Fire alarm + Police stop in San Francisco

At 1AM in the night, the San Francisco fire department is dispatched to a fire alarm in a hotel near Market street. A lot of units were responding including as far as i could see the battalions 1, and 2, engines 1, 2, 3, 41, trucks 1, 3, 8, heavy rescue 1 and medic units. There was no fire at all so that all units could return to their stations quickly. While the fire department arrives on scene you can also see a traffic stop made by the San Francisco Police department. The driver actually didn't realise that he had to stop and just kept driving. The clip was made from my hotel room in the 4th floor - by Dirk Steinhardt - www.rescue911.de - San Francisco, California, USA - 09.2010

[@Samp4rk24]

Well, for those who are wondering why there's so much response from the fire department, it's a high rise hotel with the fire alarm going off. I don't know what hotel it was, but I could imagine in San Francisco, that hotel would probably fit 100+ guests and workers. If there actually was a fire, they need everything available to be there. If I was a hotel guest, owner, or a worker there, I would sleep well knowing that the fire department would be out in force. Better safe than sorry.

[@michaelgatien4277]

Hotel Boyd :D pause at 1:42

[@CobraEmergency]

That's a pretty cool hotel view you got there looking up the road with all the vehicles coming down. Well timed with SFPD pulling over that car too! Sweet little scene all in all.

[@cinqpower]

got to love the crabbing movement of the ladder :) so much fun to see

[@huswsimonbla]

wow so much action in one video is rare at least in these emergency vids.. gotta love this one!

[@MegaAndrewn]

this is one of the best emergency video i have evers een on you tube

[@policeblue999]

One of the best videos on youtube. Nice footage. It's weird watching those ladders steer from both ends.

[@FB1ResponseVideos]

one of the best response / arriving on scene / code 3 video ive ever seen on KZbin!!

[@benlightman]

Love the video, superb camera placement you we're right in the middle of it !! Fire trucks then the cops on the traffic stop, pretty cool !!

[@alexandersalarms5380]

Add +Drunk guy screaming to the title, please!

[@Sharkteeth08]

I think it is one of the best videos on this channel!

[@Alabama2534]

Great video of all of them responding to and arriving on the scene for a fire alarm system call, dude. You make great videos. And the units of the San Francisco Fire and Police Department are: 1 Medic unit, 1 Rescue unit, 2 Tiller Ladders, and some Police units, and 4 or 5 Engines. I really don’t know.

[@freeamericausa1]

In case anyone questions what I said below. I drove a Tiller ladder, both ends for almost ten years outside of Philadelphia. Ladder 12 then. Loved it.

[@djejthib38]

when the big cities do it they do it big

[@danielfirecopter]

I remember watching this when I was like 6 or 7 years old the video came upon me in my recommendations in 2022.

[@freeamericausa1]

That's called a Tiller ladder for most. The driver in the rear of the ladder actually controls the rear wheels. If you've ever driven a boat, same principle. Turning the wheels makes it appear to be moving sideways. It is fun to have the rear. Better than the front. You can almost make the entire vehicle seem as one...following the tractor.

[@trevormacewan]

We usually get an engine and ladder during a general fire alarm activation here in Seattle. But, a great response by the fire department in this video.

[@samcampbell1351]

To be fair, here in Seattle, we get a shit load of full responses too that end up being absolutely nothing though. lol

[@trevormacewan]

Sometimes. Depends on what the call is. I know some working fire calls can average around 6 Engines, 2 or 3 Ladders, Technical Teams such as air or rescue. But, the average fire alarm usually just starts with an Engine and Ladder until it's elevated in alarm.

[@samcampbell1351]

Indeed. You are correct about the response info regarding SFD. About a year and a half ago however, a full response was sent to my neighbors house because another neighbor saw "flames" through the window of their house at about 6am, and when the firefighters arrived it was determined the neighbor was seeing an artificial fire place screen being projected from a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Another time I was listening to the scanner and heard a full response being dispatched to children's hospital, which turned out to be "burnt toast". Another time I heard a full response being dispatched to what ended up being car exhaust. It kind of just varies based on the information dispatch is given. Could have probably been a similar situation in this video, was just the point I was trying to make. I don't think any fire department sends a response of this magnitude to a simple automatic fire alarm.

