# What is with huge fire trucks showing up at the scene of a minor injury? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128 "2009-09-22T19:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128/41 "2009-09-23T19:33:11Z")
> [@PetW](#): > > I know Orlando FD washes their vehicles every day. It’s mainly a public image/professional pride thing. They say that the taxpayers pay for their truck, they figure it’s their job to keep it clean. I had a friend years ago who was a volunteer firefighter/medic. He drove the medic unit and had a minor accident, so was punished by having to wash the entire heavy rescue squad all by himself. He told me it took him many hours. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128/42 "2009-09-23T19:47:30Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I lived in northwest Baltimore County for many years, until we moved two years ago. I was also an avid scanner listener. Have they really increased every paid station to two medics? Just of the top of my head, I remember that stations 2, 3, 14, and 18 each had one medic. In fact, I remember when stations 2, 3 and 19 didn’t even have their own medic units. Yep. They started out by adding an additional medic to the busiest stations, but it was only staffed during daytime hours (E-shift). As they realized the benefit (and need) to having two medics, they were added to more stations, and several years ago, the staffing was made 24 hours. Looking [here](http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/fire/stationinfo/index.html), you can see which stations have two medics. It looks like that hasn’t been updated in a while, though. I know positively that 10, 11, 14 and 17 have two medics. So does 55. I’m pretty sure 2 and 3 both have two medics now - they’re two of the busiest stations. Scrolling farther down, I’m nearly positive 39, 48 and 47 (vollie stations) have two medics. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128/43 "2009-09-23T20:14:46Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Here in Los Angeles, an engine (not to be confused with a truck, which in reality is a ladder truck) is dispatched to all calls along with the ambulance, ALS, BLS, whatever. Hangnails won’t stop them from coming. No, this is wrong. A fire apparatus is _not_ dispatched on every medical call, at least in L.A. city. There are many calls where only an ambulance will be dispatched. Or, there are some calls where two ambulances will be dispatched (one ALS and one BLS). Also, there have been many times where, as a firefighter/paramedic, I’ve needed the manpower from an engine or truck to assist my partner and I with patient care. St. Urho mentions a few examples of those instances, but there are many more. There have been numerous times where a call came in as a “person down” then when we arrive on scene, we find the patient in full arrest. Handling a patient in full arrest requires more than two paramedics. We need the extra manpower from the engine. If, however, we arrive on scene, and all we find is a sprained ankle, we’ll cancel the engine, and they’ll be on their merry way. They don’t have to stay with us the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128/44 "2009-09-23T21:09:37Z")
> [@vandal](#): > > No, this is wrong. A fire apparatus is _not_ dispatched on every medical call, at least in L.A. city. Wow, what crack was I smoking this morning? You are absolutely correct. Why the algorithm at OCD that dictates what the responding units to the incident shall be didn’t occur to me is a bit frightening. I’m too young for old-timer’s :smack: ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128/45 "2009-09-24T00:29:37Z")
I can’t seem to dig up a cite for it, but I thought that it was written into the law that they had to respond. Some cities in massachusetts are doing away with this due to lack of money. > **[Mass. firefighters cease EMS operations due to budget woes](https://www.ems1.com/ems-management/articles/mass-firefighters-cease-ems-operations-due-to-budget-woes-ClviJZtnJLaMmd99/)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-with-huge-fire-trucks-showing-up-at-the-scene-of-a-minor-injury/511128.md?page=2)