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Madison’s fire engines given light right of way

Red lights may glow atop Madison fire engines, but city streetlights are now showing the trucks more green ones.

City of Madison Fire Marshal Ed Ruckriegel unveiled the completion of a citywide project Tuesday that gives fire trucks the right of way at dozens of area intersections.

When a fire engine with its lights and sirens on drives within 1,800 feet of a stoplight equipped with the technology, the stoplight turns green, allowing the vehicle to pass through without having to slow down or wait for the light to change.

The goal, Ruckriegel said, involves reducing response times and improving safety for firefighters weaving their way through sometimes heavy city traffic.

“It’s not an alternate to locating fire stations, it’s not an alternate to building fire stations by any means,” Ruckriegel said. “It’s just a tool that improves response times and more importantly improves fire fighter safety.”

The recently completed implementation of the new technology included 64 intersections citywide at a cost of about $1,400 each or $90,000 total. Ninety percent of the funding came from the state with the remainder coming out of city funds.

Ruckriegel and MFD Public Information Officer Lori Wirth provided a look at the system at the Fire Administration Building Tuesday morning.

Each Madison fire truck and ambulance has a transmitter that looks like black box on the top or front side of it. The transmitter emits a strobe light to communicate with the upcoming stoplights.

The technology has been gradually put into use since 2001, Ruckriegel said, adding the transmitters are working.

“In terms of real feedback, we haven’t received a lot other than, ‘Let’s get some more,’” he said.

As a result, the department is looking into obtaining the technology at an additional 100 intersections citywide.

Ruckriegel said the Department of Homeland Security provides some fire safety grants that city officials might look into obtaining to expand the project.

Minneapolis reported response times reduced by an average of 10 to 20 seconds due to the technology, Ruckriegel said. The Madison Fire Department’s goal is to respond to calls within five minutes.