Question for you all. - Re: calling the fire department

redchief wrote: Question folks... For what reasons, other than a fire, would you expect the fire department to respond?

In the spirit of another current topic I'm trying to understand how the fire service is perceived by the general public. There's more to this but I don't want to discourage any answers by talking about it now.

amymom replied: I never thought about calling for anything else. BUT, recently our neighbor had there basement pumped out by the vol. fire dept in our town, due to high water. I know that some call when there is a gas smell (I have called the gas company for that).

And our rescue squad is connected to the fire dept., but I consider them seperate.

I hope this helps in your research

CCTandME replied: Honestly, I only called when we had a chimney fire last year. Other than that, I would probably call 911 for any other emergency.
So what other reasons should/could we call for?

A&A'smommy replied: I would call 911 for any emergency here we call the actually fire department to fill up our pools

but really I didn't know you could call them for anything else

kit_kats_mom replied: Gas or fires are the only things that come to mind. However, the local fire department sent a paramedic truck out when I locked Lauren in the car.

I would not call them to get my cat out of the tree though.

redchief replied:
So is our rescue squad separate. I work for both and I'm in charge of the fire department.

We routinely and properly respond to odors of natural gas. The area in which you live may have different rules for when the fire department responds to a natural gas leak. Thanks for your answer!

redchief replied:
Again, much of what the fire department responds on depends upon their areas of responsibility in the emergency services in your area (lots of different local rules).

Other than fires, we routinely respond to: Motor vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues (person stuck on in a high, hard to reach place or below ground), water rescue situations, assist the rescue squad, bomb scares and just about anything that comes in to emergency dispatch that isn't medical or a police matter.

Boys r us replied: Well, in my common sense thinking, I would expect to see the fire dept show up when there is a fire. However, at least in our area..the fire department show up for any emergency...if a kid is choking, the fire dpet might be there to the aide before the ambulance...etc..

MommyToAshley replied: My first reaction to your question was only in the case of a fire. But, honestly, I think I would even call 911 if there were a fire... I suppose because I have 911 memorized and not the fire department number. I do have the emergency numbers posted, but my gut reaction would be to call 911.

On a side note, I did call about getting Ashley's carseat checked after someone here mentioned that your fire dept will do that.

And, the fire dept filled up my parent's swimming pool when it was first installed....but I don't think that is what you meant.

redchief replied:
That is often done in the areas that surround us. Since we have a municipal water supply that is metered, we're not permitted to fill pools.

redchief replied:
Assisting children from vehicles is something we don't normally do unless they vehicle is impossible for the police dept. to break into (they're pretty good at door lock picking actually; I'm better at houses )

We have gotten kittys out of trees. Last week we rescued a bird from an overhead antenna.

redchief replied:
It's exactly what I meant Dee Dee. I've found myself getting irritated at some of the things we get called to do. Listening to different people's perceptions of problems and solutions here has had me rethink my irratability and question whether I'm being properly empathetic. You're all helping a lot.

redchief replied:
We respond only rarely on emergency medical calls. Our EMS system here is very well staffed. On occasions when no ambulance is available or close by, we will respond until an ambulance can get on scene. Thanks!

MommyToAshley replied: So, Ed... question for you. (A little off topic) In the case of a fire, does it matter if we call 9-1-1 instead of the fire dept directly? Is there a great enough differnence in the response time to make up the difference in calling 9-1-1 and looking the number up for fire dept and calling the fire dept directly? I also think that if I were nervous I would tend to mis-dial an unfamiliar number.

redchief replied: in most cases the proper number for any emergency is 9-1-1. Locally this may be different, but as a general rule 9-1-1 is directly tied to all of the emergency services you may need. Dialing 9-1-1 also ensures that any other emergency services are also dispatched depending on the type of emergency (for instance with fires, an ambulance for treatment of fire victims and firefighters is always dispatched, and police are dispatched to handle traffic and crowd control).

Directly dial your fire department's PR number for such things as pool filling, basement pumping and other nonemergency calls. Great question!

I almost forgot... If you have an emergency while away from home and you're using a cellular phone to report it, don't forget to tell the emergency dispatcher you are on a cell phone and, to the best of your ability, where you are located. Often because of cell tower locations, 9-1-1 calls can go to a different dispatch center. Don't worry, all dispatch centers are prepared for this, but it's important to be specific about your location.

mammag replied: I would always call 9 1 1 as well. The only time I have called the fire department directly was when I came home and the people who live across the street from me had their detectors going off and no one was home so I called them to come check it out.....it ended up being nothing so I don't know why they were going off but I would have been so upset if there was an actual fire in there and I had ignored it like everyone else that was out and about paying it no never mind....

paradisemommy replied: our 9-1-1 will ask right when they pick up - what the nature of the emergency is...if you tell them fire, then they will transfer you to the right number according to where you are..

taven's preschool class went to the fire station as a field trip and i was shocked to learn if you have car problems, medical problems, want to check your blood pressure or just need to use the latrine, you can stop by any fire station and they would gladly help you...(at least that's what we were told by that one) ..course things may be different since we're here on this little rock (hawaii)..

mama3x replied: We can't actually call the fire dept direct but as Tammy said previous, the 911 operator will ask "police, fire or ambulance?" Then they ask "is this an emergency?" Then they forward your call.

