VIDEO: The Tucson Fire Department said every day its trucks go out, at least one trip leaves them waiting to get through cars that just wonโt move. โItโs frustrating and itโs heartbreaking,โ said TFD Captain Victor Espinoza. The TFD said while the stalling cars blend together day by day, the saddest stories are the ones they remember. โWe were responding to an elderly female who was having a heart attack,โ Espinoza said. โAnd because traffic was not getting out of our way, we kept getting stuck, and she did not have a good outcome.โ Whether itโs a house fire, a cardiac arrest, or a swift water rescue, the big trucks rely on each driver to make the decision to get to the right side of the road and stop.
โThat one decision can hurt our response time,โ said TFD Engineer Paul Hestand. First responders said that each second matters when they are responding to a scene. Sometimes, cars stopping in front of them can turn a five-minute drive into a 15-minute one. So, our first responders are asking drivers in the city to give them a hand. โIf you can, please get out of the way because we might be coming to you, your family, or somebody you know and love,โ Espinoza said. It is illegal not to move over for an emergency vehicle and could result in fines up to $650.
