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Fire Department

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1. Why does a fire truck come when I call for an ambulance?

All City of San Luis Fire Department apparatus are staffed with at least one Advanced Life Support (ALS) and one Basic Life Support (BLS) personnel, regardless of their operational classification; Fire Engine, Ladder Truck, Rescue Squad, Special Operations or Ambulance.  All apparatus carry the necessary equipment to provide ALS treatment at the scene of medical events.  Personnel assigned to apparatus other than ambulances may be utilized to assist ALS (MEDIC) ambulances with critical patients.

There may be times that all of the SLFD ambulances are committed to transporting medical patients to Yuma Regional Medical Center, sending a Fire Engine or other SLFD apparatus to a medical emergency will assure timely arrival of needed medical attention prior to the arrival of a distant ambulance.

2. Why are fire trucks used to block lanes on the highway when there is an emergency?

This is for everyone's safety; but primarily for the safety of our patients, Firefighters and to maximize our personnel’s effectiveness.  By blocking traffic lanes with our Fire Apparatus, all of our personnel at the scene can be focused on patient care, extrication, patient packaging and movement.

3. How do I report a leaking or broken fire hydrant?

If it is a public fire hydrant, please call San Luis Water Utilities at (928) 341-8577.  If it is a private fire hydrant, the property owner is responsible for all repairs.  They are therefore responsible for all repairs.

4. Can I schedule a visit to the fire station or can the fire department come visit us?

Yes, please contact Fire Administration at 928-341-8550.  Our personnel will explain our abilities to fulfill your request, obtain the necessary information and schedule your request.

Generally, Fire Station tours for elementary school children will be about 45 minutes and usually focus on the facilities, apparatus, a short (age appropriate) fire safety presentation and an appearance by SPARKY the Fire Dog.  Fire Station tours for children and school classes must be accompanied by sufficient numbers of adults to facilitate the tour and movement of the children.  Our abilities to maintain the attention of groups of greater than 15 children is difficult.  You may want to consider several visits by smaller groups to better address the effectiveness and impact of your visit.

Other specific topics geared toward career orientation, fire extinguisher use or home safety may be possible for adult audiences.  Indicate your desired topic; if we can accommodate your request, we will.

5. Can the Fire Department come unlock my car if I leave my keys inside?

The Fire Department will come out and unlock your vehicle if there is a child or pet inside the vehicle or the engine is running.  When a child or pet is locked inside and temperatures put them at risk for heat exposure or heat related injuries, our response will be under emergency response criteria (with red lights and sirens). 

If there is no life threat, our response will be under normal traffic criteria (no red lights, sirens and obeying all traffic flow laws.  Should the assigned apparatus be needed at an emergency event, they will be reassigned to that event and will either be reassigned to your event upon completion of the emergency event or another apparatus will be assigned to your request.

6. Does the Fire Department install or inspect child car seats?

No.  Please contact the Injury Prevention Coordinator at the Yuma County Health Department by calling 928-317-4631.

7. Can I do Community Service at a fire station or through the fire department?

No.  We do not offer opportunities to complete community service hours through our department.  Other city departments may offer this opportunity; you may contact City Hall at (928) 341-8520 to determine any opportunities that may exist.

8. Does the Fire Department fill private pools with water?

No, we do not.  However arrangements may be made to access a fire hydrant for this purpose.  Contact City of San Luis Utilities at 341-8582 for more information.

9. Can the Fire Department come out and change the batteries on my smoke detector?

Yes.  We will be more than happy to assist you with changing the batteries in a smoke detector if the smoke alarm is too high for the resident to reach, they are disabled or elderly and are not able to climb on a ladder to replace the batteries.  This does not apply for rental properties.

10. Who do I call if I have a swarm of bees?

The City of San Luis Fire Department does not remove bees unless there is imminent danger to a person or pets.  If such a situation exists, firefighters destroy the bees and the hives.  

If the bees are swarming and not a threat to people or pets and you want the bees removed, look in the Yellow Pages under Beekeepers.

11. Does the City of San Luis do Blood Pressure Checks?

City of San Luis Firefighters will be happy to check your blood pressure.  Drop by our fire station, but remember that fire fighters may or may not be in the station when you go.

12. Do you rescue cats from trees or power poles?

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances.  If it is safe for our personnel to rescue the cat, we will.  Please understand that our response to your request will not be with red lights and sirens and may be delayed, if our personnel are needed for another, higher priority event.

