually following the DOT rules for emergency lights.
Under DOT guidelines certain types of vehicles are permitted certain color emergency light.
RED = LAW ENFORCEMENT
BLUE = FIRE / EMS
YELLOW = TOW/ROAD SERVICE & MAINTANCE
GREEN = SECURITY
PURPLE = FUNERAL
STATE DOT!
In Kentucky flip the first 2 around.
In New mexico we can have any color except for red coming from the front and NO siren on our POVs. Most of the time people pull over for us but for example the other day I was heading to the station to grab our rescue unit and this guy in front of me would not pull over for shit. Slowed down and then flipped me off as soon as I had gotten into a passing zone I passed him then. Then he tried following me to the station and was like you got a problem with me and I just asked him if he was from around here and he said no then I told him when you see flashing blue lights that means pull over. Then when I was taking off with the rescue unit (red and blue lights with a siren) I had someone who was refusing to pull over again. Some people's kids man.
Here in the Philippines, we are not allowed to use sirens/ blinker lights as a volunteer. And honestly it's very difficult to respond to an emergency without sirens/blinkers. We can't complain because you know, here in our country if we allow the use of sirens/lights it will lead to abuse. Because other people even they don't need it they using sirens/lights to swerve traffic.
Wow nice
in NYS blue lights have become part of the move over law now!
When was this law created? Any specifics?
it was signed into a law on 7/21/16. last thursday was the day of the week.
"The new law has nothing to do pulling out of the way for volunteers that are responding to an emergency (that still remains a courtesy on part of other drivers). The new addition to the "move-over" law is directed towards volunteers that are ON SCENE already attending to an emergency. Essentially, the addition in the law adds that if you see blue or green flashing lights on the side of the road you must do your best to safely move away from them as you would for red and white or amber lights (as already existed in the law)."
and unfortunately everyone seems to not read the whole thing. It doesn't mean people are required to now move over for us...
Andrew Kolata Vic O. Mike Litoris Anyone in NYS who doesn't move over for blue lights, volunteer firemen. Or green lights, volunteer ambulance are scumbags.
In alabama you can only use red lights ONLY when PARKED AT THE SCENE OF THE EMERGENCY
That's stupid
Savanna, Georgia?
No, Illinois
It’s every second
Some people are dumb when they do not pull to the side. Am I right?
In va we can run red or red and white but no sirens on pov. Which is confusing for people at traffic lights. You cant go through a red light, and they dont know what to do, they think you are going to go through and its just confusing. I think anyone who has had evok and sufficient experience with their departments response or utility truck should be allowed to equip lights and siren on their pov. So those people can get to the station and get the engines and trucks out the door sooner rather than later.
I know im late replying but im with ya im in va too and i think the same thing
What state is SVFD?
Caleb E Illinois
The state of Tennessee does not allow lights at all on any POV been law for a while. Only time we can turn any on is on the scene and must be red. Or amber
in Ontario Canada they use GREEN flashing lights and very few people know what it means tbh
Here in Saskatchewan, Canada, our Volunteer Firefighters POVS use reds and sirens.
Oh did I mention it's the law to pull over for POVS here?
I live in bc canada and we are not aloud to have any lights or sirens on our personal vehicles and I wish that would change soon
I'm in Saskatchewan. Reds and sirens for firefighters' personal vehicles.
KEY WORDS: Courtesy Lights
Funny, I was volunteer for years..we turned on our 4 way flashers...we didn’t use flashing/ rotating lights and we did just fine.
well good for u .. i have serious problems over here ... a lady once told me she didnt see red she wasnt moving over LOL seconds count .. Did u really volly?
Here in pa the law is weird. Chiefs can have red lights and siren, paramedics can have red light and siren, regular fire fighters can have blue lights, and emts blue lights. You have no choice but to pull over for red light an sirens. Blue lights are still considered courtesy lights but under the new move over law you have to yield right of way if one is behind you but not if one comes up to an intersection if all oncoming traffic yields then the blue light can go. On the plus side the traffic lights in my area of pa all change to green when they sense a flashing light so we really never have to worry about that
NJ mandates that you have to pull over for blue lights from what I've heard. Blues are still courtesy down there. I believe chiefs can use reds and sirens. But here's the fun part. Blue light vehicles in NJ can legally use an electronic airhorn to further compel non emergency traffic to pull over.
