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GENERAL
QUESTIONS
What does
the Quincy Fire Department do?
Please check our
about us page for an explanation of what we do.
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questions
What is the
firefighters work schedule?
There are firefighters on duty 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. Quincy firefighters work two 10 hour days
followed by one day off then two 14 hour nights followed by three days off.
This "8 day week" averages out to be 42 hours a week.
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questions
How do I
become a firefighter?
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You must have a High School
diploma or a GED.
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You must have a valid MA drivers
licence.
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Every 2 years there is a test
held by the Civil Service Department. For more information visit the
Human
Resources Division at 1 Ashburton Place in Boston or call them at (617)
727-3555.
It also helps greatly if you:
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Have residency preferance by
living in the city or town one year before the test.
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Are a veteran of the US military.
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Are a Paramedic (in communities
that have their own ambulance at the Paramedic level)
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questions
Where is
the firehouse?
Find your neighborhood to the
left and click the link to see information on the firehouse nearest you.
If your neighborhood is not listed, click on the closest neighborhood to
you. (i.e. if you live in Adams Shore click on "Houghs Neck". If
you live in Norfolk Downs or North Quincy, click "Atlantic").
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questions
Can I visit
the firehouse?
Yes, children are especially
welcome. Keep in mind that the firehouse is usually a busy place
during normal working hours in addition to regular emergency calls. We
generally start our shift at 8 a.m. and we have "house duties" as well as
equipment checkout and reports first thing in the morning. After that
we might do training, smoke alarm inspection, or In Service fire prevention
inspections until lunch. We are often free after lunch for guided
tours of the common areas of the firehouse. Tours in the living areas
of the firehouse are not permitted.
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questions
What is the
differance between the Engines, Ladders and Rescues?
Each piece of fire apparatus
plays a vital role
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Engines are primarilly water
pumps. They carry thousands of feet of hose, nozzles, and other
equipment needed to extinguish fire.
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Ladder trucks carry ladders to
access difficult parts of buildings, hand tools and power saws for forcing
open doors, and ventillating gasses and smoke, and Pnumatic "Jaws of Life"
or "Spreaders", "Cutters', air bags, and "rams" neccessary for auto
extrication. Some specialized Ladder trucks called "Quints" also carry
hose and have their own water pumps for extinguishing fire. These
trucks are both expensive and manpower intensive.
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Similar to the Ladder, the Rescue
truck also carries the Jaws, air bags, cutters, rams, forcible entry tools,
and power saws. The Rescue also carries specialized rescue
equipment such as ropes, cold water rescue suits, jacks, lights, electric
power cord reels, spare air bottles, gas metering devices, and an MBTA "trird
rail" power detector.
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questions
What do I
do if there is a fire in my home or business?
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If it is safe to do so,
immediately call 9-1-1.
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If it is unsafe to call from
your home or business, evacuate everyone that you safely can and call from
a neighbor's house or a cell phone.
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If you are in a building and
you see a fire alarm pull station on the way out, pull the alarm to notify
everyone in the building that there is a problem.
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If there is someone in the home
that you cannot get to safety and cannot rescue themselves, you need to
tell the first arriving fire truck. Our primary goal is the
preservation of life. Protection of property is a secondary concern.
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Try to tell the arriving fire
trucks where you think the fire is.
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questions
What if
there is a fire outside that is near my home or business?
If a fire is close to your home
or business (such as a car parked next to your home), consider it inside
your home and call 9-1-1, evacuate the building and wait for arriving fire
companies.
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questions
How do I
know if there is a fire in my home if I don't see flames?
If you smell or see smoke in your
home or business that you do not know the origin of (such as cooking),
assume there is a fire and call 9-1-1 immediately.
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questions
Where do I get a copy of the Fire Report for my
insurance company?
You may obtain a fire report at
Headquarters on Quincy Avenue.
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What
do I do if I accidentally set off my fire alarm system by burning food?
You can call fire alarm directly
at (617)376-1011 and notify them, but the fire trucks are still going to
come to your address and make sure everything is OK.
