

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS


SHOULD I CALL 911
QUESTION: If I have an Emergency isn't it just easier and faster to call the station or come there?
ANSWER: The best way to report any emergency is to DIAL 911.Depending on the emergency additional Fire units or mutual aid EMS unit may need to be sent. Calling the 911 center will ensure the correct units get sent. They know where everyone is. We may be out of the station on other calls or special details. PLEASE NEVER CALL OR COME TO THE FIRE STATION DIRECT IF YOU HAVE ANY EMERGENCY.
Stop or call at anytime if you have questions or want to Vist. We just don't want assistence delayed at your time of need.
QUESTION:If I smell something burning inside a building, but I don't see any fire or smoke? Can I just call the firehouse?
ANSWER: Call 911 from outside, immediately and evacuate the building. Calling the firehouse will actually delay the proper response. Fire can doble in size every sixty seconds. CALL 911
QUESTION: Will the fire department rescue my animal out of a tree or off a roof?
ANSWER: We feel it is not necessary to perform these type of rescues because if animals can get up on a tree or a roof they will be able to get themselves down. It can be hazardous to our members since animals in distress can be very unpredictable. Sometimes leaving an animal alone is all it takes. If a crowd has formed the animal may be choosing not to come down because of the chaos.
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Emergency Response and Response Area
QUESTION: My zip code is Amelia, Bethel, New Richmond, or Moscow. Do I live there? Who covers my house?
ANSWER: 911 WILL ALWAYS GET YOU HELP IN AN EMERGENCY NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. DO NOT CALL THE STATION DIRECTLY FOR EMERGENCIES. Political boundaries determine what municipality or township serves your house, in some cases it is not always the physically closest department. Zip codes are usually assigned by post office service and have nothing to do with FIRE-EMS coverage.
QUESTION: I do live in Monroe Township, but why did another fire department's ambulance or fire truck come to my house when I called 911?
ANSWER: Sometimes all of our units are out on emergencies, so we rely on mutual aid from other departments to help when we are unavailable. Mutual aid is a mutual agreement between communities to help each other when needed. We receive mutual aid if all of our units are tied up or on large incidents and give mutual aid to other communities for the same reasons.
QUESTION: Why, when I call 911, do they ask a lot of questions that I don't think are important?
ANSWER: The 911 operators try to get as much information about a situation as possible. It may not seem important to you, but could actually be very important us when we are responding. It is important to follow the 911 operator's instructions and answer all of their questions, which in turn will help them properly dispatch the call correctly and efficiently.
QUESTION: Is there anything I can do to help Fire and EMS find my house in an emergency?
ANSWER: While we have detailed map books, having visible address numbering is critical for locating your residence or business in an emergency. To see how well your numbers can be identified, try reading your address while driving by at the speed limit in the dark. Place your address sign where it is visible from either direction. You don't know where our units or if mutual aid has to be sent what direction they will respond from. Placing the sign facing the direction the post office comes when they deliver your mail is not always the way FIRE-EMS or POLICE will come.
OTHER QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Will the fire department come fill my pool?
ANSWER: We do not fill swimming pools. Filling swimming pools with large fire hose can cause damage to the pool and/or liners.
QUESTION: When should I change my smoke detector battery?
ANSWER: You should change them at least twice a year when the time changes spring forward or fall back each year.
QUESTION: How often do I need to replace my smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector?
ANSWER: Most detectors have an "expiration" date or date of purchase on them. Please refer to the instructions that came with your detector for replacement cycle. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends to keep detectors absolutely no longer than 10 years, but always refer to the instructions from the manufacturer.
QUESTION: Why do I see the on duty crew at the store and at restaurants?
ANSWER: The fire stations are staffed 24 hours per day 365 days per year. The on duty crew does not get time off for meals like most jobs, so they must eat while on duty. Sometimes the crew chooses to cook which requires them to go to the store for supplies. The crews may also choose to eat out, which supports the local businesses in the area. We encourage the crews to support local businesses whenever possible.

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