What types of emergencies do firefighters/medics respond to?

During duty hours, Steese fire fighters must be prepared to respond immediately to a fire or other emergency. Fighting fires is complex and dangerous and requires organization and teamwork. At every emergency scene, fire fighters perform specific duties assigned by a superior officer. At fires, they connect hose lines to trucks and operate a pump to send water to high-pressure hoses. Some climb ladders, and enter burning buildings—using systematic and careful procedures—to put out fires. At times, we may need to use tools to make our way through doors, walls, and debris, sometimes with the aid of information about a building's floor plan. We find and rescue occupants who are unable to leave the building safely without assistance,  ventilate smoke-filled areas and attempt to salvage the contents of buildings. We are also emergency medical technicians (emt) and we respond on hundreds of medical calls every year. Medical Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, slips and falls, difficulty breathing, childbirth, and gunshot wounds require immediate medical attention. Our EMTs and paramedics provide this vital service as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

When should I change the battery in my smoke detector?

We recommend that you change them twice a year at the same time that you change your clocks.

What should I do when an emergency vehicle is approaching that has emergency lights and sirens?

Please pull to the right and stop while maintaining control of your vehicle.  This will allow fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles adequate and clear lanes to, safely and quickly continue its response.

Why does the emergency equipment run with lights and siren, then just turn them off?

On occasion, the fire engine and ambulance will be driving with lights and sirens and then suddenly turn them off--perhaps only to turn into a shopping center parking lot or side street.  Be assured that when this happens it means we have received information through our 911 dispatchers that the caller or incident is no longer a dire emergency.  It is what we call "being cancelled".  Any or all of the apparatus may continue to drive to the call or perhaps some will return to the Fire Station, but we do not do it just to get to the store faster.

How can I get a Burn Permit and how much do they cost?

There are several ways to get Burn Permits.  First you can come to one of our Fire Stations, either Station 1 at 800 William C. Leary Ln. off of Farmers Loop Rd. or Station 2 at 585 Steele Creek Rd.

The second way is to go to the Alaska Department of Forestry website http://forestry.alaska.gov/burn/fairbanks_area.cfm

Burn Permits are free.

When do I need a Burn Permit?

Official Fire Season is April 1st through August 31

Who do I call to activate my Burn Permit?

Fairbanks Area open DAILY from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at 3700 Airport Way

451-2626

How often do I need to get a new Burn Permit?

Burn permits are good for three years - the expiration date is on the bottom left hand side. The option of renewing a permit is unavailable for the Fairbanks Area-apply for a new permit.

What do the firefighters/medics do when they are back at the station?

When we aren't responding to fires and medical emergencies, we clean and maintain equipment, learn additional skills related to our jobs, conduct practice drills, and participate in physical fitness activities. we also prepare written reports on fire incidents and review fire science literature to stay informed about technological developments and changing administrative practices and policies.

Will the Fire Department refill my Fire Extinguisher?

We do not fill fire extinguishers.  Actually we don't even fill our own, we take them to one of the many local licensed stores in town.