I was driving Brush Attack 22 to get fuel with Engine 22.Both Engine 22 and Brush Attack 22 were heading north on US Highway 1.US highway 1 is a four lane highway with a medium in between the four lanes.The medium also has turn lanes that only turn left.Engine 22 was about a quarter mile ahead of Brush Attack 22 when Engine 22 moved into the left turn lane to make a left turn. Engine 22 entered the turn lane making a left hand turn onto Volco Road to enter the fuel station. Engine 22 did not stop while making the turn due to no traffic. As I entered the turn lane with Brush Attack 22 a box/delivery truck was heading south on US H ighway 1 was also entering the turn lane in the south bound lane.Both vehicles were making left hand turns.As we both entered our turn lanes I did not see anymore vehicles heading south, I did not stop to turn . As i was making my turn there was another vehicle behind the box/delivery truck that I could not see.The other vehicle was a white full size pickup pulling a trailer.When I saw the pickup I punched the gas to get out of the way of the pickup.The pickup sevred to miss the Brush Attack hitting a sign and causing damage to the bumper.The pickup was tucked up behind the box/delivery truck were I could not see them.No laws were broken when I made my turn. If i had not punched the gas the pickup would have hit the Brush Attack in the rear tires. Brush Attacks are military 6×6 vehicles .If the pickup had hit the Brush Attack there would have been alot of damage and the driver of the pickup would have been hurt. There were no injuries in this incident.
LESSONS LEARNED:
To stop at all turn lanes to make that traffic is clear before turning. If I am in a turn lane were I can not see around another vehicle would be take the extra time and look to see if everything clear.As fire fighters we have to watch out for the public when driving big vehicles. Some are slow and sometimes the public do not watch out for us. Accidents are going to happen and I am going to try to not let that happen again.This was an experience I did not like.
