Horry County Fire Rescue rolls out new tool to get drivers to slow down, move over
HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Horry County Fire Rescue has a new tool to safely control traffic around the scene of an emergency.
When firefighters suit up, and head out they’re often headed into harm’s way. When those calls place them on a road, their lives are at risk.
“Directing traffic and working on incidents on the roadways is actually the most dangerous job we do. It’s not even running in buildings and some of those things, it’s actually being out there and exposed to traffic," said Horry County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Charlie Nash.
First responders said sometimes the flashing lights aren’t enough. In order to get people to move over and slow down, firefighters are rolling out new equipment, literally.
“It’s a portable speed bump, is basically what it is," said Nash.
Within seconds, the lightweight, portable speed bump is deployed out on the road while first responders work a crash. It slows cars to a crawl to help make it safer for crews on scene.
“People know how to get from point A to point B and always when there’s something in the middle it kind of throws them for a loop. So, the best thing we can do is direct them a certain way and slow them down with these tools," said Nash.
The county currently has three spread out among its fire stations. The new tool comes just months after an Horry County firefighter was severely injured while working a crash on Highway 501. Nash said these dangerous encounters happen all too often.
“On a weekly basis, around the country, there’s always roadside incidents with distracted drivers running into fire apparatus, police vehicles, and so forth.”
That’s why they’ve taken safety measures into their own hands.
“We have to set up the scene and these portable speed bumps, right now, is a great way we’ve found that is very, very efficient and it’s been working great so far," said Nash.
The fire stations have already using these portable speed bumps at crash scenes.
Horry County Fire Rescue looks forward to possibly purchasing more of these speed bumps in the future.
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