FIGHTING fires may be its number one role, but there is much more to the Tasmania Fire Service than many realise.
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The service is this week urging people to drive so that others can survive and so that it can fight fires instead of cutting people out of vehicles after crashes.
This week is Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Week, where all emergency services and government vehicles display a yellow ribbon to raise the awareness of road accidents.
Launceston's Town Hall has also been lit in memory of people who have died in crashes.
Tasmania Fire Service Launceston station leading firefighter Steve Smart said the service's role at motor vehicle crashes was to rescue, provide fire protection, make the area safe by isolating hazards and cut trapped people out of vehicles if needed.
``We'd just like to see people be safe on the roads so that we don't have to go and cut people out,'' Mr Smart said.
``It's a traumatic thing for not only the person involved in the accident but also for emergency service workers.
``If we don't have to go to them, we are more than happy - we'll go and fight fires, that's a lot less traumatic usually.''
Launceston station officer Matthew Grant said it was also important for road users to get out of the way when trucks had their lights flashing.
``If you see an emergency vehicle in your rear-view mirror just pull over, stop, and let us past,'' he said. ``They are big trucks, about 10 to 12 tonnes, so get out of our way.''