What Is a Fire Station?

A fire station is a place where firefighters store and maintain their equipment. It may also be used as living quarters and offices for full time career firefighters who work at the station and sleep there during the night shift while waiting to be called out to an emergency. Fire stations also have facilities for training drills and other activities such as public safety events. Some stations are also home to a firemen’s association or fire buffs which may be involved with fundraising for the department.

Some fire departments have multiple stations and serve a number of communities and unincorporated areas. The Mountain View Fire Protection District, for example, serves over 2 hundred square miles and four communities from six fire stations.

There are many different types of fire trucks and other vehicles. A fire engine typically has a large mounted hydraulically raised ladder that can reach up to the roof of a building. It also carries hoses, tools and other gear for specialized duties such as fire prevention inspections, rescue operations and fire cause determination. A fire truck also has a pump to supply water.

Firefighters wear protective suits that protect them from cuts, abrasions and heat while performing their duties at an incident. They use a special air supply connected to a respirator that allows them to breath fresh air while working in dangerous situations. Some of the tools they use are axes, shovels, rakes and forcible entry tools to gain access to hard-to-reach places during an emergency.

A firefighter’s role is to protect the lives and property of his or her neighbors. This can be done by inspecting buildings for hazardous occupancies and by providing fire prevention tips to the public. Some firefighters are trained for other emergencies such as assisting in rescuing trapped victims from hazardous situations like car crashes and drownings.

There are different levels of incidents and the firefighter must determine which one he or she is responding to. The incident commander assigns personnel and equipment based on the level of the incident. The higher the level, the more dangerous and complex it is.

Some of the other important duties at a fire station include hydrant maintenance, testing fire alarms, making calls for assistance and training. Some firefighters may work part-time and volunteer in the fire service while others are full-time career firefighters. They must attend regular training classes and perform daily station maintenance and cleaning. In addition, they must be available to respond to an emergency call for help at any time. In some smaller communities, the fire department is staffed by volunteers instead of career firefighters. They can be called out to assist the fire department when needed by using a radio system to receive an emergency call for assistance. This is often referred to as a “call-out” system. In some cases, these volunteers are paid for their services, but it is more common to have them receive a stipend.