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When I call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance, why does the fire department come too?
How can I find out what programs the Fire Department offers?
How do I obtain a copy of a fire incident report?
Does the fire department offer CPR and/or First-Aid classes to the public?
How do I get rid of old gasoline that I have in my garage?
Do you get cats out of trees?
Will the fire department fill up my swimming pool for a donation?
What are the educational and physical requirements to be a volunteer with Cool Springs VFD?
Will the fire department inspect my home for fire safety?
Does the fire department service fire extinguishers?
Are tours of the firehouses available?
Does the fire department install smoke detectors?
Do I need to get a permit from the fire department to build my building?
Can I get my blood pressure taken at the firehouse?
Is counseling available if my child is setting fires?
When an emergency vehicle is approaching that is displaying emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?
I saw a fire truck with lights and siren on go through a red traffic light, and then once they were through the intersection they turned off their lights and siren and slowed down to a normal driving speed. Why did they do that?
Why do firefighters cut holes in the roof of a building on fire?
Why do firefighters break windows in a building that is on fire?
Why do fire trucks respond to motor vehicle accidents?
Why do fire trucks sometimes respond to emergency medical calls?
When I call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance, why does the fire department come too?
The fire department has many trained Emergency Medical Technicians that are certified through the State of North Carolina. Our department offers First Responder response that allows us to respond to medical emergencies within our fire district. So when you call for an ambulance, the 9-1-1 center dispatches our first responders along with Iredell EMS. This is of incredible value to our community because we are much closer than Iredell EMS, which responds out of downtown Statesville.
We have special equipment and trucks that we use for responding to medical calls. For more information on this program, click here.
How can I find out what programs the Fire Department offers?
From our homepage menu click "Services".
How do I obtain a copy of a fire incident report?
Contact Fire House 1 Monday through Friday between 7:00am to 5:00pm and schedule a time to pick it up. Please allow adequate time for us to prepare the report and make copies.
Does the fire department offer CPR and/or First-Aid classes to the public?
The fire department has a conference room that we use for training and meetings. There is usually at least one class held each year at our department for our members. However, if you would like to request that a class be taught in our community, please contact Fire House 1 at (704) 872-3221 for more information.
How do I get rid of old gasoline that I have in my garage?
Contact Iredell County Solid Waste at (704) 878-5430.
Do you get cats out of trees?
No. We do not provide this service. We must keep our resources as available as possible so that we can be ready for truly life-threatening emergencies. We recommend opening a can of tuna or moist cat food and leaving it at the base of the tree. The cat will usually come down later to eat. If the situation continues, you may contact Iredell County Animal Control at (704) 878-5424.
Will the fire department fill up my swimming pool for a donation?
The fire department gladly accepts donations of any amount. However, we do not provide this service, even for a donation. We must keep our resources as available as possible for truly life-threatening emergencies. Filling up a swimming pool requires dumping several loads of water, which will temporarily leave the water tank on the truck empty. Then it takes several minutes to locate and connect to a fire hydrant, and another several minutes to refill the water tank and disconnect from the hydrant. If we were to have an emergency call during that time, our response time would be greatly delayed due to the tank filling and dumping operations.
In addition, fire truck tank water is generally not as clean as you would like for swimming.
What are the educational and physical requirements to be a volunteer with Cool Springs VFD?
There are many areas in which a volunteer can be productive in. Volunteers are expected to be in good health and able to perform standard fire department functions. The dangers and rewards of volunteer firefighting are no different than full-time career firefighting. As such, we must be expected to perform proficiently and quickly.
At this time, there are no entry-requirements regarding physical fitness, except that the applicant is in overall good health with no major health problems that would hinder their ability to perform basic fire department functions. In addition, the department requires annual physicals that are provided in-house for the purpose of disease prevention and health screening.
Will the fire department inspect my home for fire safety?
Yes. The fire department offers home fire safety survey’s and will survey your home for potential fire hazards and other safety hazards. A survey can be scheduled by appointment only with Asst Chief Ray Elmore at (704) 872-3221.
Do I need a permit to have a campfire in my backyard?
Does the fire department service fire extinguishers?
No. The fire department does not service or inspect fire extinguishers. There are several companies listed in the Yellow Pages that specialize in fire extinguisher servicing. Please refer to your local phone book or the Internet, as the fire department does not endorse a particular company.
