Who must give consent before a driver can drive over an unprotected fire hose at a fire scene?

Consent must be given by a fire department official in command before a driver can drive over an unprotected fire hose at a fire scene because doing so can endanger the safety of firefighters and potentially compromise their efforts to manage the fire. The official in command is designated to oversee the incident and ensure that safety protocols are followed. They can assess the situation and make an informed decision about whether it is safe for a vehicle to drive over the hose based on their authority, experience, and understanding of the ongoing operations.

The nearest firefighter may not have the authority to grant such permissions as they are focused on their immediate duties. A traffic officer may not be present or equipped to make decisions specific to the fire scene. The fire chief, while a commanding figure within the fire department, may not be on-site or directly involved in the scene management at that moment. Hence, it is the official in command who has the responsibility to give such consent, ensuring both the safety of personnel and the integrity of firefighting operations.