KPTV
PORTLAND, Ore. — When a patient abruptly stopped his medical assessment and climbed behind the wheel of a Portland fire vehicle, firefighters were quickly able to grab the keys and stop the man from driving away.
No one was hurt, but some firefighters say the incident highlights concerns about the safety of taking smaller fire vehicles to calls. A two-person crew drove a small SUV known as a Rapid Response Vehicle to Friday’s medical call on East Burnside, near 135th Avenue.
In a move to trim the budget this year, the Portland Fire Bureau replaced larger equipment with RRVs at two stations. Four RRVs are now in use at fire stations in the city. They are used to respond to low priority medical calls, rather than sending a four-person crew in an engine or truck. Alan Ferschweiler, the president of the Portland Firefighters Association, said the city rushed into expanding the program, without providing important safety training for firefighters.
Full story: Union calling for more training for firefighters using new fire vehicles