Are tours of the firehouses available?
Yes. Members of our community are welcome to stop by either station at anytime, granted there are department personnel in-house. Since we are a volunteer department, there is no guarantee that there will be department personnel present at all times. However, there are usually personnel available during normal business hours.
If you have a group, please make an appointment before coming by. This will allow us to better prepare for your group and ensure that there are an adequate number of department personnel available to assist in the tour.
To make an appoint, contact Asst Chief Ray Elmore at (704) 872-3221.
Does the fire department install smoke detectors?
Yes. The fire department will gladly assist those members in our community who are elderly or physically unable to install a smoke detector. And in some cases, we can provide the smoke detector. However, the department only provides smoke detectors on an as-needed basis. We have a limited number of detectors that are reserved for those who are financially unable to purchase one.
A new smoke detector costs around $10 for a basic model. Your local hardware or retail store will probably have some in stock. If you need some assistance in properly installing it once purchased, the fire department will gladly assist you. Also, remember that every new smoke detector comes with directions and diagram that illustrates the proper placement, so if you choose to install it yourself, review this information first.
Remember to test your smoke detector weekly and to change your batteries when you change your clock during Daylight Savings Time.
Do I Need to get a permit from the fire department to build my building?
The fire department does not issue any permits for building. Please contact the Iredell County Planning Department at (704) 878-3118.
Can I get my blood pressure taken at the firehouse?
Yes. Almost half of our department personnel are certified Emergency Medical Technicians through the State of North Carolina. If there is an EMT available, he or she will gladly check your blood pressure. However, we will not attempt to diagnose any problems or give any medical advice. You should consult your personal physician.
Is counseling available if my child is setting fires?
Children are naturally curious about fire. However, if your child is deliberately and regularly starting fires, you should seek help immediately. The fire department does not offer a counseling program. However, there are professionals who specialize in this area. Please contact the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office at (704) 878-3035 for resources.
When an emergency vehicle is approaching that is displaying emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?
Pull over to the right and stop. This will allow fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles adequate space to pass your vehicle and continue on to the emergency.
Remember: “Pull to the Right for Siren and Light!”
I saw a fire truck with lights and siren on go through a red traffic light, and then once they were through the intersection they turned off their lights and siren and slowed down to a normal driving speed. Why did they do that?
This happens quite often when we are responding to assist another fire department. Many times a unit from the department we are assisting will arrive on the scene and confirm that the alarm is false. Once this happens that unit will “cancel” us, meaning they no longer need us to respond. Or, they may wish for us to continue on to the scene for support, but since it is no longer an emergency situation there is no reason for us to continue to put other motorists at risk by responding on with lights and siren. This is called “reducing to routine.”
When we are cancelled or reduced to routine, we turn off our lights and siren immediately. At no time does a fire apparatus from our department run lights and siren in an attempt to “run” a red traffic light or to pass through a busy intersection.
Why do firefighters cut holes in the roof of a building on fire?
This is called "venting the roof.” In a building fire, dangerous superheated gases and dark smoke accumulate, sometimes even down to floor level. Unlike the movie versions of fires, it is extremely difficult for firefighters to see in such an environment or for victims to survive. Since smoke and heat rise, it only makes since that we release that pressure by cutting a hole above the fire. Once the hole is cut, we take a long pole, stick it down in the hole, and “punch through” the ceiling. This releases much of the heat and smoke and allows firefighters to gain better access to the fire, and also improves any chance of survival that a victim may have.
Why do firefighters break windows in a building that is on fire?
In the same way that cutting a hole in the roof helps release built-up heat and smoke from a burning building, breaking windows near the fire area can help accomplish the same thing.
Why do fire trucks respond to motor vehicle accidents?
Anytime a motor vehicle is involved in an accident, there is potential for a fire to occur or for a hazardous material, such as antifreeze or gasoline, to leak into drains or streams. Our fire engines are outfitted with the necessary equipment to handle these situations.
Why do fire trucks sometimes respond to emergency medical calls?
Our fire engines are outfitted with emergency medical equipment and AED’s. Even though we have smaller vehicles that primarily respond to medical emergencies, sometimes these units are committed on the scene of another emergency. Other times, an engine may already be out of the station, perhaps fueling up or returning from a call. If we receive a medical call, it is not practical to return to one of our stations to pick up a squad unit, when we can go ahead and respond in the engine.
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