Report Number: 05-0000211
Report Date: 05/27/2005
Event Description
I was the engineer of one of our trucks responding to a comfirmed structure fire. We could see heavy smoke and flames from several miles away. I approached an intersection with a red light in my direction of travel and proceeded through without gaining control of the intersection. As we went through the intersection I saw the emergency lights of another responding unit only a few hundred feet from the intersection. If we had been a few seconds slower or the other rig a few seconds faster we could have had an accident. This could have injuried or killed several firefighters and at the least taken two crews and their rigs out of service. The incident was due to my lack of awerness due to being awakened, excitement and lack of experince as an engineer.
Lesson Learned
I have learned that I need to:
1. control my emotions,
2. deal with the task at hand,
3. not tunnel in on the emergency that I am responding to.
It is not my emergency and I am reponsible for my crews' life and safety. It was a lesson that I have taken to heart and have learned from. I am grateful that something tragic did not happen.
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