Frequently-Asked Questions

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I called for an ambulance, why did the fire truck respond?
Why do the firefighters take the fire trucks to the grocery store?
Does the City of Appleton pay for your food while you are at work at the fire stations?

I called for an ambulance, why did the fire truck respond?

In the City of Appleton firefighters are trained as first responders. The firefighters are trained to deliver emergency medical care prior to the arrival of the ambulance. Many times the engines arrive before the ambulance. The firefighters also assist the paramedics in lifting and moving patients from a basement or second story of a home to the ambulance.

Why do the firefighters take the fire trucks to the grocery store?

The firefighters are working a 24-hour shift, beginning at 7:00 a.m. each day. They're required to purchase their own meals and typically pool their money for the meals. The firefighters are always available to respond when they're at the grocery store. 

Does the City of Appleton pay for your food while you are at work at the fire stations?

No. Firefighters buy all their own food. Most of the time they bring meals from home for the 24 hours that they work. For some meals, they pool money together to buy groceries. They are like a family, so sometimes it's nice-especially on weekends and holidays-for them to share a special meal together. 

Fire and Life Safety Questions and Answers
Fire in the U.S.
Carbon monoxide 
Home escape plan
Common home hazards
Kitchen safety
What to do if a fire starts
About smoke detectors

Is fire an issue in the United States?
United States Fire Departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in 2004. This same year nearly 4,000 Americans died in fires and another 18,000 were injured. Fire damage in 2004 alone was estimated at over 9 billion dollars. (Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Sept. 2005.) 

Educate yourself to protect yourself and your family. 

What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas that has the molecular formula CO. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, natural gas and LP furnaces, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires. 

How does carbon monoxide accumulate? 
CO accumulates due to improper burning of the fuel. This can be a result of poor installation, poor maintenance, improper ventilation, or failure/damage to an appliance. Having no smell, taste or color it has become increasingly important to have good ventilation, maintain all appliances regularly and to have reliable detector alarms installed in the home. CO Detectors are extremely vital for alerting you to increasing levels of CO before effects are felt.

What are the effects of carbon monoxide?
Exposure to carbon monoxide can produce many health concerns. Affects of CO exposure can range from minor headaches, nausea and dizziness to convulsions and potentially, with extended exposure, even death. Carbon monoxide poisons enter the lungs through the normal breathing mechanism and displace oxygen from the bloodstream. Interruption of the normal supply of oxygen puts the functions of the heart, brain, and other vital functions of the body at risk. Persons suffering from heart or respiratory health problems, infants and small children, unborn children, expectant mothers and pets are most easily affected by CO poisoning and may be the first to show symptoms.

Are there any safe levels of carbon monoxide?

Here are the guidelines that we use as we are evaluating a home for carbon monoxide. 

How can I implement a home escape plan?
In your home, getting out quickly can mean the difference between life and death. Fire can spread rapidly throughout your home, leaving you very little time to escape safely. Your ability to get out not only depends on the advanced warning from a smoke detector, but also on advanced planning. It is critical to have an escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced. Learn more about home escape plans.

What are common hazards found in the home? 
Each of our homes has many hazards, some we may not even be aware of. Many of the hazards could cause fires, but many hazards are risks to health and safety in general. Learn more about common hazards found in our homes.

How can I stay safe in the kitchen?
Each year, cooking fires generally result in the highest number of injuries according to the United States Fire Administration. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Most cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (e.g., food or grease, cabinets, wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc.). Learn more about kitchen safety.

What should I do if a fire starts?
Get out of the house and call 911 from a neighbor's house or from a cell phone.  

What is the best type of smoke detector to buy?
Residential smoke detectors are generally either photoelectric or ionization detectors. Both of these detectors are very good at providing early warning by detecting smoke in your home. Learn more about smoke detectors. 

Regardless of which smoke detector you choose, if possible have them installed by a certified electrician, hard wired to your homes main electrical panel with battery back up. They should also be interconnected so that if one detector is activated they all go into alarm mode throughout the home.

Learn more about ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors

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