Emergency Scene Safety

Whether you live in the area where an emergency is occurring or just driving through, the NL Highway Traffic Act has laws covering driving over fire hoses and following emergency vehicles.

RSNL1990 CHAPTER H-3
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT
PART V RULES OF THE ROAD

Following emergency vehicle
160. (1) A driver of a vehicle other than an emergency vehicle shall not follow an emergency vehicle closer than 150 metres or drive or park within 150 metres of the place on the same highway on which fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
160. (2) Unless a person has received consent of the fire department official in command, he or she shall not drive a vehicle over an unprotected hose of a fire department when laid down on a highway or private driveway at a fire or an alarm of fire.

The SJRFD wishes to remind residents that it is illegal to drive over fire hose in the middle of a fire emergency or following emergency vehicles with lights and sirens activated.

• Driving over a fire hose, can damage the hose, fire trucks or even fire hydrants. More importantly, puts the lives of firefighters in danger, and the people they may be trying to help, by stopping water supply.
• It is also illegal to follow to close to an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens activated or park too close to emergency vehicles at the scene of an emergency.

Not paying attention to these important issues will put the lives of first responders and the public at risk.Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

For more information contact:

Roger Hounsell
Deputy Fire Chief
St. John’s Regional Fire Department
709-758-3256
rhounsell@stjohns.ca