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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / December 2005"Cars Blocking Fire Station Will Be Demolished"
That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. The only thing that the City of Los Angeles has done is to paint the words KEEP CLEAR in each of the 3 southbound lanes on the pavement; it barely helps. I and a few other drivers stop just before the limit line preceding the fire station entrance, and then wait until it is possible to traverse the entire entrance without stopping; but that doesn't stop the bozo behind me from following me immediately and blocking the entrance. Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers from blocking fire station entrances? "don't block the box, fine + 2 points" (from NYC) > That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in > Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > from blocking fire station entrances? "Larry Scholnick" <ljscholnick@sbcglobal.net> wrote.. > That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in > Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. Thanks Larry, for your concern. As one who has personally struggled to exit that Fire Station: http://www.lafd.org/fs88.htm ...with lights ablaze and siren sounding, I can truly appreciate your sentiment. While the Los Angeles Fire Department is indeed engaged in continuing dialogue with the City's Department of Transportation (LADOT) on such issues, it is LADOT alone that must authorize physical changes. I'm confident that LADOT and the local City Councilmember would welcome your opinion and suggestions: http://www.lacity.org/ladot/comments.htm http://www.lacity.org/council/cd2/cd2_contact.htm Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service, Brian Humphrey Firefighter/Paramedic Public Information Officer Los Angeles Fire Department E-Mail: beh9593@lafd.lacity.org LAFD Home Page: http://www.lafd.org LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.blogspot.com > That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in > Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > from blocking fire station entrances? This reminds me of when I was an EMT, and we had to suspend my chief. He used the ambulance to push an illegally parked car about 6 feet until he could leave the driveway. Morally, I had no problem with it because the lights and sirens were on. It was a beautiful thing to witness, espescially since I was off duty. The problem was that we had to punish him, so he was suspended (from being chief and driving the ambulance, not an EMT) for 90 days. He understood, but he also said it was completely worth it, along with his higher insurance premiums on his own car. I agreed. I don't recall how the other vehicle's owner was punished, but it was more severe than I expected. (This happened about 7 years ago, sorry that I can't recall it in more detail.) Dave You'd think that enlightened self-interest, if not civicmindedness, would motivate people to yield to emergency vehicles, keep firehouse entrances clear, avoid blocking hydrants, etc., but I guess they figure it will be smooth sailing the day *they* need emergency services... if they think at all. --Joe >Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers >from blocking fire station entrances? Can't help you with that, but perhaps this picture should make you smile, someone getting what they deserve. http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg > >Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > >from blocking fire station entrances? > > Can't help you with that, but perhaps this picture should make you smile, > someone getting what they deserve. definitely busted glass right below the window....hahahahahahahahahahaha, poor schmuck > http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg > >Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > >from blocking fire station entrances? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg God bless California's firefighters. Dave >http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg Obviously staged. It's got all the elements for the joke, including the BMW, hated car of choice back in the era of "2"-series CA plates (they were just beginning to catch on as expensive cars). -Kenny  SignatureKenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898 > > http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg > > Obviously staged. It's got all the elements for the joke, including > the BMW, hated car of choice back in the era of "2"-series CA plates > (they were just beginning to catch on as expensive cars). No, not staged. The incident and many like it are quite true. >> moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com (Michael Moroney) says: >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > No, not staged. The incident and many like it are quite true. One question re the shattered glass on the street: Why was the window broken from the inside? SignatureCheers, Bev -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "I love to go down to the schoolyard and watch all the little children jump up and down and run around yelling and screaming...They don't know I'm only using blanks." --Emo Ms. Ashley wrote in regards to: http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg > One question re the shattered glass on the street: Why was the window > broken from the inside? The displayed image has been making the rounds for several years, well before PhotoShop became popularly available and in common use. IMHO, the likelihood of the episode having been staged is nil. The hydrant pictured is typical of California's Bay area. Unless one chooses to use the time-consuming "apply duct tape or shelf paper to tempered glass before breaking " technique, the amount of glass inside and outside are nearly identical upon breaking an automotive window with blunt force. A quick look at a parking lot following some smash and grab automotive burglaries will (sadly) further prove this point. Regretfully, people choose to park in front of fire hydrants. Sometimes that costs them - and those whose homes are ablaze - in ways that precious few of us can imagine. Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service, Brian Humphrey Firefighter/Paramedic Public Information Officer Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Home Page: http://www.lafd.org LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.blogspot.com > Ms. Ashley wrote in regards to: > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > LAFD Home Page: http://www.lafd.org > LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.blogspot.com Brian, Gail told me this same story when we both moved out here in 1983-84. Side note we attended colleges side by side "back east" but never met until we both came "out here." Next time you run into her ask her about "slow movers night." She was there for my first date with now wife of 18 years. If you get a rise out of her for "slow movers night" I've got more tidbits the soon to be captain would prefer unmentioned. ;-) > Ms. Ashley wrote in regards to: > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Public Information Officer > Los Angeles Fire Department Thanks, I hope I never have to meet you in person! SignatureCheers, Bev ------------------------------------------------ There are 10 types of geek in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't. > > Ms. Ashley wrote in regards to: > > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Thanks, I hope I never have to meet you in person! I think you mean "professionally." Brian is a great guy to meet in "person." Occasionally you can see him on TV speaking for the dept. brian is a great day -one day he ever gave myself and a friend of LA Citys OCC (where all the 911 calls end up) ... >> > Brian Humphrey >> > Firefighter/Paramedic [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I think you mean "professionally." Brian is a great guy to meet in > "person." Occasionally you can see him on TV speaking for the dept. Of course that's what I meant. SignatureCheers, Bev ********************************************** "I've had a Lucas pacemaker for years and have never experienced any prob > >> moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com (Michael Moroney) says: > >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > One question re the shattered glass on the street: Why was the window broken > from the inside? My assumption is the hose was thrown through from the passenger side to the driver side, or the doors were unlocked and the firefighters didn't want to come back cause someone sat in broken glass. Either way if I were a firefighter, I wouldn't waste time cranking down their window or waiting for them to find their keys. Dave > >> moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com (Michael Moroney) says: > >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > One question re the shattered glass on the street: Why was the window broken > from the inside? Because both windows are broken from the outside but the hose is dragged through (back and forth) to make the connection to the standpipe. Let me make clear. The liciense plate starts with "2F" so the car was first in California service more than 120 months ago or mid 80s. The car in front of it is certainly younger than that. I've heard this same story from fire persons as early as 1984. > >http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg > > Obviously staged. It's got all the elements for the joke, including > the BMW, hated car of choice back in the era of "2"-series CA plates > (they were just beginning to catch on as expensive cars). Hmmm, the car in front looks like a much newer vintage, late 90's/early '00s. If they did stage this with the classic joke elements, they should've used an H2 or Escalade. :) > -Kenny > > -- > Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles > H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898 >> (Michael Moroney) says: >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > '00s. If they did stage this with the classic joke elements, they should've > used an H2 or Escalade. :) Might not be a bad poster to fasten to the fireplug itself, or maybe the tree next to it. Even the non-literate would understand. SignatureCheers, Bev ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (On going to war over religion:) "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." -- Rich Jeni > >> (Michael Moroney) says: > >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Might not be a bad poster to fasten to the fireplug itself, or maybe the tree > next to it. Even the non-literate would understand. For what it's worth, I asked a relative who served over 30 years with Santa Clara County Central Fire (the department whose site the picture is on) - he said this was a real incident (from a building fire in Oakland, he thinks) and that firefighters are trained to do this if the hose won't fit underneath the car. -Daniel T. > >Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > >from blocking fire station entrances? