Here you will find answers to many questions that the Fire Department frequently gets asked.

Q. Will you rescue my cat out of the tree?

A. No. We know how much pets mean to family members but a fall from a ladder while attempting to get an animal out of a tree is an unnecessary hazard for fire department personnel. Cats will find a way down from a tree eventually when they become hungry. However we will rescue people stranded in a tree.

Q. If my dog fell into a pond that was partially frozen, would you come rescue it?

A. Yes, for that matter any animal we would try to rescue from this situation. We have special equipment and trained individuals who will do water/ice rescues.

Q. If there was a fire in my house but it's already out, should I call the Fire Department anyway?

A. Yes, it's always better to have the Fire Department come and check the situation out. The fire may have spread into the interior of the wall and you may not know it.

Q. My carbon monoxide detector is making noise, does that mean there's lots of carbon monoxide in my house?

A. Not necessarily, carbon monoxide detectors make noises for a variety of reasons. The battery may be low, the unit may be malfunctioning, also externally powered units make noise when the power to the unit is disconnected. Whatever the case may be it's always advisable to contact the Fire Department to have them come and check the situation out.

Q. My basement flooded with water due to a rain storm, what can I do?

A. Call the Fire Department. We'll come out and see if we can pump the water out of the basement using small portable pumps. Although we cannot do this for extended periods of time (ie. all night long) we can minimize the damage as long as the basement has stopped filling.

Q. I'm locked out of my house, can the Fire Department get me inside?

A. Yes, but not always without causing damage to the door and/or door jamb. If there is someone too small to open the door (ie. an infant) inside the home, don't hesitate to call the Fire Department to gain access to the home. We'll make sure a Deputy Sheriff accompanies us or is dispatched to the scene in case we need to gain entry by force.

Q. Does the Fire Department fill up swimming pools?

A. No, we do not fill up swimming pools.

Q. I called 9-1-1 before and it took forever for the Fire Department to show up and then it was another Fire Department that showed up. Why is that?

A. There may be many reasons for this to occur. Our fire department is staffed by 4 full time personnel per day, with two administrative persons working Monday through Friday from 9 to 5. It is not uncommon for our department to handle multiple simultaneous calls or multiple back to back calls. In those rare occurances where our on duty personnel are handling such calls, and off duty personnel haven't yet reported to the station for recall, the next closest fire department will be dispatched. Although it feels like it has taken forever for this to happen it is usually no more than 5 to 7 minutes as per our Dispatching procedures.

Q. The other day I saw a fire truck/ambulance at the bank, grocery store, video rental store, etc. Was there a fire?

A. Most likely there was not a fire, unless you saw many fire trucks with hoses pulled off of them. Since fire fighters work for 24 hours at a time the fire station is our "home" while we are on duty. This means that just like at home, we need to cook our meals, clean up after them, and find things to pass the time when our work is finished.

Q. How do you stay awake for 24 hours while you are on duty?

A. Most fire fighters do not stay awake for 24 straight hours. At night time, when most people sleep, we do as well. We have dorm rooms with beds in them that we sleep in. The rigors of the job are demanding both mentally and physically so sleep is an important part of staying sharp minded. Although there are nights when there is little or no sleep at all, for the most part at some point in the night the fire fighters are asleep in their beds.

Q. Can I come to the fire station and look at the trucks?

A. Absolutely, you can come look at them any time during the day. Please don't come late at night as the fire fighters may be asleep. If your class wants to take a tour of the fire station your teacher can schedule a tour with our Administrative Secretary. She's nice, give her a call at 440-286-6797.... ask for Claudine.