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Volunteer Fire Department

Show All Answers

1. What number do I call for an emergency?

Please call 911 in the event of an emergency.

2. How can I get Southside Fire Department at my Block Party?

Contact City Hall at 713-668-2341 and the information will be forwarded to the Fire Department. The Fire Department will contact you to see if you are interested.

3. Where should a Fire Extinguisher be placed in the home?

Having a fire extinguisher in the home is a good idea, but not mandated by the Southside Fire Department. If you have a fire extinguisher, it should be placed where it is easily accessible. The kitchen and garage are good sites for an extinguisher. However, do not place an extinguisher over the stove or buried in storage in the garage, but rather hang it on the wall no less than 4 inches or greater than 5 feet from the ground.

4. Are fireworks legal to discharge in the City of Southside?

No, this is a violation of City Ordinance.

5. My home has a sprinkler system. Are there things I should do to maintain the system?

Yes, please contact your sprinkler installer. An annual test of the back flow device will ensure your system is working.

6. My building has a sprinkler system. Are there things I should do to maintain the system?

If you own the building, you are required to see that the system is tested annually by a reputable contracted agency and the documentation of this test should be kept on file for the fire department to view in accordance with International Fire Code chapter 9. If there is a system in your building it must be in operational condition at all times. If you are a tenant or owner-occupant, there are other things you can do to be sure your system is ready in case it is needed. Never paint a sprinkler head. Each sprinkler head is designed to cover a certain amount of area in your building so before you build walls or large shelving units or stack storage to the ceiling, check with your fire inspector to be sure what you do won’t prevent the sprinkler head from doing its job. Also, never hang anything from a sprinkler head.

7. The Fire Department has been inspecting my building for many years and has never mentioned a violation in the past. Why are they indicating a violation this time?

Fire codes are updated regularly. Some of the things that cause changes in these codes may be a newer type of construction, a new construction method or an event that occurred where people were injured. Whatever the reason, when the codes are updated, it is necessary to inspect your facility under the most current code. This may result in a change from the previous year in your inspection.

8. What code does the City of Southside Fire Department use?

The 2006 edition of the International Fire Code.

9. My building has a fire alarm system. Are there things I should do to maintain the system?

If you own the building, you are responsible to see that the system is tested annually by a reputable contracted agency and the documentation of this test should be kept on file for the fire department to view. Also, it would help if someone who is likely to be in the building on a daily basis knows where the alarm panel is located. If you are a tenant or owner-occupant, there are other things you can do to be sure your system is ready in case it is needed. Never paint a detector surface. Each detector is designed to cover a certain amount of area in your building so before you build walls or large shelving units or stack storage to the ceiling, check with your fire inspector to be sure what you do won’t prevent the detector from doing its job. Also, never hang anything from a detector.

10. Our alarm system keeps going off unintentionally, isn't there something I can do about this?

Fire alarms seldom malfunction. Usually, if they are sounding, there is a reason. Sensing devices may need cleaning or replacement. Other reasons causing alarm activation may be as simple as a bag of popcorn that overcooked in a microwave, a co-worker smoking in an area where they shouldn't be, or dust from re-modeling. In all of cases, even though big flames were not shooting from the building and hoses were not needed to put the fire out, the system was doing its job of alerting everyone in the building to a possible danger of a fire. If your system activates, immediately leave the building and do not re-enter until the proper authority investigated the alarm and gives the all clear to enter the building. Take every fire alarm seriously, follow your established evacuation plan, leave the building until someone of authority (building maintenance, security, the fire department, etc.) tell you it is safe to return.

11. When I need a permit, whom do I call?

Call City Hall at 713-668-2341.

12. What if I smell gas in my home?

You will need to get out of the house and then call 9-1-1 for the Fire Department from outside of the house or from a neighbor's house. The use of a phone could cause the gas to ignite if you called from inside the house.

13. How often should I change the batteries in my smoke detector?

We recommend you change the batteries in your smoke detectors every 6 months. An easy way to remember is to change the batteries when you reset your clock for daylight savings time. 

14. Why do you block traffic lanes at auto accidents - more lanes than are necessary?

It's for the safety of our personnel and our patients. Blocking extra lanes keeps our personnel safe when they go back to our apparatus to get more equipment and it helps protect the victim we're trying to stabilize. 

15. Why do firefighters get upset when you drive over fire hoses?

The fire hose is the lifeline of a firefighter when fighting a fire. If you drive over it, the hose can be damaged, and any firefighter at the end of a nozzle will have the water interrupted - possibly causing injury or death.

16. What should I do when I see or hear an emergency vehicle coming towards me when driving?

When it is safe to do so, you should pull over to the right and stop until all emergency vehicles have safely passed. If you cannot safely maneuver to the right, simply stop and stay stopped so the vehicles can go around you safely. Depending on the emergency, multiple apparatus may be responding. Be sure to check for additional emergency vehicles prior to pulling back out into traffic.

17. My smoke detector or Carbon Monoxide detector is chirping, what does that mean?

Most modern smoke detectors will chirp to alert you the batteries are low and you should replace the batteries and test your detector. Detectors can be purchased at any hardware or large commercial department store. Did you know your detector has a life span? Check it for an expiration date to ensure your safety.

18. Does the Fire Department fill fire extinguishers?

Southside Place Fire Department is not equipped to fill fire extinguishers at this time. However, you can find local fire extinguisher businesses in the yellow pages to refill them. 

19. Why do firefighters break out windows and cut holes in the roof during a fire?

Firefighters ventilate smoke, superheated, poisonous, or explosive gases for safety and visibility. This allows firefighters to get inside the building to find and extinguish the fire, thereby reducing property damage. This also reduces the chance of a possible dangerous explosion. The environment inside a burning building is not like the movies portray it. Often firefighters cannot see their hands in front of their faces. They crawl to try and remain below smoke and heat and feel their way through the hostile environment. Reducing the smoke in the building allows more efficient rescue and extinguishing of the fire.