Why do the stoplights change when a fire engine goes by?
-One of the most dangerous things that we must deal with in the fire department is not fires, but driving to calls. This is where a major portion of injuries and deaths occur. To help cut down on accidents and traffic congestion, most ambulances and fire engines in Skagit County have a device called Opticom. This is a strobe light like device that is mounted on the top of the fire truck, near the light bar. When activated, this light triggers the stoplights to green in the direction of travel. This allows traffic to move smoothly and minimizes the chances of an accident.
