Give way to Ambulance

[FarSur81]

Hi,
They other day, I stopped at a traffic light controlled intersection (First car), and I was turning right. I noticed about 3 blocks away to my left, on the road I was turning into some blue and red flashing lights. They, didn't appear to be moving.
Some time later 10-15 seconds, I noticed the vehicle (An Ambulance) had moved but only a short distance, to another intersection. Basically the whole time I was stopped, and waiting to turn, this Ambulance slowly made it's way towards me. I turned, and 10 seconds later the Ambulance was behind another vehicle, behind me, at a distance of almost 100meters.
I AM AWARE OF MY OBLIGATION TO GIVE WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES
but I couldn't hear an siren, and they were way back. I wasn't sure of anything. Just a patient transport, or forgot to turn the warning lights off?
I decided to pull over, and the vehicle behind me, more or less followed, and then the Ambulance accelerated past us both, I could then hear the siren, and they made good speed. (80-90km/hr in a 60)

So. Since this is the first time emergency vehicle behind me, is this normal ? The emergency vehicle hangs back?
Should I have not entered the intersection as I knew there was an emergency vehicle approaching ? (At the time of entering the intersection they Ambulance was 3/4 up the block, white car in front of them, which may explain why the Ambulance was traveling slowly.

Any other comments, Please

[Hardy]

You are required to give way. You can't do that until you are driving in a way which impedes their path.

[FarSur81]

So it would be normal that the Ambulance "hangs back" and siren it's audible?
OR.
So my Brain can handle it.
If there are flashing lights, pull over ? (Or at least give way, make room).

[Hardy]

The siren is is not so important. If the lights are flashing you need to get out of the way if you can do so without committing an offence. I'm not sure what your problem is.

[Gravy]

Emergency services, particularly ambos it seems, are a bit more selective with the siren these days. From what I've observed it's no longer the case that lights and siren go on when there's an emergency; it's lights go on, and the siren is used approaching intersections or to get someone's attention if they haven't noticed the lights. I think it's much more common these days to see lights only, which makes sense as there's no need to annoy the whole neighbourhood with a siren if they're blasting down a clear road.

[bluesky]

I've done drive alongs with AV, and I can tell you that a code 1 response means ASAP, but lights +/- sirens are only used when necessary eg when speeding on a busy road, running red lights etc. In FarSur81's case, it's possible they were hanging back because they thought he/she was driving a bit erratically. They are leery of unpredictable drivers and would rather hang back and keep safe than try to push past. Another thing to note is that if they are running with lights and sirens and come up to backed up traffic at a red light, they will usually turn off their lights + sirens and wait - the alternative being pushing cars into an intersection against the red light, which is just too dangerous.