Fire Department

Why does a fire truck show up for a 9-1-1 medical emergency?

The Rochester Hills Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical service to the community.  There are six paramedics on duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  The Paramedics are also Fire Fighters.  They respond in fire trucks to all calls.   This allows them to be ready for fire and medical calls.  The fire department also has four ambulances which respond with the fire trucks to transport patients to the hospital.

How many fires do we get in a year?

In 2001 the Fire Department responded to 189 fires in the City.  These fires are various types ranging from building fires to rubbish fires.

When/what can I burn?

Open burning is regulated by a comprehensive ordinance.  The fire prevention bureau of the fire department can be contacted at (248) 656-4717 for details. 

What can I do to protect my home and family from fire?

There are a number of things you can do to protect your family.  Some include have escape routes in case of fire, having working smoke detectors, properly use electrical appliances and fire places.  The fire department provides in home safety inspections upon request.  To request a home safety inspection you can contact the fire department at (248) 656-4717.

What are some fire hazards I should be concerned about?

• Extension cords and space heaters
• Not using electrical appliances properly
• Improper use and storage of flammable liquids
• Improper disposal of hot objects such as cigarettes

How many detectors should I have?

The number of smoke detectors depends on the size of your house.  Code requires a detector in each bedroom, in the hallway leading to the bedrooms, and on every level including basements. 

What/when are the most common type of house fires?

In the State of Michigan there were 10,814 fires in single family homes in 2002.  Of these fires the highest number occurred in the Kitchen and second highest occurred in the bedroom.   Cooking was the leading cause of these fires in 2002.  Second was Smoking and smoking material, and the third highest cause was Children playing with heat sources.

Why are CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors so important?

Carbon Monoxide is an odorless gas.  Carbon Monoxide is created by various things, the most common is improperly operating furnaces and gas appliances.  As a person is exposed to Carbon Monoxide it does not immediately affect them.  Prolong exposure is the main cause of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.  Detectors are set to warn on a level that will alert someone before the level reaches a deadly level.  It is very important that when your detector goes off that you contact the fire department.  

How many calls does the fire department have in one year?

In 2002 the department responded to 3686 incidents.  The incidents range from assisting a citizen to building fires.  As the city becomes more populated and traffic increases the number of calls routinely increase.  Likewise, as more education and prevention regarding fire safety is provided this decreases the number slightly.