PAFD looks to improve safety in front of hall

After a couple near misses this year, the Prince Albert Fire Department wants to improve safety for fire trucks and vehicles passing by the fire hall on 15th Street East.

When the fire trucks are exiting and entering the hall, there are a set of lights on the median that firefighters can trigger to stop traffic. But there are times that cars haven’t stopped for the lights – and that’s when the near misses happen.

In an effort to eliminate the potential for accidents, the fire department is looking to the City to make the lights more visible. A report from transportation and traffic manager Mohammad Kraishan lists three light pole options, but recommends the installation of a new six-metre light pole, at a cost of $14,000.

Fire Chief Jason Everitt said what they are proposing would be in addition to the median lights that are in front of the fire hall right now.

“What it would essentially do is extend our current ability or capacity to let the motorists know that apparatus will either be leaving the fire hall or [is] in the process of trying to return. The existing median lights that [are] there right now will remain. This will be just basically supplementing that,” he said.

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Everitt said that what the fire department found is that east and westbound drivers don’t always notice the median lights. When the lights are activated, they’ve seen the flow of traffic continue for a period of time. He said traffic will typically stop when drivers see fire trucks with their emergency lights on trying to make their way into the lane or across it.

The lights are activated by firefighters when they’re responding to a call, or returning from a call, the lights remain on for a period of time and then shut off.

He said the existing technology was effective when it was first put in place, but there’s now some question about the quality of the lamp, whether it’s difficult to see due to lighting conditions and the placement of the lights.

Most of the time, crews have the most trouble with traffic not stopping when the lights are activated when they’re returning to the hall. The lights flash on a timer once activated, and Everitt said that when the lights time out, traffic will try to move forward. Drivers will even try to wiggle their way around the fire trucks. Everitt credits the crews’ defensive driving with avoiding accidents in that area.

He said the fire department is very much aware of the challenges with the traffic flow.

“It’s a very congested area, lots of high traffic going through there in certain periods of the day and our staff are monitoring that very closely and making sure that they operate the apparatus in a diligent, safe manner, so that something doesn’t happen.”

During the budget negotiations, a proposed $30,000 15th Street East meridian warning project was rejected by members of council. As there currently is no funds set aside for the new light enhancements, the City would need to establish a budget for this project.

Council will make a final decision about the proposed emergency light enhancements at next Monday’s meeting.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames