Willy St. Reopens - Firefighters Are Dodging Traffic

The long-awaited reopening of Williamson St. has businesses and residents celebrating. But motorists may be celebrating a little too much. Firefighters at Station #3, 1217 Williamson St., have spent some difficult months maneuvering Engine 3 through the construction. Now that the street has reopened in both directions, drivers seem to have forgotten the need to allow Engine 3 to safely enter and exit the fire station. Company officers say drivers simply aren't stopping for firefighters when crews are backing the engine into the station after a call. The situation has made it dangerous for firefighters to even step out into the street to direct the apparatus engineer. On several occasions, drivers have barely missed firefighters as they cut around the engine. Wisconsin state law requires drivers to stop for emergency apparatus entering and leaving the station. The state allows firefighters to report violations to the police. Firefighters stationed at #3 would prefer that drivers just stop, look, and listen to allow crews the brief time they need to safely enter and exit.