Frequently Asked Question
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The fire department responds on serious or life threatening calls. The fire vehicle may be an engine, ladder truck, or rescue unit. The personnel assigned to these vehicles assist the ambulance crew with equipment, patient care and transportation.
During the course of the day it is not unusual for two calls for the ambulance to come in at the same time. If the AMR ambulance scheduled for Ephrata is busy, an AMR ambulance will be sent from Moses Lake-area station.
Emergency lights and siren are used only when responding to a call. Apparatus responding to calls are sometimes cancelled, or the first arriving unit determines that the call is not an emergency and tells the units to respond in a non-emergency mode, or to return to their station.
Fire in a building creates a lot of heat and smoke. In many cases, firefighters must remove the heat and smoke before they can get close enough to put out the fire. Heat and smoke rise, so cutting a hole in the roof and breaking out windows in planned locations allows the smoke to vent upwards, allowing cool air to enter the building from below. This is called "ventilation". It also improves visibility and lowers heat conditions for the firefighters inside, allowing them to quickly and safely extinguish the fire. Remember, heat and smoke can cause extensive damage; ventilation will actually reduce overall damage to a building and contents.
This all depends on you and the fire protection features of the building you are in at the time of the fire.
Relying on the expertise and resources of your local firefighters to save you in a fire is risky at best. The best rescue is self rescue.
Relying on the expertise and resources of your local firefighters to save you in a fire is risky at best. The best rescue is self rescue.
- Install smoke detectors in your home, and check them monthly.
- Have a fire escape plan that includes 2 ways out of each room/home, and practice it.
- Learn what to do in the event of fire in your home.
- Never re-enter a burning building.
- If you panic, your chances of survival decrease drastically.
- If you are trapped and you know the fire department is on scene, make your location known by yelling, opening a window and dropping something out, or calling 9-1-1 and relaying your location to the dispatcher.
- Stuff bedding or towels under the door to keep deadly smoke and gases out of the room.
- Do not hide under a bed or table!
- Stay near a window or doorway. Firefighters are taught to search under windows and doorways during rescue searches.
State law, and common sense, dictate 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 you 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.
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.
Call the Fire Department at 509-754-4666.
Call AMR at 509-765-2155
The Ephrata Fire Department offers CPR Courses on a regular basis. If you are interested in signing up for the next class simply call 509-754-4666 and ask to be put on the CPR class list. You will be notified when the next class will be offered.
Blood pressure testing is done at the Ephrara Fire Station, 800 A St SE, Monday-Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Yes, contact the Fire Department at 509-754-4666 and we will be happy to assist you with your request.
Part of the premium is determined by the strength of the fire protection provided to your home by the City. The quality of fire protection for a given area is determined by an organization sponsored by the insurance industry. This organization is known as the ISO. ISO grades fire protection for an area on a 1-10 grading system (1 being the best).
The Ephrata Fire Department has an ISO Class 5 rating.
Lower ISO Rating = Lower Insurance Premiums = More Property Development = Lower Property Tax
The Ephrata Fire Department has an ISO Class 5 rating.
Lower ISO Rating = Lower Insurance Premiums = More Property Development = Lower Property Tax
The Ephrata Fire Department does not solicit donations via the telephone. All Department funding comes from the City budget. If you suspect you are a victim of a scam, contact the Ephrata Police Department at 509-754-2491.
The Ephrata Fire Department does not recommend the use of child-locator window decals. View our position statement on this issue.
Firefighters thoroughly perform search and rescue in the event of a fire. Parents should be aware of safety concerns when using child-locator decals. Per the Home Safety Council, these decals may signal intruders to an area of vulnerability in the home, especially where children are sleeping.
Rather than using decals, teach children home fire safety.
Firefighters thoroughly perform search and rescue in the event of a fire. Parents should be aware of safety concerns when using child-locator decals. Per the Home Safety Council, these decals may signal intruders to an area of vulnerability in the home, especially where children are sleeping.
Rather than using decals, teach children home fire safety.