Cats are generally up in the tree because they were threatened.  Once this circumstance changes, they usually come down on their own.  You might try coaxing them down by opening a can of tuna and waiting for the cat to get down on its own.

If the cat is on a power pole, we will respond to evaluate the situation.  We may determine that it is a better course of action to call the power company to safely retrieve the cat.

13. Do you teach CPR classes?

Yes.  For a nominal fee, the City of San Luis Fire Department offers CPR and/or First Aid training for the general public and health care professionals.  Individuals, groups or businesses that are interested in the training should contact Fire Administration at 928-341-8550 for details and availability.

14. What should I do when I am aware of an emergency approaching?

When an emergency vehicle is driving with its lights flashing and the siren going; that means it's going to an emergency somewhere.  Someone needs help quickly.

When an emergency vehicle is heard and/or seen, drivers should carefully pull their vehicle to the right of the road and stop.  If they are at an intersection, or stopped in traffic when they see lights or hear a siren, drivers should remain stopped and wait until the emergency vehicles have passed.  Do not make quick or erratic maneuvers.  Arizona law is very specific; drivers must yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles.  Drivers also should stay 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.

15. Emergency Access - Can we find you?

Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street.  The numbers should be three or four inches in height and be reflective.

When the fire department responds to a given location, it may be delayed in arriving if the address is not clearly seen from the street.  Although it's fairly easy to spot a column of smoke from a house fire, it's difficult to see someone's heart attack from the street.  In a medical emergency, firefighters may spend critical time searching to find the correct address.  

16. 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 City of San Luis Fire Department is prepared to deal with the worst that could happen at any given incident.  

Our 9-1-1 Dispatchers will send sufficient fire apparatus to the reported event, based upon what they are told.  Many times, the first arriving apparatus can resolve the issue and will release unneeded equipment and personnel.  Dispatched equipment and apparatus may be on scene, and appear to be unused, unneeded and a waste of resources for what appears to be a “simple” incident. 

Without complete evaluation by the first arriving crews, we cannot assume something is “simple”.  If we are mistaken, the citizen and their property is at risk.  We are realistic, if not pessimistic; choosing to be prepared to encounter the worst.

17. What fire code does the City of San Luis use?

The Fire Code of the City of San Luis is based on the National Fire Protection Association 1: edition 2012. The code is amended with Phoenix specific amendments and adopted approximately every 3 years.

18. How do I report a possible fire code violation or unsafe situation?

Please contact our Fire Inspector a 928-341-8550 to report an unsafe situation or code violation.  An inspector will be sent out to verify any code violation and issue corrective notices, as may be applicable.

19. Who do I call about a fire extinguisher that doesn't work?

Check the Yellow Pages under Fire Extinguishers.  The San Luis Fire Department does not service or recharge portable fire extinguishers.

20. Why do I see firefighters cutting holes in the roof of a building on fire?

There are two basic reasons for this practice.  Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building; making it almost impossible for firefighters to see in such an environment.  When a hole is made in the roof, the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise through the opening, making it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see.  It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft and flashover.  

Another reason to cut a hole in the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed.  One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic.  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.

21. Can I burn trash within the City of San Luis?

No, burning of household trash is not permitted within City Limits of San Luis.  Open burning of tree limbs, paper and wood material is allowed but you must obtain a burning permit.  Open burning for cooking and warmth are permitted and do not require a permit.

The City of San Luis Fire Department cautions residents against open burning because of the potential of the fire spreading by either windblown fire brands or unattended and unintended fire spread to other materials or structures.

Burn Permits are required and must be obtained from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.  Please refer to the ADEQ websites for additional information.

ADEQ Burn Permits FAQ’s: https://legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/permits/download/Open_Burn_Permit_FAQ.pdf

ADEQ Burn Permit Brochure

http://legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/permits/download/ob_brochure.pdf

ADEQ Burn Permit Application

http://legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/permits/download/application.pdf

If you have any questions, please call the City of San Luis Fire Department Fire Prevention offices at (928) 341-8550.

22. Fireworks

The State of Arizona permits the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks for use by citizens.  This class of fireworks are available from retail stores.  Aerial display devices are prohibited.

The City of San Luis had prohibited the use, display or discharge of all fireworks within city limits.  This is to protect you and your property from reckless and irresponsible use by your neighbor.

The City of San Luis Fire Department recommends you leave fireworks displays and celebrations to the professionals, allowing you to safely enjoy the celebrations without concern of injury or fire.

23. How much clear space must be maintained around a fire hydrant?

Make sure fire hydrants have a three foot area clear of debris and obstructions.  Firefighters will need to quickly access the hydrant for water supply in case of a structure fire.  An obstruction of fencing, tree branches, bushes, weeds or brush may cause a delay as firefighters try to get water to extinguish a fire.  Someone may be injured or killed because water is not available as soon as possible.

24. How close to a fire hydrant can I park my car?

Don't block a fire hydrant by parking a vehicle next to it.  Vehicles cannot be parked any closer than 15 feet to a fire hydrant from any direction.  This space is required to be kept clear of vehicles, even if the curb IS NOT PAINTED RED. 

Remember, your actions may cause a delay in being able to supply water to an emergency that continues to grow until intervention takes place.

25. How do I get a copy of a fire investigation report?

Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 928-341-8520 for information to submit a public records request.

26. 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, informs the dispatcher that the situation was under control, does not need additional resources and cancels unneeded resources.

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

27. What is my ISO rating?

ISO (sometimes called an insurance rating) is a rating that gauges the fire protection capability of the local fire department to respond to structure fires based on housing densities and distance of structures from (usually 3 to 5 miles) from a fire station.  The ISO rating for the City of San Luis is 3/3X. 

County islands within the city limits may have a different rating.

28. Key boxes or “Knox Boxes”

The San Luis Fire Code requires a key box on every occupancy (except private residences R-3) where off site monitoring notifies the fire department. Private residences may install a key box and provide the key to their local fire station for citizens who may not be able to get to the door in case of emergency.  For more information contact our Fire Prevention Office.

The KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System was specifically developed for the fire department.  With one master key, they can gain access to commercial and residential property.  More than 11,500 departments nationwide use Knox key boxes, vaults, Haz-Mat cabinets, key switches, locking FDC caps, and padlocks. Please call Fire Prevention at 928-341-8550 with any questions or to obtain an application for a KNOX-BOX®.

29. Does the Fire Department sell or give away patches or t-shirts?

The City of San Luis Fire Department does not sell, trade or give away patches, t-shirts or other departmental items due to security, economic and safety concerns.

30. My smoke detectors are over 8 years old, do they need to be replaced?

Yes. The National Fire Protection Association’s National Fire Alarm Code requires home smoke detectors to be replaced when they fail to respond or when they exceed 10 years from the date of manufacture.  Most smoke detectors have the date of manufacture printed on the back of the detector.  Working smoke detectors are the most important element in the protection of your family from fire that smoke detectors more than eight years old should be replaced to ensure that you and your family are protected.  As a reminder smoke detectors should be tested once a month and their batteries should be replaced at least once a year.

31. I would like to buy a fire extinguisher for my home. What kind of fire extinguisher should I buy?

Fire extinguishers when used properly are effective in controlling and extinguishing small fires that have not spread beyond their point of origin.  It is recommended that you purchase a fire extinguisher that is rated for use on A, B and C type fires.  This will ensure that the extinguisher that you purchase will effectively extinguish fires that can occur in your home even on charged electrical appliances.

A fire extinguisher rated as 2A:10B:C is an extinguisher size that most people can operate and it will allow the operator to discharge the extinguisher from a safe distance allowing them to move closer as the fire is knocked down.

32. What are the Fire Code regulations for barbecuing?

The adopted Fire Code contains regulations for the use and storage of barbecues on specified balconies, patios and decks of residential structures having more than two dwelling units.  These include apartments, condominiums and townhouses (except for townhouses located on individual parcels).

The following are the applicable sections from the Fire Code:

308.1.4.  Open-Flame Cooking Devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10' (3,048 mm) of combustible construction.

Exceptions:

One- and two-family dwellings.

Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 2-1/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].

Summary of the above code:
Charcoal Barbecues—It is acceptable to store the barbecue unit on a combustible balcony (i.e., wood) but it is not acceptable to operate it on a combustible balcony or within 10' of combustible construction (which includes the surrounding walls and overhangs above).  It is acceptable to operate the barbecue on a balcony if the balcony, deck, overhangs and adjacent walls are of noncombustible construction or if the buildings, balconies, decks and overhangs are protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.  

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG/Propane) Barbecues—It is not acceptable to store or operate an LPG barbecue with a propane fuel container size greater than one pound on a combustible balcony or within 10' of combustible construction (which includes the surrounding walls and overhangs above).  It is acceptable to operate the barbecue on a balcony if the balcony, deck, overhangs and adjacent walls are of noncombustible construction or if the buildings, balconies, decks and overhangs are protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.