In upstate ny people slow down for blue lights
In Tennessee, blue lights are exclusive police. Some county sheriffs use combo of blue and red. Fire and EMS use red.
The same in Puerto Rico
where i am at in far south burbs many POC's ( PAID ON CALL or PISS ON CALL as i and other full time firemen call them ) do abuse the blue lights so much i never pull over anymore
In my city in Ohio they have red lights and sirens
we have the move over law
Damn Iowa
In Australia volunteers arent permitted any lights on their personal vehicles.
in mass its Red or red/white on POVs just like the Depts Units..and yeah people alot of times DONT move or pull over when they see the lights of course it happens with the dept vehicles (Police, Fire, Ambulance) too .ya learn in drivers ed to Move over when ya see n or hear but people are more n more forgetting what they learn or dont give 2 squats endangering others who need the help
In Vermont we can only use red or red and white lights.
AJ Calacci same
move over for any flashing light
Dude looks like he's first responding to a donut shop
What state are you in i know hear in PA vol firefighters can have 2 blue lights and haft to be on the roof and haft to be seen 360 PA laws are really annoying
jarred kraft glad they changed that. Ain’t no way, no way, in hell, I’m putting a roof bar on my vehicle. I have a Taurus. No.
Miscommunication. Every Emergency Vehicle should have a microphone to tell everyone to either keep moving along or pull over to the right
Meanwhile, Volunteers in germany are only allowed to put a yellow, non lightable sign on their roof and hope for good luck, for people letting them pass.
Lol! In Australia we dont get none of that, we stick to normal driving conditions whilst responding to the station. Still feel your pain though.
That is a little like green emergency lights in the UK for doctors vehicles
I knew Peter Griffin was a volunteer.
Not in Ohio we have red blue is illegal An sirens where tf is there sirens
In ohio if you put red/white in your car you HAVE to have an audible siren
In missouri u can pass w blue lights
In New Jersey this is the same thing blue lights
Haven't had to use Blue Lights yet....
In Ontario we use green lights.
I wish they’d allow this in Australia. The amount of times I get stuck on the way to the station
same when we're on the way to the SES station argh
Good deal
Where I'm from red and or blue flashing lights mean move over. Its the law.
I know in Ohio my Grandpa was a paid fireman. They had take home cars/suv's. He had a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with a Whelen light bar and some hide aways. It was a pretty cool ride. Nothing compared to mine as a police officer though haha.
In Canada every police service in every province police have to use red and blue all over front to back but for firefighters they can use red purple yellow and white lights green is allowed too but that's for volunteer and Ems uses red and white
Only Ontario, Quebec and Alberta allow green lights for volunteers, Saskatchewan and Manitoba can use red lights. All other provinces don't have any lights for volunteers. BC is currently fighting for green lights. Blue lights in ontario are still used for snowplows.
Edited in 2023
+mcaddicts yeap blue lights for police and snowplows in Ontario
@@mcaddictsSaskatchewan volunteer firefighters have sirens too. Pulling over for them is a must. Green light provonces have no siren for POVS, and greens are just courtesy.
@johnarat9618 I'm aware being that I am a volly from Ontario. The green lights alone were a fight. But Ontario up until 20 years ago only had red lights for emergency vehicles. The cops got blue and recently fire and ems were allowed them.
@@mcaddicts Well which Province's POV laws do you like? Personally, I like Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as they are the only Provinces to allow emergency vehicle status for POV, and red lights. SK allows reds with sirens, MB only allows reds, but it's still the same as SK, other than the siren part.
In my county of NC we use red and white lights and only chief and assistant chief can run a siren
Here in ontario its a little green light on the dash but those boys are ROLLIN people know to move over
Here in Saskatchewan, Canada, we use reds and sirens for our Volunteer Firefighters POVS. Pulling over for them is a legal requirement.
@@johnarat9618 That is really cool
@@Evercreeper But if you're in a VFD in Saskatchewan, your municipality must designate your POV as an emergency vehicle. Then you must get trained. After that, bam! Reds and sirens ymfor you.
@@Evercreeper Whether you get reds and sirens or not depends on how your municipality feels.