Each year, firefighters and civilians die when vehicles operated by firefighters are involved in crashes while responding to or returning from emergencies. Many of these tragedies could be prevented through the proper implementation and application of standard operating procedures.  

Standard operating procedures provide firefighters with information about the hazards of emergency response as well as the parameters that will be used to assure safety during the response. The resources below will assist fire departments as they research and develop their own written policies and procedures for emergency vehicle safety.

These documents were developed by the IAFC working in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration. Materials prepared by the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, the USFA and others are also included.