Following two horrific incidents last October and November of vehicles – including a truck in one instance – crashing into emergency vehicles at accident sites, Clarington is asking the MTO to use ‘blocker trucks’.
Five firefighters were hurt in the two accidents – one last October in Clarington when a truck crashed into a firetruck at a collision site on Highway 401. Two firefighters were injured. The following month, three firefighters were hurt when a SUV crashed into an accident site. The driver was charged.
A Clarington Council motion acknowledged that Highway 401, Highway 407, Highway 418, and Highway 115/35 are high-volume provincial highways that experience significant traffic volumes, including commercial motor vehicle traffic. Collisions on these highways create elevated risks for emergency responders and the travelling public.
Use of Fire Services Vehicles
In the absence of dedicated traffic protection resources at the scene, fire apparatus, including pumpers and tankers, may be positioned as blocker vehicles to shield responders, patients, and damaged vehicles from approaching traffic, said the motion of June 22.
However, it said the use of fire apparatus as blocker vehicles can result in damage to essential emergency response vehicles, reduce the availability of fire protection resources, and place firefighters and other emergency personnel at increased risk of injury.
But dedicated blocker trucks, appropriate traffic control equipment, and trained personnel can provide enhanced protection at highway incidents and support safer, more effective emergency response operations, it pointed out.
It was resolved that:
- The Clarington Council request that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) work with its highway maintenance contractor, Miller Group, to ensure that appropriate blocker trucks, traffic protection equipment, and trained personnel are available and able to respond in a timely manner to motor vehicle collisions and other emergency incidents on Highway 401, Highway 407, Highway 418, and Highway 115/35 within the Municipality of Clarington.
- That MTO be requested to review existing highway incident response protocols to ensure that fire services are not required to rely on fire apparatus as primary blocker vehicles except where immediately necessary to protect life and safety; and
- That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the MTO, Miller Group, the local Member of Provincial Parliament, neighboring lakeshore municipalities within the Region of Durham and the Municipality of Port Hope.
The motion was carried on a recorded vote of 7 to 0.
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