Why do cops, firefighters ALWAYS leave their engines running?

[Bennyboy]

Right now at a fire site by my house, there are 20 vehicles that answered the alarm. Every one of them has left their engine running. Not just tankers, but the SUV's that the Captain arrived in. A truck pulling a porta pottie. 3 ambulances (there were no injuries here).

This fire started at 4 AM and it is now after 6 AM, the fire is out, the fire fighters are milling about,and still 20 vehicles are here, all with their engines running.....

Why is this?

[trof]

1. And city workers.

Big diesel pickups and they always leave them running while working on the street, utilities, etc.

[datasuspect]

2. to get power for whatever "tools" they use in the course of their duties?

unless you can operate vehicle-based (non-wireless) communications/computers without running the motor. you need an electrical system for this stuff to work.

[NJmaverick]

3. Emergency vehicles have a lot of power draws

When they are in service. The emergency lights, scene lighting, power for various tools, the pumpers drow their power for the pumps from the engines are all supported by the idling engines. In addition ambulances treatment areas are kept at a proper temperature so a patient isn't put into a freezing cold or very hot vehicle. All of this is especially critical at night. The compartments need to be lit up so that one can get what they need. So fire depts also have radio repeaters (that help their radios work properly) that again need to have the vehicle running. People on the scene will often use the more powerful vehicle based radios, which again usually requires the vehicle to be running.

[datasuspect]

4. what you said

[Bennyboy]

9. Okay some of this I understand.....

But three ambulances? there were no injuries here yet three hours later they are still running.

A truck carrying a porta-pottie for the firefighters? What could possibly be crucial here?

The tanker trucks are stll here and running. They have done not one thing for at least an hour yet they are still running....

[DS1]

10. if they don't show up ready for anything, something beyond what they do show up prepared for

is usually what will happen. It's like going in on a military operation with an overwhelming force. Also, if they don't give a show of force, they'll lose the confidence of the community. Sometimes efficiency and nitpicking only hurts the greater good.

[NJmaverick]

11. Fire Fighting can be a hazardous endevor

The ambulances are there on standby. It's also possible (depending on how the town is set up) that the EMTs on the ambulance also double as firefighters. As for the fire it's self, even after it appears to be out, there is work to be done. The FFs have to ensure there isn't hidden fire that will flare up after they leave. They also need to ensure that the scene is left in safe condition. As for the porta-pottie fires can last for over 12 hours. Where do you propose the crews on scene, should do when nature calls?

[SoxFan]

13. A porta-potty truck?

Oh no.

Please, please don't mention this if you're ever in Manchester, NH, ok?

[Bennyboy]

17. Yep a porta pottie truck...

for the firefighters, A few of whom are still here and still have a few vehicles running.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Because they aren't paying for the gas you are

[baldguy]

6. How many times have you turned the key on your car to start it, and it didn't?

The automobile isn't a perfect technology: sometimes it fails. If its running, its more likely to continue to run - and in an emergency, police, fire and ambulances need their vehicles to work.

[Bennyboy]

7. maybe about once in 100,000 times....

Seems to me these vehicles are pretty well maintained, probably better than my own vehicles for sure.....And I ahve enver owned a car less than three years old. most of these vehicles are newer than that too...

[DS1]

8. same reason cops always back into a parking spot

fast getaways

[SoxFan]

12. We just began deliberating the city budget last night

I'll quietly slink out the back door at this point, thank you!

[trof]

14. My daughter went to high school in your town.

Derryfield.
She wasn't one of the rich kids.
Upper-middle, maybe.
We lived in Merrimack.
:hi:

[SoxFan]

16. LOL

I won't hold it against the rotten little spoiled brat...:evilgrin: (Kidding!)

Whatever you do, don't let her grow up to be a Manchester pol. Politics in this town is downright septic. I've received about 14 emails from an infamous local gadfly accusing me of every offense under the sun, insulting my wife, and accusing me of having "smelly teeth". This from a member of the bar, a former elected official, and cable tv host!

[trof]

18. She's a wife and mother of 2 in Melrose, MA

Her roots are in the south, but she's a New Englander at heart.
Her mom is Texas Cajun and I'm a native Alabamian.
I don't think politics is in her future.

Gotta say sending her to Derryfield was one of the best things we ever did for her. And she left heel marks all the way. But Merrimack High had a dismal reputation and we hadn't been that impressed with the middle school. Luckily she's an only child, so we afford to do more than if there had been 2 or 3.

Of course ALL of her friends were going to Merrimack.
:-(
A week after she enrolled she had taken to Derryfield like a duck to water. I liked the staff and teachers, although there's been a lot of turn over since back then.

She married her high school sweetheart and classmate many years later and we love him like our own. Did from the first time he walked through our front door.

She also made some lifelong friends, most of whom have settled in and around Boston.

[SoxFan]

19. I'm glad it worked out

I was miserable in the local public schools growing up (Sanborn Regional District, Kingston/Newton, NH), but I adapted to Central Catholic HS with no trouble at all. A guy down the street lasted only a year at CCHS before heading back to Sanborn. Different settings work differently for different people.

[LynneSin]

15. You do want them, to um, do their jobs don't you

:eyes:

[1gobluedem]

20. Service/Utility companies do it too

When I asked the Comcast guy why he left his truck running in my driveway while he was putting in a new cable outlet he said he did it to charge his phone. I found that excessive; pointed out that he was polluting the air, wasting gas, and spewing fumes all over my flower beds and asked him to shut it off. He did, but seemed surprised that it bothered me.

There are signs in the alleys here asking delivery trucks to shut off their engines because the exhaust was eating away at the old brick buildings.