what does "early shutdown" mean?

[MichMar]

Sometimes I hear the dispatcher put out a call, and then say "early shutdown requested" at the end. What do they mean by that?

[hoser147]

Alot of times people will request when they call in to shutdown Lights and Siren when approaching the scene. There are different laws in different states as to the use of lights and sirens. Here in Ohio while moving you are supposed to have both activated. It depends on the department standing orders..............hoser

[MichMar]

Thanks - that's kind of what I thought, but wasn't sure.

[firephotographer50]

I hear that a lot with EMS and rescue on medicals in St. Clair County where dispatch will request the units to "shutdown prior to arrival".

[Piston52Heavy]

Originally Posted by hoser147

Alot of times people will request when they call in to shutdown Lights and Siren when approaching the scene. There are different laws in different states as to the use of lights and sirens. Here in Ohio while moving you are supposed to have both activated. It depends on the department standing orders..............hoser

I live in Macomb Twp. and I hear sirens at 2 AM. I don't understand why they need the siren on at that hour. I can understand having the siren on while trying to get through traffic during the day.

[ddoppke]

I used to work EMS in Macomb County and actually had an emergency driving course put on by the MSP. From what I remember it's the law if you are going to exceed the speed or disregard the signals you were required to have atleast one light and an audable siren on.

[hoser147]

Might check your state laws on it, we had a couple that bought a house across from the fire house and they constantly complained to the chief. Our state law states that they both have to be in use together when moving to and/or from the scene. However you might try and find out if that is the case. Try talkin to one of them and see. If they are Volunteer you probably hear a lot more sirens, as they respond both ways. Best of Luck Hoser

[MetroMike]

Per Michigan statute, law enforcement can go without the siren (lights only) on runs where silence would be necessitated (MCL 257.603[5]).

[ddoppke]

you are correct but it is specific. "(5) A police vehicle shall retain the exemptions granted in this section to an authorized emergency vehicle without sounding an audible signal if the police vehicle is engaged in an emergency run in which silence is required." As I said I worked EMS, and it was about 25yrs ago, and I had the understanding it was required. But, hey either way it can be annoying if you live near by. My daughter was looking at a house right next to a fire station until I asked her how much she valued her sleep. I don't want to start any haggling here so this is all I'll say on it. I am just like the rest, or most of us here and just enjoy monitoring and ham radio. And since I already dated myself I would just like to add I remember my first radio used for monitoring. A 5 band tunable Radio Shack radio. Like the term sneaker net, this was called manual scanning.

[SEMTTP]

Originally Posted by Piston52Heavy

I live in Macomb Twp. and I hear sirens at 2 AM. I don't understand why they need the siren on at that hour. I can understand having the siren on while trying to get through traffic during the day.

Way back when I was in the Fire Department Explorer program. One of the Fire Captains said it best..... "If I have to be waken up in the middle of the night for a rescue call-then everyone else is going to have to be awake"

I loved that saying and I agree with it. On a more serious note, most departments will not run the siren unless they have to. However, when approaching intersections, lights and sirens should be going.

[BuiltonAsus]

My apartment is so close to the fire station that I can easily hear dispatch from their station if they have their doors open. They NEVER run sirens at night, but we are also located next to an intersection and all lights turn red when they go out. The only way I know they are responding to a call is if their lights are on, or when they rev up their desiel engines. Even during the day I rarely hear them run sirens, but then again I am gone most of the day. I personally love living next to one, because if there were ever an emergency, especially the risk that apartment complexes pose, they are already on scene.

[OldBlue]

Actually, the Michigan Vehicle Code, commonly referred to as Public Act 300, allows certain exemptions under certain conditions: Section 257.603 subsection 4 reads,

The exemptions granted in this section to an authorized emergency vehicle apply only when the driver of the vehicle while in motion sounds an audible signal by bell, siren, air horn, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, except as provided in subsection (5), and when the vehicle is equipped with at least 1 lighted lamp displaying a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc unless it is not advisable to equip a police vehicle operating as an authorized emergency vehicle with a flashing, oscillating or rotating light visible in a 360 degree arc. In those cases, a police vehicle shall display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle. Only police vehicles that are publicly owned shall be equipped with a flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue light that when activated is visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet in a 360 degree arc.

