Q: Some times I see fire trucks running lights and sirens, and then they turn them off for no reason. Are you guys just doing that to run red lights?

A: Absolutely not! Because of the unpredictable nature of emergencies, and because we often get very little information when we are called, we assign trucks and personal to handle a serious incident. There are times when the first unit to arrive on the scene of an emergency will find that they are able to deal with the incident on their own or with less help than is on the way. In such cases the units that are not needed are canceled and put in service to respond to other emergencies, even though they were already on the way to this one. That is why you will some times see a unit "shut down" to non-emergency status.

Q: Why do I see firefighters shopping at the grocery store or dinning out?

A: Fire crews work 24-hour days and must supply their own meals while in the firehouse. They stop to purchase food within their assigned area and are always available for emergencies no matter what their location is.

Q: Firefighters must spend a lot of time just sitting around, waiting for a fire, don't they?

A: No! When they are not responding to emergencies, firefighters have lots of other duties. They perform fire inspections in businesses, schools and churches. There are also ongoing training exercises so they can keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date. They also take time to familiarize themselves with changes in our fast-growing area: new streets and new construction, so they are prepared to act quickly in an emergency. And, when time permits, firefighters are allowed to use part of their day for exercise, in order to stay fit for the often strenuous demands of firefighting and rescue work. These activities take place seven days a week.