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1. What other responsibilities do firefighters have other than fighting fires?

Firefighting actually represents a relatively small portion of the work of a typical fire department in today’s world. The number of residential and commercial fires has steadily decreased over the years due to a variety of factors including improvements in construction, a greater public awareness of the risk factors leading to fires and a significant reduction in smoking nationwide.
Fires, however, are only some of the emergencies to which the Lancaster Fire Department responds. More than seventy percent of the Fire Department’s emergency responses are, in fact, calls for medical aid, including illness/accidents at home and work, injuries resulting from vehicle accidents and other medical trauma. Other calls for emergency response involve hazardous materials releases, response to fire alarms and other calls for public assistance.
Firefighters also spend quite a bit of time maintaining equipment, doing routine public safety inspections for businesses, training for all types of emergency responses and filling out the reports and paperwork associated with these activities.

2. Why does the Fire Department bring the fire engine just for a simple inspection?

Two reasons: First, these inspections are conducted by on-duty engine companies that must be ready to respond to an emergency call from the field. This is why you almost always see the personnel together as a crew and have the fire engine with them when they are out of the fire station. Second, an important part of the value of the public safety inspection is to familiarize your local firefighters with the buildings and business in Lancaster. While they check for hazards and consult with business owners on how best to eliminate or minimize the likelihood of a fire, they also familiarize themselves with access points and the layout of the facility.

3. Why do I see firefighters at stores when they are working?

Firefighters work a 24 hour shift and must remain in the station or a fire department vehicle available for emergency response at all times. Therefore, all of the firefighter’s meals are eaten in the station. Firefighters are permitted to go to the store during the day to purchase items needed for these meals.
At other times, Lancaster Fire Department vehicles are at local businesses while on official business such as inspections, performing training or education, or even answering questions or complaints. There are many public services performed by your fire department on a daily basis.
Finally, firefighters also routinely shop for needed fire department supplies and equipment.
Take advantage of this opportunity to interact with the firefighters and ask questions. Just don't be offended if they have to rush off.

4. Why do fire trucks sometimes turn off their lights and sirens after going through an intersection?

Fire trucks and ambulances use lights and sirens to warn the public and clear traffic while en route to an emergency call.

There is an element of risk every time a fire truck or ambulance drives through town with their lights and sirens on. Accidents while going to and from emergency calls are the second leading cause of death for firefighters. When a fire department representative arrives on the scene and finds the situation is not as serious as they led to believe, they will "downgrade" or cancel the rest of the fire department response. "Downgrade" means to have them continue without their lights and sirens, reducing the risk of firefighters and the public. This also reduces the disruption to normal traffic flow.

5. I called 9-1-1 for a medical emergency and fire apparatus came to my home?

Fire Department vehicles are fully equipped with first-aid, basic, and advanced emergency medical response supplies, including defibrillators. All of our firefighters are State of Ohio Certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics and are trained to handle medical calls. The Fire Engines will often respond along with the Medic Unit on serious medical calls. If the Medic Unit in your area is out on another call, an Engine Company may be dispatched as a First Responder to provide emergency care until another Medic Unit arrives to the scene.

6. When I see an emergency vehicle approaching with lights and sirens while I am driving, what should I do?

State law, and common sense, dictates that vehicles yield to emergency vehicles that are operating their emergency lights and siren. Emergency vehicle drivers are taught to pass on the left whenever possible when responding in an emergency mode. When safe, slow down, pull over to the right, and stop. However, there are circumstances where that may not be possible (if your car is already stopped, and you don't have anywhere to pull over). Simply stay put until the emergency vehicle goes around you. If you are blocking the route of the emergency vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area, use your turn signal to indicate your intentions, and proceed at a safe speed. Never slam on the brakes and stop in the middle of the road when you see apparatus approaching. Make no sudden moves. If an emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, you should pull over and stop. You have no idea if they are proceeding down the road, or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right in front of you. You are not required to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles that are responding in the opposite direction on a divided highway. Do not tailgate, "draft", or follow a responding apparatus closely. Not only is this illegal, you run the risk of collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by.

7. Why do firefighters break windows and cut holes in roofs when the fire is inside a building? It seems that they are causing more damage than the fire?

Fire in a building creates a tremendous amount of heat and smoke. In many instances, firefighters must remove this heat and smoke before they can get close enough to extinguish the fire. The reduced heat and improved visibility allow firefighters to safely and quickly rescue trapped occupants and extinguish the fire. Heat and smoke rise, so cutting a hole in the roof and breaking out windows in strategic locations allows the smoke to vent upwards, allowing cool air to enter the structure from below. We call this "ventilation". When a hole is made in the roof, dark smoke and dangerous superheated gases escape because heat and smoke rise. This makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see. It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft (an explosion of heated gases) and flashover. Another reason is to see how far the fire has progressed. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where fire can move quickly. Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof, cut holes to access the attic and stop the fire from spreading. By venting the window of a room that’s on fire, it actually helps to contain the fire to the room of origin. Otherwise heated gases spread throughout the inside of a structure. Ventilation really prevents more damage than it appears to cause.

8. What type of extinguishers and how many are recommended for the home?

A minimum of one 5-pound ABC extinguisher accessible to the kitchen area. Always keep the fire in front of you with your back toward the exit.

9. Are electric space heaters legal and are they safe?

Yes, they are legal and only safe when instructions are strictly followed. All portable heaters should be kept at least 3 feet from any combustible items.