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questions
I hear a
lot of talk about "NFPA 1710" in the council meetings. What is "NFPA
1710"?
NFPA is a standard created by the
National Fire Protection Agency in Quincy that defines "minimum requirements
relating to the orginization and deployment of fire suppression operations,
emergency medical operations, and special operations to the public".
It requires that minimum staffing levels and minimum response times be
adhered to to effectively protect life and property.
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questions
FIRE DEPARTMENT
OPERATIONS
Why do so many fire apparatus respond to
incidents?
Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by
the caller.
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For a fire or potential fire
Quincy Fire Department will send 3 Engines, 2 Ladders, and the Rescue if
it is service that day.
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For a call for alarms, we send
one Engine and One Ladder.
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For a severe motor vehicle
accident we send 1 or 2 Engines (depending on where the accident is) as
well as a Ladder truck and the Rescue if it is in service that day.
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For minor accidents, car fires,
outside or trash fires, medicals, and other minor incidents we send an
Engine.
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For all of these incidents you
will also see an assortment of Police cars and Ambulances depending on the
severity.
Back to the
questions I've seen
fire trucks in Quincy from other communities such as Boston, Weymouth,
Braintree, and Milton. Why is this?
Usually it is an indication that there is a large fire in Quincy somewhere.
We currently have a total of 8 Engines, 3 Ladders and a Rescue truck (if it
is in service that day). A 2-alarm fire in Quincy uses 5 Engines, 3
Ladders and the Rescue leaving only 3 Engines in the City. At this
point we activate "mutual aid" coverage and the surrounding communities send
trucks into Quincy to cover the absent apparatus.
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Why do I see firefighters cutting holes in
the roof and breaking windows of a building on fire?
When there is a fire, you may have seen firefighters breaking windows and
cutting big holes in the roof. What they are doing is called ventilation.
Ventilation allows smoke and superheated gasses to escape from the building.
This prevents two dangerous conditions known as flashover and backdraft that
could potentially kill firefighters or any other people still inside the
building. It also decreases the temperature inside of the building and
increases visibility so that firefighters can work more safely and
effectively. While it may look like the firefighters are just breaking
things, they are actually performing a critical task at a fire.
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questions
Why does
the Fire Department make so much noise when they respond to a call?
For the safety of the citizens,
fire trucks are required by law to sound sirens when responding to an
incident.
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questions
What do I
do if a fire truck is behind me with lights and sirens?
If it is safe to do so, pull to
the right side of the road and slow your speed or come to a stop. If
it is unsafe to pull over or you get frazzled, just slow down and stop to
allow the fire apparatus to go around you. Don't make any sudden
movements in the path of the fire apparatus. If you hear sirens when
coming up to an intersection, use caution and be aware of the fire
apparatus' direction of travel. It is helpful to signal to the truck
that you see them and are stopping your vehicle.
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questions
A fire
truck behind me had their lights on, then shut them off. What's going
on?
Often trucks from outlying areas
that are responding to an incident will be told by the deputy on scene to
respond "Code-C' which means no lights and sirens, but continue on to the
scene. Usually this is done for the safety of the citizens if it
appears to be a non-incident by the first arriving apparatus at the scene.
Also, we are sometimes cancelled by the police while en-route to an incident
due to a false call.
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questions
What does
the fire department do at a motor vehicle accident?
Some motor vehicles are so
deformed when they are involved in accidents that the occupants become
trapped inside. We cut the doors open and peel the roof back so we can
safely remove the passengers from the vehicle.
We also extinguish fires as a
result of the accident, control flammable liquid spills, and provide
emergency medical care for the occupants.
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questions
What if I
smell an odor of gas?
Does the Fire Department check for gas leaks?
In the event that we cannot find and fix the problem, we will come
stand by until the Gas Company arrives on the scene. Everyone needs to leave
the area or the building if gas is detected until the source can be
identified and stopped.
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questions
AMBULANCE QUESTIONS
What if I
just want an Ambulance for a transport to the hospital without the fire
trucks and police coming to my house?
If you have a non-emergent
medical problem and you want just an ambulance, Fallon Ambulance provides
service to the city and can be reached directly at (617)298-3828.
