CHP Officer Arrests Firefighter For Parking Fire Truck Incorrectly

"VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F" (veearrrsix)
02/06/2014 at 14:29 • Filed to: CHIPS, DONUTS

As San Diego's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , an argument broke out between a California Highway Patrol officer and a firefighter from Chula Vista, as they clashed over where the Chula Vista crew's fire engine should be stationed. Firefighters had placed their vehicle along the center road divider, close to where a car had flipped over, and behind an ambulance. Emergency personnel tended to the car's two occupants as the conflict went on around them.

CBS 8's cameras captured the incident, which ended with the firefighter being handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

CBS 8's cameras captured the incident, which ended with the firefighter being handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-w…

San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

DISCUSSION (31)

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:32

Really, your gonna fuck with a firefighter. What the fuck, firefighters are the best.

Brian, The Life of > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:33

What. The. Fuck? Even our normally-awesome Chippies are being dicks now?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:34

You know how sometimes cops get big heads and think they are more important than everyone? Not all, but some!

This is one of those times.

Gamecat235 > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:36

Saw this on Gawker last night... Was very impressed with the restraint of the firefighter. Hope that the CHP gets whats likely coming his way.

It's a "Porch-uh" > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:38

Kinja'd!!!

Way to get into a pissing contest at the scene. Love my town.

RazoE > It's a "Porch-uh"
02/06/2014 at 14:40

I was born in the ole' SD. Might return to live there one day.

RazoE > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:41

Maybe someone can answer this question.

Why are firefighters always present when an ambulance is called? An old lady breaks her hip and they're out in full force with a giant truck blocking the scene. I don't get it.

ttyymmnn > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:43

Interesting comment made by someone on the NPR link you provided:

As a former Florida Trooper, I've got to empathize with CHP on this. All too often the fire rescue service became so focused upon the scene at hand, that they forgot the larger traffic situation and hazard that they had created. Most often, when this was pointed out, they were eager to comply.

However, I had a situation much like appears to have happened here where there was indeed a hazard that was very real, but was totally ignored by the crew chief on the scene, who absolutely refused my repeated requests to move his equipment to a safer position.

There was in deed a clash of authorities that resulted in my moving the equipment in question after repeated requests had been arrogantly denied. It was not something I care to repeat, however this highlights how easy it is for fire rescue to loose site of the larger picture that the emergency they are responding to is a part of a much larger scene.

Having worked an interstate patrol, I know all too well how quickly a single car, single accident can turn into a twenty or thirty car pile up, if not handled promptly and well. Our job was not only to help the folk who had already had an accident, but to try to keep more from occurring in it's wake. Not understanding this, and complying with the trooper's reasonable requests is what got this firefighter arrested, not the trooper's ego.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-w…

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:43

Say WHUT??? As a non American this seems like a fucking joke, and a bad one at that. Where I live we have something called an "alarm central", coppers, firemen and ambulance drivers work together... How on EARTH could an action like the one in the video help the common man?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RazoE
02/06/2014 at 14:44

They are also first responders for medical assistance. Typically as well trained or close to, as the paramedics in the ambulance (and even sometimes better trained!).

Sometimes you need more than the 2 guys in the ambulance.

RazoE > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/06/2014 at 14:45

Makes sense. Always figured they were bored. I can understand a car-accident, in case a fire breaks out, but I've seen them arrive for a broken arm.

VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F > RazoE
02/06/2014 at 14:47

It depends on where you live and what the emergency is. A lady with a broken hip, as you mentioned, might be upstairs and require 4 people to carry her out. Where I live you get the firefighters first, who are all EMTs and have a basic first aid kit and O2 bottle. Medics come second and have all the fancy ACLS gear, drugs, etc.

jariten1781 > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:51

What probably happened here is that the fire fighters are first on the scene then left their vehicles at the place where it is most convenient to get quickly to the accident. Once the victims were being tended to the CHP tried to coordinate the scene to minimize the hazard and for whatever reason the fire fighter became belligerent about moving the truck that was somehow hazardous. Normally the FFs and the cops work together pretty well at doing this, but I've heard of FFs going off on ego trips when they think they're being 'ordered' to move their gear. I've never heard of it get to the point of arrest, but it's been pretty damned close.

