New Baltimore Fire Response Policy Runs Hot, Warm and Cold

The Baltimore Fire Department is announcing a new response system that it says will save money and increase safety for responders and civilians on city streets.

Under the new policy set to begin in August, responses will be deemed “hot,” “warm” or cold.

For “hot” responses, crews will operate with lights and sirens and lights to move quickly through traffic. On “warm” calls, only the first units will respond with lights and sirens and additional units will not. On “cold” calls, responding units will move with traffic.

Fire Chief James Clack says the city won’t be sending unneeded equipment on nonemergency calls or taking unnecessary risks.

A city fire truck sped through a red light last December, striking a sport utility vehicle and killing three people. The alarm turned out to be a pot burning on a stove.

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Information from: The (Baltimore) Sun,
http://www.baltimoresun.com