A common piece of advice given "on the street" is to ask for the fire dept when it comes to both fires AND medical issues. The reason being every fire fighter here in Hawaii knows CPR/First Aid and I believe they also have medical equipment in certain trucks. Anyway, the reason being that with every fire engine dispatched, an ambulance is automatically dispatched. The fire engine will arrive before the ambulance in most cases.

Another thing piece of advice is that if you live really close to a fire station, call for anything - fire, medical need, theft, intruder, etc.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: I think here on Hickam the fire department is involved with pretty much everything. We have demolition going on around the corner and there is always a fire truck around for that. We get a bomb threat up at the BX every once in a while and they will be there for that. Not to mention that they are sent out all over the world for relief efforts. I know that a bunch of our guys were sent over when the Tsunami happened. My friend Mike is an AF fireman and he has been to the desert a bunch of times. They are really serious about the fire prevention here and once a year they have an entire fire awareness week. This includes a parade of fire trucks through the neighborhood. The kids really enjoy this and gets them into it. As for me I never figured I would call the fire department unless there was a fire.

coasterqueen replied: I'd only call on a fire I guess. Although *I* actually wouldn't because by the time the fire department got out to my house it would be burned down. They will only come out to rescue if someone is inside, not to help save your house because we are considered living in the boonies although we really aren't. We also have to pay the fire department several hundred dollars a year to have fire *protection*.

So in my area I have no idea why I would even call them. I probably wouldn't unless like I said if someone was stuck in the house and needed rescuing. I think the nearest fire hydrant is a couple miles down the road.

Alice replied: The only time we've ever called is one time when a belt on the washer burnt out, and the basement was filled with a blue hazy smoke. We called and said it was no emergency; there was no flame and we were out of the house. It turns out they were at a training session and the whole department showed up!! At 9am on a Sunday!! The neighborhood enjoyed the show-- I was mortified!!!

While we're on the topic, as suggestion for everyone. Each Christmas Eve since 9/11, we've made a point of stopping by both the local fire house and police station with a big bowl of wrapped candies. It's not much, but a little way of saying thanks for all they do. And I think it's an important lesson for the kids too. Feel free to join in this year everyone.

And thanks, Redchief, for all that you and the others do for us!!

stanleygirl replied: I have only ever called the firehouse directly to set up an appointment to have our carseats checked. Otherwise all our emergency services are through 911.
Actually I called 911 when Kieran almost choked to death (bad memory), and the fire truck was here before the ambulance. I dont know if Kieran would still be here if it weren't for them, by the time they got here he had stopped breathing and the ambulance didnt get there for another few minutes.
So I too want to say thanks for what you and all firefighter do..

Shelly replied: I always just kind of thought when a fire was involved but when my oldest daughter was 4 she was in her room and she had a twin waterbed at the time and her kitten ran between the waterbed and the wall and she tried to crawl in after it she ended up getting herself all out except for her legs were stuck when she came up she got them kind of tangled under the trim of the bed and couldn't move any further so I called 911 I told them she was not hurt and was happily playing barbies stuck but I couldn't get her out..within 4 minutes I had all of our towns fire department at my door including all the on call ones, an ambulance, two police mans and search and rescue..It was the actual fire department that got her out it took them about 2 seconds with all there men tugging on the bed..Needless to say she no longer has a waterbed lol

jdkjd replied: My husband almost called the fire department one day when he locked himself out of the house while Bailey was taking a nap. His theory was that since the fire house was the closest emergency personnel that they would be the fastest.

MM'sMama replied: I've never really though to call them for anything other then a fire. Although when my oldest brother was maybe 3 or so he broke his arm and had a cast on it and my mom went to wake him up from his nap and the cast was cutting off his circulation his arm was all purple annd cold. My mom really freaked and took him to a fire station and had them cut it off. but she never would have called them out for it I don't thing. But then again there is a fire station only 4 blocks from my parents so I don't no.

Josie83 replied: I've never really thouht about to be honest! probably just a fire and gas. I don't know if its the same over where you lot here, but here the fire service is called "fire and rescue" so if I was in a pickle maybe the fire department is who I'd call! But in reality, it would probably be 999 not the individual station - over here they ask you which emergency service you require when you ring 999 xx

lisar replied: Here where I am at. They respond for everything. Not breathing, heart attack, FIRE, car accident, ETC.... Most of the time the fire sept. will get to your house before the ambulance. If you call 911 they dispatch all of them to your location.

lisa

kit_kats_mom replied: Ed, could we call our local fire department for help with home fire safety? For example, helping us with a fire plan, showing us our most dangerous spots & how to take care of them etc. Or teaching our kids how to use extinguishers on the proper types of fires? Just curious if that would just tee them off. LOL