This monthís safety tip is intended to protect firefighters as much as it protects citizens. In short: Never drive over a fire hose, whether or not itís flowing water.Fires donít usually happen in convenient places, but firefighters try to minimize the impact on traffic whenever possible. In October, a fire engine and crew working to put out a vehicle fire temporarily impeded traffic. During the incident, an impatient person ignored flashing emergency lights and traffic cones, and drove a vehicle over a charged fire hose.Driving over a fire hose can jeopardize firefighter safety, since a charged hose can burst under the weight of a car and disrupt water flow to a fire. A damaged fire hose is also expensive to replace. Additionally, drivers can be cited for ìcrossing a fire hoseî, which is a class B traffic infraction under section 42-4-1404 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
