Blocker truck programs are not anything new, especially in Texas. There are different variations on what constitutes a blocker—a repurposed rig with or without an attenuator, a new purpose-built rig with an attenuator, a front-line rig dispatched along with first-due apparatus to act as a blocker, etc.
The San Marcos (TX) Fire Department recently instituted a blocker program based on proofs of concept from other cities in Texas, including one of the more well-known programs started by the Irving (TX) Fire Department. But, according to Chief Les Stephens, San Marcos may have rewritten the script on these rigs.
SAN MARCOS BLOCKER PROGRAM
Chief Victor Conley, of the Irving Fire Department, had the original concept and developed the blocker program in 2016. From there, the concept spread statewide and nationwide, according to Stephens. With Interstate 35 going through the center of San Marcos, Stephens saw the need to implement a blocker program there—with the benefit of having watched other departments and how they implemented their programs.
Staffing was a concern for Stephens, but that problem worked itself out when the department was able to add one additional engineer per shift. This means the rig is staffed 24/7/365. “We saw early on that staffing it episodically or when staffing allowed really wouldn’t provide the benefit,” says Stephens. “You couldn’t guarantee that when it was staffed was when it was needed. It needed to be staffed all the time, and we were able to do that.” Stephens says that every engineer who is assigned to an engine or truck can be detailed to the blocker rig.
1 The San Marcos (TX) Fire Department’s Blocker 4 is a 2001 Pierce previously configured as a quint. (Photos courtesy of Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists unless otherwise noted.)
2 Blocker 4 in service at a roadway incident with arrow boards deployed. The emergency lighting package is by Whelen. [Photo courtesy of the San Marcos (TX) Fire Department.]
3 The Command Light arrow boards and light tower are run by a gas-powered portable generator.
The rig, known as Blocker 4, is located at a station that’s about the midpoint of the jurisdiction and only a few blocks away from I-35. “They’re dispatched with the emergency apparatus and the ambulance going to that call,” he says. “They’re part of the box so there’s no delay. They’re dispatched as an emergency response—lights and sirens. They’re busier than they thought they were going to be, I’ll tell you that.”
Once the rig arrives on scene and the operator positions it and sets up the light tower and arrow boards, the operator may move down to the scene of the accident. He can sit in the apparatus at the scene or, if there’s work to be done, he can assist. “That way, we don’t have a person sitting in the blocker vehicle were it to be struck,” Stephens adds.
BLOCKER 4
To get started, the fire department acquired a pumper that was built on a commercial chassis. With a budget secured to design the blocker, San Marcos personnel discovered that the commercial chassis was lighter than they needed. The frame rails were a lighter gauge, and overall the vehicle weighed less. The recommendation to Stephens was to seek out another platform for the blocking rig. Given the opportunity, Stephens determined that if the goal is to block multiple lanes