I realize that the term, as may be reasonably necessary is somewhat subjective, but I submit that at 2 am with no other vehicles on the street other than the responding unit, running a siren is NOT reasonably necessary.

I also feel that the remark about if I have to be awake, then so should every one else is just moronic and shows a total lack of professionalism. Volunteer or on-call ambulance and firefighting members already have a difficult enough time justifying the need for 15 vehicles speeding to a scene. Why provoke the citizenry even more by waking them needlessly just because it gives some half-evolved imbecile a power rush!

[johnvassel]

It isnt necessary to have lights or sirens going if you're not planning on exceeding the speed laws or violating any other traffic laws.
Where I work, we get dispatched through an EMD system. Priority 1 and 2 calls are typically expected to be run with lights and siren. But anyone claiming difficulty in breathing qualifies as a priority 1. It's not unusual for dispatch info to be . "Priority one call, pt has had fever for 4 days, is lightheaded and difficulty in breathing". We usually dont respond hot on something like that.
However, a sudden onset of chest pain gets the lights and sirens all the way to the scene, regardless of the request of an early shutdown.
If they called us, they need us.

[policeMonitor]

so what if ur a whacker responding to a call?

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by hoser147

Might check your state laws on it, we had a couple that bought a house across from the fire house and they constantly complained to the chief. Our state law states that they both have to be in use together when moving to and/or from the scene. However you might try and find out if that is the case. Try talkin to one of them and see. If they are Volunteer you probably hear a lot more sirens, as they respond both ways. Best of Luck Hoser

After the new fire hall was built, Grosse Ille won't activate the fire vehicle sirens until they get so far down the road, per neighbors complaining. It wasn't an issue at the old fire hall because it used to be in the middle of the business district. Now when the door opens on the barn, the siren's pointing right at homes.

[GreatLakes]

Originally Posted by Piston52Heavy

I live in Macomb Twp. and I hear sirens at 2 AM. I don't understand why they need the siren on at that hour. I can understand having the siren on while trying to get through traffic during the day.

The FD pulling out of the new firehouse on 25 Mile Rd are pretty considerate. The diesel exhaust is usually louder than the sirens at that hour. They seem to make an honest effort to keep them on the low side. Some of the volunteer's vehicles are another story. It may be a liability issue too...if they didn't have them on, and you pulled out in front of them.

[Piston52Heavy]

Originally Posted by GreatLakes

The FD pulling out of the new firehouse on 25 Mile Rd are pretty considerate. The diesel exhaust is usually louder than the sirens at that hour. They seem to make an honest effort to keep them on the low side. Some of the volunteer's vehicles are another story. It may be a liability issue too...if they didn't have them on, and you pulled out in front of them.

I can see this happening - it's 3AM and one of the fire trucks is on a run with lights on and someone runs into the truck. "Well they didn't have the siren on..." Like you couldn't see all those lights flashing?!

[hoser147]

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

After the new fire hall was built, Grosse Ille won't activate the fire vehicle sirens until they get so far down the road, per neighbors complaining. It wasn't an issue at the old fire hall because it used to be in the middle of the business district. Now when the door opens on the barn, the siren's pointing right at homes.

Our old house was downtown also and the Apartment dwellers still complained. They built a new one in a residential area a few blocks from downtown, but its a 5 point intersection, (actually 6 with the Ramp coming out of the house) with 3 of them State Highways. Thats the reason we ran em all the way from the Barn doors. This was explained when the neighbor complained and she squalled more than a siren. Law or not it's kind of a what you have to work with deal. Thats why I stated to ask someone at the station. Hoser

[gpp10x]

Originally Posted by Piston52Heavy

I can see this happening - it's 3AM and one of the fire trucks is on a run with lights on and someone runs into the truck. "Well they didn't have the siren on..." Like you couldn't see all those lights flashing?!

Honest Officer!! I was blinded by all them flashing lights!!!!