Flagler Beach Fire Department

Q. I am interested in a Fire Safety Presentation for my group, how do I arrange one?
Q. When should I call 911?
Q. When I call 911 for an ambulance, why does a Fire Engine show up?
Q. If my smoke detector goes off in the middle of the night, what should I do?
Q. Why does the Fire Department break windows or cut holes in the roof during a fire, it seems they are causing more damage?
Q. How do I get a copy of a Fire Report?
Q. How can I get a tour of the Fire Station?
Q. How big is your service area?
Q. How many stations do you have?
Q. If I want to learn CPR, whom do I call and what does it cost?
Q. I would like to have my Blood Pressure taken. How do I go about getting it taken?
Q. Will I be charged for any emergency services provided by the fire department?
Q. Our fire extinguisher is old/been used. Does the Fire Department refill them?
Q. A fire truck or ambulance is approaching with its lights and sirens on, what should I do?
Q. I have seen a fire truck with its lights and siren on go through an intersection, then turn its lights off. Why?
Q. Why do so many fire apparatus respond to simple incidents?
Q. I recently received a call asking for a donation that would benefit my local Fire Department. Who receives the donations?
Q. Why do I have to dial 911? If I call the fire station direct would it save time?
Q. What do fire fighters do during the day?
Q. Why are fire department emergency response vehicles left running when they are on calls?
Q. Why do fire personnel go to the store?
Q. Are all firefighters good cooks?
Q. Do firefighters pay for their food when you see them in stores and restaurants or does the city pay for their meals?
Q. Do you rescue cats from trees?
Q. Do you service fire extinguishers?
Q. Firefighters wear a lot of gear; is it fireproof and how much does it weigh?
Q. When responding to a call in the middle of the night, do the firefighters have to sound the fire engine sirens even though traffic is probably light?
Q.  How many firefighters are at the station?
Q. What is the firefighter work schedule?
Q. Why don't firefighters work a forty hour work week like everyone else?
Q. What functions do the different types of FBFD fire apparatus perform?
Q. Why didn't the firefighters run when I called them?
Q. I saw Flagler Beach Fire Department Unit responding outside of Flagler Beach. Why were they doing that?

If you would like a presentation of safety tips, fire extinguisher demonstration, evacuation plans, fire drills, etc. You can call the station at (386) 517-2010.

When should I call 911?
Dial 911 in the event of an emergency ONLY! When your house is on fire. When someone is badly hurt or suddenly sick and in danger, call immediately. Call when some one's life is threatened, when someone faints or collapses, has persistent chest pain or difficulty breathing or is badly injured. Call if the victim needs the skills or equipment of emergency personnel. If unsure, CALL 911.

When I call 911 for an ambulance, why does a Fire Engine show up?
Flagler Beach firefighters are trained and equipped to handle a wide variety of emergency medical calls. Fire Department personnel can typically be at your door before an ambulance. Personnel can then begin administering life-saving treatments before an ambulance arrives on the scene of an emergency. This quicker response can lessen the effects of catastrophic injury or illness and lead to faster recovery time for those who experience critical illness. All Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department personnel are trained in First Aid and CPR and are both Florida and National Certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). An EMT is a person trained to arrive on the scene and provide immediate care to keep the victim alive until advance medical personnel arrive on the scene. ALL Flagler Beach Fire units are capable of this function. The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department maintains two Basic Life Support Fire Engines with at least two trained state certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-B). Additional personnel on the Engine are needed in order to safely move the patient from the scene to the ambulance.

If my smoke detector goes off in the middle of the night, what should I do?
You should roll out of bed and crawl to the nearest exit and leave the building. Call 911 and notify the Fire Department you may have a possible fire in your home. Today, a home can become untenable within 4 minutes because of smoke; you may be unable to escape a burning home in less than one minute. Don't take chances. Firefighters will quickly respond and investigate the cause of the alarm. If your home is on fire get out as quickly as you can and call 911 from a neighbor's home. You should also have a family meeting place to ensure everyone got out safely.


Why does the Fire Department break windows or cut holes in the roof during a fire, it seems they are causing more damage?
As a fire burns, it moves upward until it meets an obstruction such as a ceiling and then moves horizontally through the entire building. Cutting a hole in the roof allows the heat and smoke to go out into the atmosphere, cuts down on the smoke damage, and makes conditions more favorable for Firefighters to enter the building. Breaking the windows provides the maximum area for smoke to exit the building as well as providing an exit for Firefighters operating in the building that may otherwise become trapped. All this combined is called ventilation. This is necessary at all fires so the fire can be extinguished quickly and safely.

How do I get a copy of a Fire Report?
You can get a copy of a Fire Report at the Fire Department located at 320 South Flagler Avenue. You will need to know the date of loss, time of loss, and the street address. For more information you can call the station at (386) 517-2010.

