Make way for vehicles with flashing green lights 

Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer 

The Municipality of Sioux Lookout is reminding people to pull over and make way for vehicles with flashing green lights in their front window, as someone’s life may depend on it. 

Manager of Emergency Services/Fire Chief, Robert Popovic shared, “The green lights are used by firefighters who are responding to an emergency. Firefighters are volunteers that have a full time job and they are usually not at the fire hall. Each firefighter carries a pager that notifies them of an emergency and that they are needed at the fire hall. Under the Highway Traffic Act, a firefighter may operate a flashing green light on their vehicle while proceeding to a fire or other emergency.” 

Popovic further stressed the importance of a quick response. He added, “The flashing green is considered a courtesy light, and all vehicles should pull over or yield, in a safe manner, to let the firefighter respond to the emergency. As we all know, seconds count when there is an emergency, and it is important that the firefighters arrive quickly and safely to the fire hall or the emergency scene. Please respect the green light.”

Popovic clarified that firefighters are required to follow all Highway Traffic Act rules and regulations, including speed limits, when using their personal vehicles.