[@trevormacewan]

Yea in general fire alarms like this don't usually get more than an engine or two with a ladder. Obviously something else was reported instead of just a general fire alarm like smoke or visible flames. But, as the video description states there was no fire. But, it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to building fires. The last full response I was at was during the gas leak/explosion in Greenwood. Was a block or two away when Quick Stop, Mr. Gyros, and Neptune Coffee exploded. I remember listening to my scanner and heard there was a reported gas leak not to far from where I live. So, I decided to walk down there managed to get there before Engine 21, Ladder 5, and B6 arrived. But, yea I just remember the explosion and the frantic calls Battalion 6 issued saying she had firefighters missing and needed a full response. However, she managed to keep a calm enough head to issue that mayday which is good. I'm just glad that the firefighters who were in those buildings weren't seriously injured. They were really lucky and just comes to show sometimes basic calls don't turn out the way they appeared. Was about to head home when it happened so yea I was a safe enough distance away. But, the earth shook that's for sure.

[@alexandersalarms5380]

nice mastercom B siren. And also, i hear a wheelock MT or AS alarm.

[@bonzty]

WOW, the best wwwrescue911de video ever! Awesome quality and this ambient of a city at night! Its funny how the tiller drives sidewards at 2:25

[@MegaAndrewn]

this is one of the best emergency video i have evers seen on you tube

[@igeekone]

You hit the jackpot with this video, police and fire.

[@albertomadeirajr7671]

Someone in here posted that the tiller truck posing for pictures is T6 that's not correct that tiller is T8 stationed in the lower mission district

[@Firescue112]

Einfach absolute Legende dieses Video 😆👌

[@rescue911.eu-worldwideemer3]

@@Firescue112 ich danke dir, ich weiss dein Kommentar zu schätzen. Wir haben alle das ein oder andere besondere Video gemacht 😁

[@CoolSimasGuy]

The alarm that was going off was a Wheelock AS

[@TheKagedKaijuu1]

Sounds like my school alarm

[@emergencyresponsives]

Best video rescue 911.de has ever had

[@viperq]

Thank you SFFD for helping San Bruno FD after the explosion.

[@joegaito702]

Good looking hook and ladder truck san Francisco fd your service is deeply appreciated thanks take care best wishes to everyone who responds keep up the good work. Joe

[@smokey1255]

Great vid. SFFD has a great history and well remembers the 1906 SF quake and fire that destroyed most of the city. SF is almost all hills. It's a legendary and great department. As a Battalion Chief in WA, I always preferred more rubber on the road than less. After I sized up the incident, I'd send what I didn't need home.

[@Gamer4051]

@JRFF18E The green light usually designates a incident command vehicle, although of all my years of being here in the Bay Area, I've never seen a fire engine with a green light before.

[@Nabinut]

Nice video. Talk about being at the right place at the right time.

[@KSL233]

Yes, it did. The second driver located in front of the ladder can manipulate the rear axle in order to make sharp turns or in this case crab mode.

[@backpingu]

Really good catch !!

[@AsianGameReviews]

Whoa whoa whoa, is it just me or did the trailer of the ladder truck start traveling sideways for a bit there?

[@TXnine7nine]

That’s the tiller controlling the rear wheels of the trailer. It has an independent steering system so the long trailer can go around corners easy.

[@Brotmaster55]

I LOVE us Fire Trucks and Police Cars!!! ===- this is the Best rescue911 Video ever!! I like it!!! :-]

[@RedoubleX]

The very Nesasary amount of tillers responding was 😂😂😂

[@aaronmueller7894]

i love the tiller slide sideways up to the curb and sffd is dispatched for a fire alarm at a hotel

[@Sharkmonger]

@c449watomic If an alarm goes off somewhere, the fire department has no way of telling if there's a real fire or not. If the hotel was burning, 11 units would be what they would need to keep the fire from spreading quickly.

