First One There Gets The Job?

[Trevatanus]

Travelling to work this morning along the M3, between Sunbury and Basingstoke.

Got on the M3, saw an appliance on blues travelling up ahead, assumed that I would overtake him, which was not the case. Passed the M25 junction, saw another appliance coming the other assumed something had happened ahead, and got myself prepared for a wait, then the sign flashed up (this motorway is managed with no hardshoulder) to say lane 1 was closed.

When I passed the incident, it was a small car which, I assume, on account of the engine bay being open, had experienced an engine fire. All was out, and the crews were still coning off around the (two)  appliances one of which I assume was the one I saw in the distance. 

On this basis, assuming the one coming the other way was also heading to this incident, it would seem three were dispatched for a small fire.

Is it practice to dispatch three from different station to see who gets there first? I assuming it was Camberley, Sunbury, and one other that responded.

[HoldFast]

It’s not a race to see who gets there first but a larger attendance due to being on a motorway. It’s necessary to have a fend off in place (when you use one or more fire engines as a shield to protect crews from live traffic lanes). Crews will also be sent to both sides of the motorway (affected and unaffected) until it’s determined which side the incident is on as sometimes duff information comes from the caller(s) due to stress/ not knowing where they are etc. Or sometimes both lanes can be affected by an incident.

[Becile]

The two appliances going northbound would be camberley or possibly one from Chobham, depending what was on the run, the southbound would have been sunbury more than likely.As holdfasts states 2 to the affected, one to the unaffected, fast roads procedure for crew safety- basically the second appliances provides enhanced fend off and more cones further back to ensure a safe working area- you'd be amazed at how close some vehicles come to an incident even with all blues and a dirty great fire engine parked in fend off.

[Ian]

5 hours ago, Becile said:

 you'd be amazed at how close some vehicles come to an incident even with all blues and a dirty great fire engine parked in fend off.

Or even worse with the death of my old friend and colleague Mally.

[Luminoki]

8 hours ago, Trevatanus said:

Is it practice to dispatch three from different station to see who gets there first? I assuming it was Camberley, Sunbury, and one other that responded.

Its more common with areas that border different services. There is a bit of the M42 going north just after the junc with the M40. Ive been to a multi vehicle RTC there where due to some confusion on location the attendance was as follows:

2 appliances from Redditch, H&W

1 from Henley in Arden, Warks

1 from Solihull, West Mids

[Noddy]

We haven’t sent appliances onto the unaffected for years.  They instead wait at the nearest gyratory and await further instructions. 

[Becile]

@Noddy I know plenty others who don't also, I believe Lfb have just upped their attendance...it's a hot topic at the moment in respect of national guidance.

@luminoki not necessarily,  it's more about the local policy and if the services are using dynamic mobilising systems which show exactly who is the closest and most efficient regardless of borders, and other factors such as all our appliances have full cutting gear whereas other services use specialist appliances.

But yes any doubt on location might see an increased attendance.

[Crog]

We only send 2 to incidents on the fast road network. Generally one either carriageway, but sometimes both to same if those are the 2 nearest.

A 3rd gets added if it’s an enhanced rtc, such as multi vehicle or lfb involved.

[Matt]

Humberside have a motorway/A road (M180/A180) than runs from Doncaster to Cleethorpes that have 5 or 6 stations very close to it if not on top, due to some motorists not knowing where they exactly and difficulty in identifying weather on the M or A180 they could mobilise 4 of the stations closest plus a South Yorkshire pump from top end as every junction has access for one station or another to join.

Attached is stretch of motorway, red is stations, green is junctions, similar thing on the M62/A63 from Goole to Hull.  The closest 5 or 6 can be on the motorway in less than 5 mins, end to end its 40 miles 

[Ian]

Not uncommon to attend car fires with 6 or 9 appliances on! We have a tunnel on the M25 (junctions 25-26 Holmesdale tunnel) which straddles Herts, LFB & Essex. The calls from the public could easily go into any Fire Control with each dispatching their normal PDA for a motorway car fire. 

[Mess6311]

On 17/08/2018 at 13:44, HoldFast said:

It’s not a race to see who gets there first but a larger attendance due to being on a motorway. It’s necessary to have a fend off in place (when you use one or more fire engines as a shield to protect crews from live traffic lanes). Crews will also be sent to both sides of the motorway (affected and unaffected) until it’s determined which side the incident is on as sometimes duff information comes from the caller(s) due to stress/ not knowing where they are etc. Or sometimes both lanes can be affected by an incident.

Its always a race!!!! Station Pride at risk! ?

[HoldFast]

I did resist the urge to write that ? truth be told it’s always a race ?