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There were 126 fire truck accidents this past year, according to an article in The Washington Post. Though most of the accidents were minor, 20 people were injured.
Alan Etter, spokesperson for the D.C. Fire Department, told The Hatchet that the statistics don't accurately describe the situation.
"For the most part, the accidents we're involved in are minor fender-benders and don't take the apparatus out of service for that long," Etter said. He added that D.C. fire truck accidents may seem more prevalent because the reporting criteria for accidents are more stringent than in other areas of the country.
Most of the time, it's not the fire truck drivers' fault, Etter said.
"We don't get much help from the motorists out there. They're racing the fire trucks, trying to beat them to the intersection," Etter said. "In moving traffic situations, overwhelmingly the reason the accidents occur are because of the civilian motorists."
He added that motorists often neglect to pull over and stop when fire trucks are approaching, which can cause problems for those rushing to a fire.
Landon Sewell, a firefighter with Foggy Bottom's Engine 23, said most civilian drivers aren't aware of the difficult handling of the emergency vehicles.
"A lot of people don't have respect for the size of these trucks. It takes a lot to slow it down," Sewell said. "People have to realize that these things don't maneuver like a Corvette or some type of sports car."
D.C.'s fire trucks are about eight feet wide and 31 feet long, Sewell said. The 750 gallons of water on board also gives the truck a slow brake time.
Pedestrians' carelessness also poses a major hazard for fire trucks, Sewell said. The firefighter added that people often cross the street and talk on cell phones, even while fire trucks approach.