[@Calling321]

That fire alarm strobe sure was lighting up that window well. And you could hear the alarms well into the street.

[@fcfdladder22]

8:36 lol some girl probably flashed them god I love this job!!!

[@TylerTornstrom]

One of my favorite videos of yours!! Great job!

[@occdude01]

man i love the way those tiller trucks move. best thing ever! lol

[@JakeW26]

Any plans to return to San Francisco for some more Fire,Police,and EMS Buffing in the future Dirk??

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

echt eines der besten, wenn nicht sogar das beste Video von dir, einfach geniale Aufnahmen

[@ryeunn]

Nice video, may I ask, what hotel were you in during this?

[@KSL233]

In this case given the location this is actually Truck 1 using Truck 11's reserve.

[@Rundumleuchte1]

eines der tollsten Videos überhaupt Daumen Hoch !!!

[@Francesc2000]

Awesome catch. Two shows in one and awesome response by the fire department. Excellent.

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

@MetalSanke of course it's San Francisco, otherwise there woudn't stand "San Francisco Fire Department" on the engines ^^

[@Johnny7051MC]

I saw 11-Truck at 2:12, why would they be up there? It normally would be 1-Engine, 3-Engine, 41-Engine, maybe 36-Engine, 3-Truck, 1-Truck, and I would say 5-Truck on a first response.

[@nicohain]

good quality ;) what the cam have you ?

[@Unhostile]

Awesome video, many great scenes and footage.

[@codethreeproductions]

@mariuswwww In San Francisco the buildings are so packed together, and many are historic wood-frame construction. So even a stove fire could burn down half the neighborhood in a few minutes, thats why SFFD usualy sends a full first alarm to any building alarm.

[@TomZ23]

What a great response video! A whole lot going on...

[@EvanM2007]

Whats with the Chicago Fire Department style green light on the front of the truck at about 3:43 ?

[@RbD169Productions]

EvanM07 Really delayed reply, but SFFD puts green lights on their ladders, to differentiate between truck companies and others. I forget its origins, it might be nautical related like CFD

[@eastexfiremedicalresponse9872]

From what I heard, it’s to imitate a Traffic Light.

[@kccarrtheoregonhillbillyhi4803]

Green light means supervisor

[@Mati12ful]

Hate green light on a truck

[@ko6jay681]

It's to identify a ladder truck

[@jk09345568]

Yes it was a Fire Alarm.

[@stevefisher123]

I kinda think you planned this;) all that commotion right outside your bedroom window...great vid!!!

[@Wilky575]

Love how the tillers slide sideways up to the curb.

[@Rummeltobi]

Super video! Hast eine geile Lage gehabt! Wenn ich dran denke, ich hatte damals in SF fast nur Q's gehört am Tag. Freu mich schon auf weitere SF-Videos :D Nächstes Jahr bin ich vielleicht wieder in SF, mal sehen was die Reiseroute sagt :D

[@wetbobo]

8:36 - were there some pretty college girls standing on a balcony of your hotel wearing nightgowns/pjs/bikinis/nothing at all? The driver looks quite happy :-)

[@Feuerwerkfan0]

Scheint so als hätte er es gerade geuploadet ! Weil es jetzt da dunkel ist! :D Super vor allem Police stop!

[@ryan122327]

@pastori123456 the white car didnt yeild to an emergency vehicle. they laid on the sirens a couple times and he kept moving. or some other reason

[@kamil0084]

WoW !!!!!!!!!!! Nice video :D Super film !!!!!!! Chciałbym kiedyś mieć taki widok z okna jak z każdej strony nadjeżdżają wozy i to takiej klasy !

[@dcentral]

How come I don't see any steady burn red emergency lights on any of the vehicles? I thought CA still requires steady red light for emergency vehicles?

