Your QuestionsWhitestown Fire Department
How do I create an escape plan for my home or business?
The four basic steps in creating an escape plan for your home include:
- Drawing a map of your home
- Agreeing on a meeting place
- Practicing your escape plan
- Making sure your drill is realistic
What If I smell gas in my home or business?
You will need to get out of the house and then call 9-1-1 from outside of the house or from a neighbor’s house. The use of a phone could cause the gas to ignite if you called from inside the house.
What should I do when I see or hear an emergency vehicle coming towards me while I am driving?
When it is safe to do so, you should pull to the right and stop until all emergency vehicles have safely passed.
My smoke detector is chirping, what does that mean?
Most modern smoke detectors will chirp to alert you the batteries are low; you should replace the batteries and test your smoke detector. Smoke detectors can be purchased at any hardware or large commercial department store.
Does the Fire Department fill fire extinguishers?
Whitestown Fire Department is not equipped to fill fire extinguishers. However, you can find a local fire extinguisher businesses in the yellow pages or internet to refill them for a fee.
How should I plan for a disabled family member during a fire?
Assure that you have a well-defined escape plan. Make sure that people who are confined to a wheelchair have immediate access to their wheelchair when an emergency occurs.
What is Carbon Monoxide and how does it harm you?
Carbon monoxide, CO, is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. When a person inhales high levels of carbon monoxide for a long period of time, it displaces the oxygen in the blood causing the heart, brain, and other vital organs to be deprived of oxygen. Extended exposure to strong concentrations of carbon monoxide is life-threatening. Loss of consciousness and suffocation may result without warning. Make sure your home has a detector! If you have a concern that you may have a Carbon Monoxide problem in your home or business, please exit the structure and call 911.
Why do you block traffic lanes at car accidents, sometimes more lanes than necessary?
We block traffic lanes for the safety of our personnel and our patients. Blocking extra lanes keep our personnel safe when they go back to our apparatus to get more equipment and help protect the victim we are trying to stabilize.
Why do I see firefighters cutting holes in the roof of a building on fire?
This is called “venting the roof.” There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. Unlike the movie versions of fires, it is impossible for firefighters to see in such an environment. When a hole is made in the roof because the building is “vented,” the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise. It makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see. It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft and flashover. Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where the fire can move quickly. Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof, cut holes to access the attic, and stop the fire from spreading through the attic.