How can I get a tour of the Fire Station?
You can arrange a tour of the Fire Station by calling the Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department at (386) 517-2010.

How big is your service area?
The City of Flagler Beach is 3.68 Square Miles with roughly 5,000 residents. This does not include Mutual Aid service areas.

How many stations do you have?
The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department operates out of one station. Station 11 is located at 320 South Flagler Avenue, housing Engine 11, Engine 111, Attack 11, Brush Attack 11, Woods 11, Ski 11, Rescue Boat 11, Rescue Boat 111, and ATV 11. The Administration Offices are located at Station 11 along with Fire Prevention. There are a minimum of two firefighter/emt's on duty at all times, 24.7

If I want to learn CPR, whom do I call and what does it cost?
Call the fire station at (386) 517-2010.

I would like to have my Blood Pressure taken. How do I go about getting it taken?
If you would like your Blood Pressure taken, just come to Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department station anytime during the day. There is always an EMT available to take your Blood Pressure for you.

Will I be charged for any emergency services provided by the fire department?
There is no charge for emergency services provided by the Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department.

Our fire extinguisher is old/been used. Does the Fire Department refill them?
The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department does not service fire extinguishers. Please find a professional fire extinguisher service company in the Yellow Pages under “Fire Extinguisher.”

A fire truck or ambulance is approaching with its lights and sirens on, what should I do?
When an emergency vehicle approaches you with its lights and sirens on, when it is safe to do so, pull to the right and stop. If it is not safe to do so, stop where you are and wait for all the emergency vehicles to pass. Don't pull into an intersection if you are at a traffic light or stop sign. Please be courteous, remember the emergency we're responding to may be yours.

I have seen a fire truck with its lights and siren on go through an intersection, then turn its lights off. Why?
This is more than likely because the call was a multiple unit response and another arriving unit radioed back to the others that either their response wasn't necessary or doesn't warrant the dangers of running with lights and sirens.

Why do so many fire apparatus respond to simple incidents?
Units are dispatched according to information received by Dispatch.  Many times the type of situation found upon arrival is very different from the situation dispatched.  And, part of responding to an emergency situation means being prepared to deal with the worst case scenario. Discovering that we need more units upon arrival is often too late. Experience has taught us that it’s better to have too much help than not enough.

I recently received a call asking for a donation that would benefit my local Fire Department. Who receives the donations?
The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department does not solicit donations by phone or door to door. All Department funding comes from the annual letter mailed out by the Flagler Beach Volunteer Fireman's Association. It is mailed out between November and December every year.

Why do I have to dial 911? If I call the fire station direct would it save time?
The firefighters might not be at the station when you call. Even if they are, the firefighters will still have to activate 911 so that other emergency responders are notified. On the other hand, the 911 emergency system is designed to save valuable seconds. When you dial 911, the system routes the call to the police or fire unit that is closest to your home. Only call the fire station with non-emergency business.

What do fire fighters do during the day?
A firefighter's day at the Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department begins with checking the equipment so that it is ready for an emergency. Firefighters then have scheduled activities such as training, equipment maintenance, fire station maintenance, public appearances and station tours. Fire fighters cannot go home during their work shift so the station becomes their home for the 24 hours they are on duty.

Why are fire department emergency response vehicles left running when they are on calls?
Today’s fire engines and rescue vehicles have far greater energy demands then vehicles of the past. It is necessary for them to be left running for a number of reasons. If a fire engine is involved in firefighting, the engine needs to be running to power the pumps. Climate control and refrigeration protects and preserves sensitive equipment inside the cab. On-board computers and other electrical equipment also have constant electrical needs. In addition, emergency lighting requires a significant amount of electricity.

If the engines were turned off, the power demands would quickly draw down a battery and make restarting the vehicle doubtful. With critical response vehicles, where minutes and seconds can mean life or death, no one would want there to be a question of whether a vehicle will start. When these vehicles are in the station they are plugged into “shore lines” or power cords that supply the power needs without the engines running.

Why do fire personnel go to the store?
The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department personnel work a 24 hour shift.  During each shift, duty personnel perform many work and training related activities. Fire fighters routinely prepare two of their three meals a day at the fire station, which necessitates visits to local markets. However, because duty personnel must be ready to respond to a call at any given time, crew members must always be in close proximity to their equipment and response units. The Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Department urges community members to ask questions and familiarize themselves with these first responders when they see them out and about in the community.

Are all firefighters good cooks?
No! All firefighters are not good cooks; we just let the talented ones in the kitchen. Some firefighters just have a few specialties, but others could, or have been, professional chefs. Each engine company in La Verne FD sets up their meals differently.

Do firefighters pay for their food when you see them in stores and restaurants or does the city pay for their meals?
Each firefighter pays for his or her own food, whether they eat out or cook at the fire station.

