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What
can I do to protect my home from wildland fires?
To protect your home from wildfires you
must create a safety zone or firebreak by reducing the amount of dead or
dying fuel (vegetation) around your home. This does not necessarily
mean all vegetation should be removed. In fact, having
fire-resistant plants and trees around your home that are properly trimmed
and well watered can serve as a firebreak. For a list of things to
do to protect your home from wildfires call the Public Education
Department @ 916-566-4000.
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What
do firefighters do when they are not on calls fighting fires?
Training takes up a good deal of their time
when they are not on a call. Firefighters are required to have at
least 20 hours of training hours each month. Firefighters also
participate in fire safety inspections and drive the community to become
familiar with the area to reduce response time during incidents.
Firefighters must also check and maintain their equipment and clean and
maintain their stations.
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What is
the best thing to do for a burn?
Cool a burn with water. Do not use
ointments, butter, or other substances. For minor burns contact a
physician. For serious burns call 9-1-1 immediately.
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What
kind of fire extinguisher should I buy?
Homeowners should buy an extinguisher that
can handle Class A-B-C fires. They should be designed to extinguish
fires that occur in homes; including wood, paper, flammable liquids, and
electrical fires. Call 916-566-4000 for a fire extinguisher
brochure.
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Does
the fire department service fire extinguishers?
No, the fire department does not service
fire extinguishers. The fire department recommends that you look up Fire
Extinguishers in the yellow pages and contact any of those companies. The
fire department does provide fire extinguisher training. Call 566-4000 and
ask for the Community Services representative that provides fire
extinguisher training.
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Do I
need to put a smoke detector in every room? How many do I need?
Smoke detectors should be placed outside
each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the
basement. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed
in or near living areas such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms.
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Does
the fire department give away smoke detectors?
Yes, the fire department has smoke
detectors for those that cannot afford to purchase one. Call 566-4000 and
ask to speak to someone in the Community Services Division.
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Are you listed
in the telephone book?
Yes, the main administration phone number is listed in
the white pages under Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
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Why do
I have to call 9-1-1? Can't I call the fire station direct and save
time?
The 9-1-1 emergency system is designed to
save valuable seconds. When you dial 9-1-1, the system routes the
police or fire unit that is closest to your home. Fire stations are
not properly equipped to take emergency calls and calling the station
directly wastes valuable response time.
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Should
I call 9-1-1 for a fire that I put out?
Yes. No matter how big or small, you should
always have the fire department check any fire. We want to make sure the
fire has not extended up into the wall or attic.
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Can
I use salt or baking soda to put out a grease fire?
No, the only thing you should use to put
out a grease fire is a lid or an approved "Class ABC" fire
extinguisher. You should always have a properly fitting lid next to the
stove so that if a fire should start you can quickly put a lid over the
pan and turn off the burner.
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How
much does your gear weigh when fighting a fire?
Typically when fighting a fire, the
firefighter will be outfitted with turnouts, tools, and a breathing
apparatus. This equipment generally weighs approximately 60
pounds.
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Is
a firefighter's helmet made of plastic or leather?
Firefighters wear many different types of
helmets. Helmets can be made of plastic, fiberglass, and leather. The most
typical helmet is made of composite fiberglass.
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Does
your department have a Dalmatian?
At this time the Sacramento Metropolitan
Fire District does not have a Dalmatian as a member of the department.
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Why
do fire fighters always take a fire engine to shop for their meals?
Due to the nature of a fire fighter's work
schedule it becomes necessary for the crews to remain together as engine
and truck companies. Staying together as a team keeps the crews available
to respond for emergency calls in their assigned areas.
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How
many calls does your department run?
In 2002 the predecessor agencies ran a
total of 55, 000 calls.
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How do I
schedule a station tour?
Call 566-4000 and get the fire station
business phone number. Once you get the phone number you should contact
the station and ask to speak to the Captain that will be on duty the day
you would like to visit. The Captain will then schedule the station tour
with you.
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