Fire engine #10 needed to go down Lakeshore Ave, responding to an emergency, but they were met with an unruly crowd.
Oakland, CA firefighters had precious, live-saving minutes wasted by a crowd of unruly July 4th celebrators blocking their way headed to an emergency earlier yesterday. Video captured from an apartment rooftop shows Oakland residents climbing on top of the fire truck, banging on the engine, and overall being a nuisance to an emegency vehicle headed to the scene of an unfolding potential fire.
Check out the footage of Oakland residents delaying a fire fighter crew below.
Above is a video of a large crowd at Lakeshore Ave and Brooklyn Ave delaying 10 Engine’s response to an emergency. Thankfully, the cool headed crew was patient with a crowd that was jumping, dancing and banging on the fire engine and no one was seriously hurt, but our inability to respond to emergencies when we are needed most is distressing.
The evening of July 4th was an excuse for thousands of Americans around the country to flood the streets in complete disregard of social distancing rules and orders to mask up in public. Thousands gathered on this intersection hours before this fire engine had to roll through.
As you can see on Google Maps, this intersection is in the heart of Oakland, part of a major artery of streets that normally wouldn’t be impeded with foot traffic any other day.
Firehouse #10 is only 1.2 miles from this intersection.
Thankfully, Oakland Fire reports that only time was wasted, no significant damage to their fire engine happened, and, thanks to the cool heads of those firefighters, they eventually got to where they needed to go.
Oakland Fire says that,
We recognize the variables of our current reality are broad and complex, but the lack of social distancing amidst a surging pandemic and the amount of illegal fireworks in the middle of wildfire season are extremely concerning. Most of the fires we responded to yesterday were caused by illegal fireworks and in a few weeks some of our exposures to Covid 19 will stem from yesterday’s recklessness.
It’s one thing to take to the streets to let off some steam with your fellow city residents but to block potentially life saving emergency services is unconscionable.
These Oakland residents should’ve given wide berth to this fire crew, getting people out of the way.