Do you rescue cats from trees?
We are called to assist the public with many different situations. These include but are not restricted to assisting with flooding, helping the elderly or infirm back into bed, and investigating unusual situations (electrical/smoke/possible hazardous conditions). We typically do not rescue cats from trees.

Do you service fire extinguishers?
The Flagler Beach Fire Department does not service fire extinguishers. We advise you to look in the Yellow Pages for fire extinguisher companies to help you. If your fire extinguisher has a plastic handle and valve, it may be less expensive to buy a new extinguisher than to have the old one serviced. For home use, get one with a minimum 2A 10BC rating.

Firefighters wear a lot of gear; is it fireproof and how much does it weigh?
The gear we wear weighs about 70 pounds. The clothes are called "turn-outs" or "bunker" gear as they originally were turned inside out and kept next to the trucks to facilitate a quick change during day or night calls. The turnouts are made of a material called Nomex which is fire retardant but not fireproof, so it will burn. We must be able to put our turnouts on in less than a minute. And yes, it does get rather warm in the summer as we must wear this gear when responding to structure fires, hazardous materials incidents, and traffic accidents.

When responding to a call in the middle of the night, do the firefighters have to sound the fire engine sirens even though traffic is probably light?
Yes, state vehicle code mandates that while responding Code 3, an emergency response vehicle must have all emergency lights on and the siren sounding. A Code 3 response is initiated when life, property or the environment is in immediate jeopardy (i.e. life-threatening emergencies, fire or the release of hazardous materials.)

How many firefighters are at the station?
There are two (2) firefighters scheduled to work each day at the fire station.  Of those two (2), both must be Firefighter 2 & EMT by policy.  The greatest majority of the time, there are three to four (3-5) firefighter/emt's on duty when additional volunteers ride with the paid personnel.

What is the firefighter work schedule?
There are three shifts of firefighters in Flagler Beach.  Each shift will work for 24 hours, and then be off for 48 hours. Firefighters that are off duty are subject to emergency call back situations during that 48 hour time off period.  The average work week for a firefighter in Flagler Beach is 53 hours per week.

Why don't firefighters work a forty hour work week like everyone else?
The number of hours of work per week required to provide fire, rescue, and EMS protection in Flagler Beach 24 hours per day and 365 days per year would make a traditional 40 hour work week cost prohibitive.  Nearly every fire department in the United States works this schedule of firefighters working 24 hour rotating shifts.

What functions do the different types of FBFD fire apparatus perform?
An Engine Company (Pumper) is responsible for extinguishing fires.  The FBFD has two engine companies one purchased in 1996 and the other purchased in 2005.  Each engine carries fire house for supplying water to the engines and fire hose to deliver that water to the fire.  The 1996 engine carries 1,000 gallons of water and can pump 1,250 gallons of water per minute.  The 2005 engine carries 1,000 gallons of water and can pump 1,250 gallons of water per minute.  One engine company is staffed with a minimum of two firefighters each day.

A Ladder Company (Tower) is responsible for gaining access to vehicles and buildings (forcible entry) and ventilating a structure of super-heated toxic gasses so firefighters may more safely and efficiently operate within a burning structure.  The tower carries many tools to accomplish these tasks.  The FBFD has one tower ladder, it was purchased in 2009 from Radford, VA.  The tower has an 95' ladder with a rescue basket, carries firefighting hose(much less than an engine company), 200 gallons of water, and can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute.  The FBFD tower ladder is staffed with a minimum of two firefighters each day.

A Rescue (Attack truck) is responsible for answering motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies and other miscelaneous calls. The attack truck carries the "Jaws of Life" as well as water rescue equipment, forcible entry equipment and 300 gallons of water for small fires that are non-structural. The FBFD had one attack truck, purchased in 2004.

Why didn't the firefighters run when I called them?
The thought process during any response is very complex and different each time.  FBFD personnel are required to move deliberately and with purpose toward an emergency.  They are also trained not to approach any scene in an out of control or reckless manner.  They are required to survey each scene for the safety of victims, by-standers and themselves.

It is vital that responders remain calm and in control to help assure that an emergency has a positive outcome.  A responder that may respond in an excited and out of control manner may themselves become a medical emergency do to a careless assessment of a scene or from a fall.  If that occurs they become useless in dealing with the original call for assistance, in fact they complicate the situations.

Please never mistake that on the scene demeanor of FBFD personnel for not caring about what is occurring.

The exact opposite is the fact; we strive to perform professionally and under control in every situation to help facilitate a positive outcome.

I saw Flagler Beach Fire Department Unit responding outside of Flagler Beach. Why were they doing that?
The Flagler Beach Fire Department provides "Mutual Aid" response to our neighboring communities when they need our assistance. Some of these communities return the favor, by responding into Flagler Beach to assist us.