All too often people hesitate to call 9-1-1 when there is an emergency. So much so, that we get an inordinate amount of 9-1-1 emergency type calls on the firehouse business phone numbers. This is a dangerous practice.
In a true emergency whether it’s a fire, medical call or other emergency situation, calling the firehouse will not guarantee that you get an answer, even in the daytime during “normal business hours.” The fire trucks may be on the road, at a call, an inspection, a public education demonstration, training or other activity. The Fire administration (chief, deputy chief, fire marshal, administrative assistant) may be in a meeting in town hall or out of town altogether, at training or other activities.
Another dangerous practice is calling fire headquarters after an alarm is transmitted to your alarm company. Don’t cancel us before we get there. We are truly concerned that well-meaning citizens will get themselves in a bind by calling off the troops believing “the fire is out” or that “it was only food on the stove.” Let the professionals make the determination. There are thousands of documented cases where the fire department was called off prior to their arrival, only to get a call 10 minutes later to head back to that very same address with the fire having a good head start. Don’t let this happen to you.
For the safety of your family, your home or business:
- Dial 9-1-1 and not the firehouse if you have an emergency or think you have an emergency. When in doubt, call us out!
- Don’t cancel us once we have the alarm. Let us come and make sure everything is secured and in good order.
- Teach your children how and why to dial 9-1-1.
- Remember to test your smoke alarms once a month.
- Remember to have a periodic home fire drill.
- Remember to test your carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- When you change your clocks, change your smoke alarm batteries.
- During this bitter cold winter season, take extra care when using wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and portable heaters. Keep combustibles far away from these appliances.