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > http://www.sccfd.org/originals/bmw_hydrant.jpg Heh. There was a scene in "Backdraft" where firefighters did the excact same thing. :) "These times do try me." --Backdraft, right before he breaks the window of the inconsiderate boor who parked in front of the plug. As a firefighter myself, I love to see these images, and as I live in a rather upscale community, wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing in the same situation. The only fault I can find is that they didn't find a leaky coupling to stick in the car. lol Well, since the drivers continue to block the entance/exit regardless, maybe they should design another exit (or two or three). Less chance of having several of them blocked. Or perhaps a special entrance ramp from the station of some clever design that would avoid the normal lanes entirely. > Well, since the drivers continue to block the entance/exit regardless, > maybe they should design another exit (or two or three). Less chance of > having several of them blocked. Or perhaps a special entrance ramp from > the station of some clever design that would avoid the normal lanes > entirely. Cowpushers on fire trucks dude. Cowpushers. Dave > Well, since the drivers continue to block the entance/exit regardless, > maybe they should design another exit (or two or three). Less chance of > having several of them blocked. They'd all get blocked, of course. > Or perhaps a special entrance ramp from > the station of some clever design that would avoid the normal lanes > entirely. Yeah, grade separated entrances! That's the ticket ! :_> > Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > from blocking fire station entrances? Put a traffic signal at either end of the clear zone, and enforce it. The beauty of a traffic signal over a STOP sign is that it stops traffic only when necessary. If the fire station is really close to an intersection, that intersection's lights will have to be linked with those at the fire station to allow traffic to clear. I remember a rather effective sign at the Flamingo Hilton in Reno (before it was sold) IMPROPERLY PARKED VEHICLES WILL BE TOWED AND CRUSHED. >I remember a rather effective sign at the Flamingo Hilton in Reno > (before it was sold) > > IMPROPERLY PARKED VEHICLES WILL BE TOWED AND CRUSHED. I like it !! > That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in > Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Are there any signs that you've seen that are successful in keeping drivers > from blocking fire station entrances? This is basically the same "problem" as the fact that you can't maintain a 2- or 3-second gap on a freeway. Someone will take it. Figure out a way to change the laws of physics so that they can't, or forget about changing the way things are. >> That's the sign I'd like to see posted in front of the fire station in >> Sherman Oaks, CA along a heavily congested section of Sepulveda Blvd. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > the > way things are. John, that's what my wistful sign was intended to accomplish, a change in driver behavior. Add Snowplow blades to fire engines, shove the offending vehicles out of the way, then impound them and throw the drivers in jail..... maybe 20 years to life.... And guess what FAT SPOILED, and LAZY drivers will still block the stations, in fact the truck will push its way through, and the next driver would pull up in the way... And yes I do know it all and Im a expert at all things, lots of responsibility to being right all of the time... > Add Snowplow blades to fire engines, shove the offending vehicles out of the > way, then impound them and throw the drivers in jail..... maybe 20 years to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > And yes I do know it all and Im a expert at all things, lots of > responsibility to being right all of the time... It doesn't seem that this is a huge problem to solve. When the station gets an alarm the downstream traffic signals cycle to green and the upstream signals cycle to red. The cross street signals cycle to red and are either permanently posted for no right on red or have light up no right on red signs. If this cycle starts as soon as the station alarm goes off the area in front of the station will clear before the apparatus rolls. John Mara "John Mara" <johnmara@nycap.rr.com> wrote... > It doesn't seem that this is a huge problem to solve. When the station > gets an alarm the downstream traffic signals... Oh, we only wish it were so. Imagine the NY side of the Holland Tunnel on a Friday evening before a three day weekend with every radio station announcing no-tolls and free gasoline and a trunkload of groceries (and free boxes of fireworks!) for everyone who arrives in NJ within an hour. And that's just another weekday morning in front of Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks! <grin> Stay Safe and Be Well, Brian Humphrey Firefighter/Paramedic Public Information Officer Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Home Page: http://www.lafd.org LAFD News Blog: http://www.lafd.org/blog.htm >> Add Snowplow blades to fire engines, shove the offending vehicles out >> of the way, then impound them and throw the drivers in jail..... [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > John Mara How about a couple of the firefighters (once they get their gear on) go to the street with stop signs like the crossing guards use and stop traffic. They can be picked up by the last vehicle out the house. Around here, Upper Bucks Co. PA, the Fire Police are dispatced to critical intersections on the route to the emergency to control traffic. Doug > > Add Snowplow blades to fire engines, shove the offending vehicles out of the > > way, then impound them and throw the drivers in jail..... maybe 20 years to [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > John Mara We have such a situation a few blocks from my office on Colfax Ave in Denver. Denver Fire Station No. 1 is right at the very busy corner of Colfax and Speer Boulevard, where a light rail line also transits a block north on Stout Street. It's a triangular shaped maelstrom of traffic. The station alarm triggers the surrounding traffic signals in essentially the way you describe. Works fine except it takes about two signal cycles to get the area back into the progressive signal timing of the travel corridors. |
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