What does the number stand for on the trucks?
All trucks have four digits to the number, the first two, “25” indicate the station (2500) which was given to the Mattawan district. The third digit indicates the type of vehicle where 1 is an EMS vehicle, 2 is an engine, 4 is an aerial, 3 is a water tanker, and 6 is a grass rig. The fourth digit indicates the specific response vehicle. For instance, the truck 2541 is the Ladder truck from the Mattawan District.
When a vehicle is approaching with lights and sirens, what should I do?
Please pull to the right and stop. When you do this, it allows the responding vehicles a clear lane to safely respond to an emergency.
Why do I see fire trucks running lights and sirens, and then just turn them off?
Fire Departments and other emergency personnel are dispatched with the information given to the 911 operator. On occasion, when a unit arrives on the scene of an emergency, it is determined that the incident is not a dire emergency. When this happens, other units are either radioed to disregard the call, or to continue in, but downgraded to “non-emergency” status.
Why do firefighters cut a hole in the roof or break windows of a building on fire?
This is a common practice called “ventilation”. When a building is on fire, superheated gases and thick black smoke collect at the top of a room or of the entire structure. When these gases are heated to a certain temperature called the flash point, the gases can ignite causing a very dangerous situation called a flashover. Also, when the smoke can be removed from a building, it is much easier for the firefighters to find and rescue victims as well as seeing better to allow for quicker extinguishment.
What are the “Jaws of Life”?
The Jaws of Life is a popular term and sobriquet used for a set of hydraulically-operated tools that consist of cutters, spreaders, combination tool, or ram. They are used primarily for vehicle extrications.
Why do fire trucks sometimes respond to vehicle accidents?
Some vehicular accidents require the fire department to extricate a patient or, sometimes, to maintain traffic flow in a manner that is safe to both the patient and responding emergency personnel.
What is a hazardous material?
A hazardous material is a substance that has the ability to cause harm to animals, humans, or the environment.
What is the phone number for the Poison Control Center?
1-800-222-1222