Tuesday, March 9, 2010 I am not a firefighter, just a buff. However, I average between four and five 9-1-1 calls every year to report that fire apparatus and fire department ambulances (the most common culprit) forgot to turn on their emergency lights! I can't help but conclude that this is a common problem. I have seen it in many different departments. When I report it to the respective fire alarm office, they will sometimes quickly notify the apparatus on the radio to "check their lights" and sometimes wait so long to do so that it is no longer relevant. One large, east coast fire alarm office actually gave me a hard time for trying to report it. This may seem trivial to most of the safety matters that you address, but seems to me to be an unnecessary hazard and completely avoidable error. Has anyone ever thought of designing a light bar that automatically goes on when the sire is activated? I know that it would have to be unique to fire apparatus, since the police would not go for it. Training and the use of a "mental checklist" is probably the answer, but I really believe that the fire service does not take this issue seriously. Thank you.