Aaron James > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 14:53

You need to move that Fire Truck right MEOW.......

DOMdotCOM > RazoE
02/06/2014 at 14:54

I have always heard because fire engines are able to carry large oxygen tanks, since EMTs cannot incase they get into an accident and it goes booooooooooooooooooom. haha

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
02/06/2014 at 14:57

CHP dick measuring contest. It's absurd to me as an American. This is what our cops have become, a state-sponsored gang.

Aaron James > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh
02/06/2014 at 15:02

That's the way it works here too, this is not the normal.

Dusty Ventures > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 15:02

I really wanna hear the follow up on this down the road

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 15:03

This is pretty accurate.

Svend > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 15:06

Seriously. This happened? I hope the fireman gives a swift kick to the balls of the copper. What a seriously douchy thing to do.

What ever happened to risk of fire and bodily harm coming first?

In most of the world a fire officer has total control of a scene until its handed over to the police just as an ambulance officer has control over a medical incident.

I once had a police car parked on a narrow access road, preventing us to pass to where we were needed, we backed up a little to allow him out, should he come to his senses and then put the sirens on wail, he eventually moved without any further harm only distress to the patient who was expecting us to arrive somewhat faster.

I respect the job the police have to do but some have their heads so far up their own arses that the only light they see is provided by Maglite.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Aaron James
02/06/2014 at 15:08

I hoped and guessed it was so.. (that this is not the normal that is)

Dusty Ventures > jariten1781
02/06/2014 at 15:14

I really want a diagram of where the vehicles were parked, but from what I saw in the video it looked like the crashed car rolled over a Jersey barrier (or k-rail, or whatever your local term is for the concrete divider) that was on the center side of the highway. There may or may not have been a breakdown lane between the fast lane and the barrier (I think there isn't). 80-100 feet down the road the ambulance and at least one other emergency vehicle is parked in the leftmost lane. The fire truck is angled so it's blocking the two leftmost lanes, not just the one the ambulance is in. The officer wanted the truck moved so the right lane of the two blocked lanes could be reopened, the fire fighter parked the truck so there would be more than two feet between rescue personnel and the rubbernecking motorists going by. Considering where, say, a paramedic getting in the passenger side of the ambulance would be in relation to that traffic if only one lane were closed I'm siding with the fire fighter on this one.

Dusty Ventures > ttyymmnn
02/06/2014 at 15:15

Posting here the same response I posted to Jariten:

Aaron James > Dusty Ventures
02/06/2014 at 15:27

That's exactly why they park the firetrucks that way. It's really hard for emergency service personnel to assist the injured at a crash scene when they have themselves just been run over by idiots not paying attention or going too damn fast.

VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/06/2014 at 17:09

I may have worked for the Fire Dept. for over a decade.

VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F > DOMdotCOM
02/06/2014 at 17:10

That is utter bullcrap. Even lifeguard trucks on the beach have O2.

VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F > Dusty Ventures
02/06/2014 at 17:14

Here you go.

Dusty Ventures > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/06/2014 at 17:39

Saw that already. I mean I'll be interested in hearing what the results of the CHP's and fire department's respective internal investigations are. Does CHP adopt any policy changes? Is the arresting officer reprimanded? Are fire fighters told "next time take up THREE lanes?" Etc

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/07/2014 at 09:28

Well that makes sense as to why you knew what was going on haha.

I was offered on a few occasions to join our ambulance squad when I was younger, but the timing never worked out.

I have a cousin who's with his fire dept. though.

DOMdotCOM > VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F
02/07/2014 at 19:50

lifeguard trucks aren't blasting through redlights at 60mph+ or dodging traffic, that's why.

VeeArrrSix now powered by FA20F > DOMdotCOM
02/08/2014 at 23:25

You'd be surprised. During the offseason I had to mob through traffic in the rain to go remote beaches to grab some idiots who were fishing in the rocks at high tide. Flat BF Goodrichs on wet pavement is no fun.