Community
Before, during, and after.
The practical things: how to keep a fire from starting, how to help us when one does, and what to do the morning after.
Burn permits
Required from October through May for leaves and brush. Free; call the station and we'll ask where, what and when. The banner at the top of this site tells you whether today is a burning day. A permit never overrides a windy day or a ban.
Smoke alarms
One on every level and in every bedroom, tested monthly, replaced every ten years. If you can't get up the ladder, we will: the smoke-alarm check is free, and we bring the alarms.
Station visits
Scouts, classrooms, birthday parties, anyone curious. Twenty to thirty minutes with the rigs, booked a couple of weeks ahead. Call the station.
After a fire
Before we leave, an officer will tell you whether the building is safe to enter, how to reach your insurer and the utilities, and where to get help tonight. Ask us anything; that's what the last truck on scene is for.
Incident reports
Ask at the station or send a note to the email address in the footer with the date and address. Insurers should send the request on letterhead. We don't hold medical records; those belong to the ambulance service.
Fire Prevention Night
Every Halloween, 5 to 8 p.m. at Station 1. The trucks with their doors open, the smoke-alarm table, the escape-plan sheet, cider and doughnuts, trunk-or-treat in the back lot. Bring the kids.
Burning
A permit is required for open burning in the Hollow from October through May. Leaves and brush only, in a pile you can step around, never on a windy day, water within reach, and someone watching until it's cold. Permits are free; call the station. When the banner at the top of this site says no burning, it means today.
Programs
What we do for the district
After the fire
The morning after
Call your insurance company first; they will tell you what to do and will often arrange cleanup and a place to stay. Don't go back into the building until we have told you it's safe, and don't reconnect gas, electric or water until the utility or an electrician has checked them. The Red Cross can help with immediate needs. Gather what documents you can: insurance, identification, bank, medical.
You may notice we opened windows, cut holes in the roof, or opened walls. Ventilation lets heat and smoke out so firefighters can get in, and fire hides in walls and ceilings; we open them to make sure it's out. It looks like damage. It's how the rest of the house survived.
Common questions
Things people ask us
Do I need a permit to burn leaves?
Yes, from October through May. Permits are free; call the station. Leaves and brush only, never on a windy day, water within reach, and someone watching until it's cold. When the banner at the top of this site says no burning, it means today.
Do you charge for fire calls?
No. The department is funded by the town, the townships and your donations. You will never get a bill from us for coming.
What kind of fire extinguisher should I have at home?
A multi-purpose ABC extinguisher, at least 5 pounds, mounted near the kitchen and the garage. Check the gauge monthly. If a fire is bigger than a wastebasket, get out and call 911.
What should I do when a fire truck comes up behind me?
Pull to the right and stop. At an intersection, stay put until it passes. On Cedar Hollow Road there isn't much shoulder, so slow down early and give us the middle.
Will you fill my pool?
No. Tanker 2 carries the water we need for a fire on a road with no hydrants, and it has to be full when the pager goes off.
Can I get a copy of an incident report?
Yes. Ask at the station or send a note to the email address in the footer with the date and address. Insurers should send the request on letterhead. We don't hold medical records; those belong to the ambulance service.