 FAQs
- How do I get a copy of a fire report?
- How may I get a tour of the fire
station?
- Why do the fire trucks respond
to medical
emergencies?
- Why do the firefighters break windows
and cut holes in the roof?
- Why do the firefighters cut holes
in walls?
- What if a firefighter is at the
store and there is an emergency; who pays for all that food?
- When I call for an ambulance, why
do I sometimes see an ambulance from another town or service?
- Why do I see fire engines or medic
units go through intersections with their red lights flashing,
and then turn them off? Are they just in a hurry to go somewhere?
- When I see an emergency vehicle
approaching while I am driving, should I always pull over to the
right and stop?
- Is it legal to burn trash in a
barrel?
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1. How do I get a copy of a fire report?
In most localities, a fire report is a public document and is available
from Fire Department - Fire Prevention Office , or the Administration
Office you may contact us if you are
in need of a fire report.
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2. How may I get a tour of the fire station?
You may either stop by your local fire station between 8am and 5pm
and ask for a tour, or you may (and we recommend) contact
us to schedule a tour. Remember, even when tours are scheduled
the tour is subject to the station receiving an alarm and having
to leave.
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3. Why does the department respond to Medical
Emergencies?
Many departments train firefighters in emergency medical services.
This allows faster response to an emergency, better use of personnel,
and most importantly, expeditious care to patients. This allows
the nearest engine to quickly respond to a medical emergency.
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4. Why do the firefighters
break windows and cut holes in the roof?
As a fire burns, it moves upward and outward. Breaking the windows
and /or cutting holes in the roof (called ventilation) stops the
damaging outward movement and enables firefighters to fight the
fire more efficiently, resulting in less damage to the structure
and its contents.
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5. Why do the firefighters cut holes in
walls?
This is done so the Fire Department is absolutely sure the fire
is completely out, and that there is no fire inside the walls or
other hidden places.
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6. What if a firefighter is at the store
and there is an emergency; who pays for all that food?
While on duty the firefighters are always in radio contact with
both the station and the dispatcher. That firefighter will respond
to the scene of the emergency and join the crew he is stationed
with. To answer the first part of the question, the firefighters
pay for their own food. Normally the firefighters pool their money
together at the beginning of the shift, plan their menu for the
day and one of them does the shopping. The firefighters do their
own cooking, and some of them are quite good.
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7. When I call for an ambulance, why do
I sometimes see an ambulance from another town or service?
During the course of a day it is not unusual for two or three calls
for the ambulance to come in at the same time. If our ambulances
are busy we will dispatch a paramedic ambulance from another city
This mutual-aid works both ways, therefore our ambulances are commonly
dispatched to the other municipalities.
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8. Why do I see fire engines or medic units
go through intersections with their red lights flashing, and then
turn them off? Are they just in a hurry to go somewhere?
Emergency lights and siren are used only when responding to a call.
Apparatus responding to calls are frequently cancelled, or the first
arriving unit determines that the call is not an emergency and tells
the units to respond in a non-emergency mode, or to return to their
station.
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9. When I see an emergency vehicle approaching
while I am driving, should I always pull over to the right and stop?
State law, and common sense, dictate that vehicles yield to emergency
vehicles that are operating their emergency lights and siren. Emergency
vehicle drivers are taught to pass on the left whenever possible
when responding in an emergency mode. When safe, slow down, pull
over to the right, and stop. However, there are circumstances where
that may not be possible (if you car is already stopped, and you
don't have anywhere to pull over). Simply stay put until the emergency
vehicle goes around you. If you are blocking the route of the emergency
vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area,
use your turn signal to indicate your intentions, and proceed at
a safe speed. Never slam on the brakes and stop in the middle of
the road when you see apparatus approaching. Make no sudden moves.
If an emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction,
you should pull over and stop. You have no idea if they are proceeding
down the road, or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection
right in front of you. You are not required to slow down or pull
over for emergency vehicles that are responding in the opposite
direction on a divided highway. Do not tailgate, "draft",
or follow a responding apparatus closely. Not only is this illegal,
you run the risk of collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic
after the emergency vehicle goes by.
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10. Is it legal to burn trash in a barrel?
It is against the law to burn any refuse within the city limits
of Wylie. Those living within the unincorporated portions of WFD
jurisdiction may burn under certain guidlines after obtaining a
permit from the
Fire Inspector.
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