302: Driving and Operation

Fire Department Vehicle Operations

• Fire Department vehicle operation procedures must follow all Ohio State Law, City of Cincinnati Ordinances and the Fire Department Procedure Manual.
• Preventable accidents are defined as any incident involving a City-owned or personal vehicle used for city business, resulting in property damage and/or personal injury where all reasonably possible measures to prevent the accident were not taken.
• Defensive Driving must be practiced at all times.
• Company officers are required to visually check apparatus before boarding to ensure all members are in position with seatbelts fastened.
• No City vehicles should be moved or driven with any door open.
• Appliance bay doors should never be left in a partially open position. The remote control should be released as soon as the door begins moving, and a malfunctioning door immediately reported.
• Members must respond in a seated position, with seatbelts fastened.
• Cables, skid chains, and salt must be carried on all apparatus from November 1st to April 1st.
• Spotters are assigned specific roles and responsibilities while backing up apparatus.
• Hand signals for backing up are limited to:
  • One hand, fingers together and extended, moving back and forth, indicating to continue moving in reverse with the other arm fully extended indicating the direction the spotter wants the back of the apparatus to go.
  • An extended arm with a closed fist indicates the driver should stop.
• Spotter responsibilities while backing up:
  • The officer and spotters must switch their radios to an appropriate channel before dismounting the apparatus.
  • The officer's radio must be on the appropriate channel and must also monitor Fire Dispatch simultaneously.
  • Members assigned as spotters must remain in the sight of the FAO or officer's mirror.
  • When manpower permits, two firefighters should be assigned to watch the rear of the apparatus, one at each corner.
  • The FAO must immediately stop the apparatus if there is any doubt or loss of visual contact with any spotter.
• The preferred method for returning apparatus to quarters is to drive through the Fire Station, back to front when possible.
• Operators must observe conditions around the vehicle to determine any obstacles.
• The company officer is responsible for ensuring proper backing procedures are used.
• Extension and elevation limits must be followed for aerial ladders, and they must not be subjected to high temperatures or overloading.
• Overriding the outrigger leveling system on aerial ladders is discouraged.
• Torqueing or twisting in aluminum ladders is a concern, and care must be taken to support both beams and limit the number of fire personnel on the ladder.
• Ladder pipe operations should be done within the parameters of extension and elevation, keeping the hose line in the center of the ladder and rotating slowly.
• Any dents, tears, loose cables, excessive noise, or potential problems with an aerial ladder must be immediately reported to the immediate supervisor and Fleet Services.
• ZeroRPM Idle Mitigation System in newer apparatus will be disabled due to ongoing issues.
• A moratorium on the purchase of additional technology will be in place for one year to better understand how to resolve these issues moving forward.
• All Fire Apparatus Operators and utility drivers should shut down the apparatus once on scene when the situation permits.

Test your knowledge on the vehicle operation procedures for the Fire Department, ensuring compliance with Ohio State Law and Cincinnati Ordinances. This quiz covers critical guidelines on preventive measures, defensive driving, and safety protocols for all members during vehicle operations.