FAQ
Emergency Response
Why send multiple vehicles to a fire?
Each fire truck carries a specific complement of equipment and personnel. There are a number of specialized roles that firefighters undertake at the scene of a fire, and firefighting is a very labor-intensive activity. Firefighters must be rotated out periodically in order to change out air bottles and physically rest to maintain the ability to work on the fireground.
For this reason, it is essential to have enough firefighters on the scene of an incident so that our personnel can adequately recover between assignments. Even a small fire can be unpredictable and can become large and out of control quickly unless sufficient resources are available.
More Answers About Emergency Response
Emergency Response
When should I call 911 vs. non-emergency?
Call 911 for emergencies requiring immediate response:Fire, smoke, or smell of gasMedical emergencies (chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, unconsciousness)Vehicle accidents with injuriesAny situation requiring police, fire, or ambulance immediatelyCall our non-emergency number (817) 295-9539 for:General questions about our servicesStation tours or community eventsNon-urgent requests (blood pressure checks, smoke detector...
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Emergency Response
What should I do when approached by emergency vehicles?
When you notice an approaching emergency vehicle, immediately pull to the right and stop. If you are approaching an intersection and see an emergency vehicle that is approaching the intersection from behind you or another direction, come to a stop, preferably one or two car lengths back from the intersection if possible...
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Emergency Response
Why use lights and sirens at night?
The purpose of emergency warning equipment is to let drivers and pedestrians know that an emergency vehicle is on the way to an emergency. Texas state law as well as our standard operating procedures require that our drivers utilize emergency warning equipment during emergency response regardless of the time of...
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Most Fatal Fires Happen While People Sleep
The majority of fatal home fires occur between 11 PM and 7 AM, when people are asleep and less likely to detect smoke early. This is exactly why working smoke alarms in every bedroom are so important — they are your early warning system when you are most vulnerable.
Crawl Low Under Smoke
Smoke and toxic gases rise to the ceiling first. In a fire, the breathable air is closest to the floor. If you encounter smoke while escaping, get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest exit. Just a few breaths of toxic smoke can cause disorientation and loss of consciousness.