| Did you know that it is illegal to drive over a fire hose in Pennsylvania? Not only is it illegal, but driving over a fire hose is also extremely dangerous because:
- It could cause the hose to burst. This would stop the water supply to the firefighters actively fighting a fire.
- The hose can get caught on a car and drug down the road. It could possibly hit and injure firefighters or bystanders.
- Fire engines and hydrants can be damaged and made unusable if hoses get torn off of them.
- Hoses carry large amounts of water under high pressure. A burst in the hose can injure drivers and bystanders.
- When a car drives over it, the hose must be taken out of service and tested to ensure it is safe to use.
- Each of our engines carry 1,500 feet of 5-inch diameter supply hose. If a section of 5-inch supply hose is damaged, it can cost the fire company up to $900.00 to replace a 100' section of the damaged hose.
The videos below demonstrate the dangers.
We do our best to prevent cars from driving over hoses in the roadway by closing roads or setting up cones around the hose. However, it can take time to get the protections set up and in place. This could leave hose temporarily unprotected.
If there is fire hose in the roadway, even if it is flat with no water flowing through it, DO NOT DRIVE OVER THE HOSE. Find an alternate route. If that isn't possible, safely park your vehicle away from the scene and ask a nearby police officer, fire police officer, or firefighter to help you safely navigate around the fire scene. Driving over our hoses puts the lives of our volunteers, the lives of victims potentially trapped in a burning building, and our fire equipment at risk. |
