Where do I call to get CPR classes?
Call the Firefighters' Union at (602) 277-1500.

How do I get a copy of a fire investigation report?
Call Fire Investigations at (602) 262-6774.

How do I get information about the Youth Firesetter Program?
Call (602) 262-7757.

How do I get a fire permit?
Call Fire Prevention at (602) 262-6771.

Do you get cats out of trees/telephone poles/off of roofs?
No. Try opening a can of tuna and waiting for the cat to get down on its own.

Where can I go to get my blood pressure checked?
Any fire station between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

How can I schedule a fire truck or a firefighter at my function?
Call Community Involvement at least three weeks in advance at (602) 262-6910.

Who do I call about a fire extinguisher that doesn't work?
Call Fire Prevention at (602) 262-6771 or check the Yellow Pages under Fire Extinguishers.

Who do I call to get sand bags?
The Phoenix Fire Department does not supply sand bags or shovels. Check the Yellow Pages under Rock, or Sand and Gravel. Sand is supplied only when there is an imminent threat of a flood. Only when such a situation develops, call (602) 262-6297 to find out the location of fire stations that will temporarily have sand.

Why do so many fire apparatus respond to simple incidents?
Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by the 9-1-1 operator. The Phoenix Fire Department are prepared to deal with the worst that could happen at any given incident. They are fast, well-trained and pleasant in their response.

A computer selects the closest unit to respond to an incident. The fire department's philosophy is to get our firefighters there as soon as possible. This will be either an engine company or a ladder truck company. In preparation for the worst case scenario, an ambulance often is dispatched as well. The first unit on the scene may not be an advanced life support unit (a unit with paramedics). Therefore, such a unit also will be responding.

There may be three fire department vehicles on the scene for what appears to be a "simple" incident. However, in emergency services we have learned that if we assume something is "simple," we can be horribly mistaken. Plus, we respond as fast as we can prepared to encounter the worst. The winner in these situations will always be the citizen who needs help.

How come I see fire trucks with full lights and sirens go through a red light at intersections and then, after they go through, they turn off their lights and slow down?
Sometimes several units are dispatched to the same incident. The first unit may have arrived on the scene, surveyed the situation and informed the dispatcher that the situation was under control. All other responding units were cancelled and put back into service, ready to take another call.

Most likely, when you see an emergency vehicle go "Code 3" (lights and siren) through an intersection and then slow down and turn the emergency lights off, they have been cancelled from the call they were going on.

Why do I see firefighters cutting holes in the roof of a building on fire?
This is called "venting the roof." There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. Unlike the movie versions of fires, it is impossible for firefighters to see in such an environment. When a hole is made in the roof because the building is "vented," the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise. It makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see. It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft and flashover. Another reason for venting the roof 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 the 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 through the attic.

Who do I call to find out about swimming pool regulations?
Call the Water Safety Hotline at 602-495-5555.

Who do I call if I have problems with bees?
The Phoenix Fire Department does not remove bees unless there is imminent danger to a person. If such a situation exists, firefighters destroy the bees and the hives. To have bees removed, look in the Yellow Pages under Beekeepers.