[@shapen96]

amazing vid

[@ViperKillerWannabe]

@jacklimsws Here in the US, we've had more than a few seriously fatal hotel fires in our history, so we usually overkill it a bit just to be sure. As you can see in the video, no harm done having all the equipment show up, other than some jammed traffic for an hour or so. I know I'd rather have traffic jammed and all the equipment show up to make sure everyone in the hotel gets out safely.

[@rescueman112]

Hast du mal wieder ein Glück, echt tolles Video ***** :)

[@Gamer4051]

Imagine someone doing a drug deal there and all of a sudden all those FD & PD vehicles just suddenly roll up in a matter of 5 minutes LOL

[@Bradddd]

Is there a second driver in on trailer controlling the trailer?

[@htcTOUCHguy]

@madboutdoggys yea, it is a tiller. Pretty EPIC dricing

[@jsutton4492]

That was a pretty cool vid. Thanks for catching this.

[@EmergencyReport]

gratulation zu diesem video!! es ist der absolute hammer!! lg ZieglerHLF

[@ECgod77]

@dcentral I think that's only for police vehicles cause those are the only ones i see with steady reds.

[@frontline88888888]

Great catch! a- what was the call all about? b- why ws that car pulled over c- what the hell was that guy shouting!

[@engineco46]

Damn all that for an AFA good video

[@TheEMS41]

Tiller 6 is posing for the tourists in the end of the clip hahaha ! :-)

[@cyrussm193]

@b747dude Yeah, I think that they are whelen also, or maybe fed signal, but yeah, I was surprised when I heard the PA300 also!

[@nonamiloslavsky3943]

nice job fire fighters and nice view from the hotel

[@46fd04]

That would have been a big surprise for the first-in Engine chauffeur at 1:22. Close call with that Ambulance, gotta be so careful going the wrong way on a one-way street.

[@airforce262able]

it's the other vehicles that gotta be careful when a emergency vehicle is on call

[@coolgyger]

@scarfish1591 That would be because of the tiller driver in the rear driving the trailer. Probably trying to kepp the trailer from hitting the Cruiser.

[@ezbrony9050]

Streets of San Francisco rescue 2 I saw was there as back up

[@xXIcyStealthXx]

Well San Fran looks like a very tight city... They must attend so many false calls and try and get trucks out of these tight streets. AND get traffic flowing safely again while doing so.

[@1stresponder1]

i have a few questions. 1. was there a fire? 2. what did the guy in the white car do?

[@ferd9191]

@miniman0404 All emergency vehicles in California are required to have a steady burning red light

[@MariusW95]

That's one GOOOOD Catch you got there :D

[@MoparGuy1625]

Are all San Fran truck companies, tillers?

[@Kreemerz]

Homeless guy doing the yelling? Also, notice how those aerial ladder trucks have differential steering in the rear wheels of the trailer. Watch how the truck pulls over out of the road and basically parallel parks perfectly on the left side of the street. Check at 2:23.

[@micahcollette4129]

I think this video is relaxing

[@samuel2500]

what you said yes but it was 4 police cars total and a division chief

[@wannabenj]

How many tillers were there? I thought I saw 3

[@702xRyder]

lol he pressed on the switch to record the awesome fire trucks xD

[@Heavyres1cue]

@dcentral if you look at the patrol car, and the truck company they have the steady burn and yes it is still required by law

[@lightbarmarci]

It's very cool video!!!!!

[@crash60068]

so much goin on. just amazing!!!

[@alexanderr.d]

Nice video! :)

[@canadiancatgreen]

what is with people there siren and or lights going people just cross in front not taking note the trucks could speed up or be be going faster

[@railman2015]

the guys on those trucks are straight up badasses

[@EricCris10sen]

@stormspotters No. They keep the scene secure and if the fire isnt extremely bad and the fire department hasnt arrived on scene yet, they have to jump in and see if anyone is still in the building. nice job not knowing anything.

[@brostugen]

Whoa, quite a commotion, I didn't even see a smoke.....!

[@112Amstelland]

woow nice catch i love the horns of the fire trucks

[@joemac356]

The guy gets pulled over at A Fire Hydrant.

[@HeaderOverEast]

First Wagon came in hot!!