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questions
Can I ride in
the ambulance with my family member?
The Paramedics determine whether a family member is allowed to ride in the
ambulance. Much is dependent upon the condition of the patient and the age
of the patient.
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questions
Will the Ambulance take me to
the hospital that I want?
Again this decision is determined by the Paramedics on a case by case basis
dependant on the severity of the illness or injury. If there are no
life threatening conditions, the Paramedics will usually take you into
Boston, Milton, or the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth if requested.
If there is a life threatening condition they will strongly advise
transporting to the nearest hospital, but if you are adamant about not going
to that hospital, they will take you to the next closest and have you sign
an "Against Medical Advice" form.
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questions
The
paramedics treated me but didn't transport me. Will I be charged?
Patients who receive care
at the scene and are not transported to a hospital are not charged for these
services.
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questions
FIRE PREVENTION
QUESTIONS
Is outside
burning allowed in the City of Quincy?
No. A city ordinance prohibits
burning within the Quincy city limits. Outdoor cooking is allowed in
approved grills.
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questions
Who do I
call to report conditions that could create a fire hazard?
Please call our fire prevention
department at (617)376-1014
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questions
How come the fire department does
inspections?
For the safety of the occupants we inspect public schools, daycares, and
nursing homes on a quarterly basis. We inspect for fire and health
hazards, ensure the operation of fire alarm systems and fire protection
systems, and egress and exit function. We also use this to familiarize
ourselves with these occupancies so that in the case of an emergency, we
will know the layout of the building.
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questions
How come I
can't have a gas grill on my balcony?
Gas grills have tanks of
compressed Propane. Propane is one of a few flammable gasses that is
heavier than air and in the event of a leak, the gas will accumulate in low
areas. A Propane tank which is leaking or inadvertently left on could
accumulate to explosive levels in the apartment below you, and could be
ignited by a pilot on a stove or anything that creates a spark.
Therefore it is the policy of the Quincy Fire Department not to allow
Propane gas grills on balconies above the first floor.
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questions
How do I
report a non-emergency incident such as a leaking fire hydrant?
You can call fire alarm directly
at (617)376-1011 for any non emergent problems. By the way, we don't
rescue cats from trees, sorry.
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questions
What does
it mean when my smoke detector is "chirping"?
usually a smoke detector that
"chirps" or "beeps" once every now and the needs a new battery.
Batteries in smoke detectors should be replaced twice a year, traditionally
on the days you set your clock forward in the spring and back in the fall.
If it continues to chirp after you replace the battery it may indicate a
malfunctioning smoke detector. New smoke detectors can be purchased at
hardware stores.
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questions
Where
should the smoke detectors in my house be?
Outside every bedroom and at the
foot of every staircase
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I am
selling my home and need a smoke detector inspection. Who do I call?
Appointments can be made at our
fire prevention department.
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questions
Why should I have a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector?
Appliances that burn fossil fuels
such as oil burners and gas stoves have the potential to malfunction and
release Carbon Monoxide into your home. Carbon Monoxide, (or CO), is a
colorless, odorless gas that will displace oxygen which could cause
headaches, neurological problems, and death. Click
Here for a more comprehensive explination of CO detectors
Back to the
questions
Should I
call the Fire Department if my Carbon Monoxide detector is going off?
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If you or anyone in the home are
experiencing signs of CO poisoning such as headaches, red flushed skin,
blurred vision, or lethargy and your CO detector is activated, evacuate the
home immediately and then call the Fire Department.
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If you experience slight symptoms
and your CO detector is activated, open windows and doors to ventillate the
home, then call the Fire Department.
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If you do not experience any of
these signs and symptoms of CO poisoning, it may be a malfunction or a low
battery. It is reccommended that you have at least 2 CO detectors.
If both detectors are going off, call the Fire Department.
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If you are ever in doubt, call
the Fire Department.
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questions
I want a
fire extinguisher in my home. How do I know which one to choose?
Fire extinguishers are rated by
what kinds of fire they are designed to extinguish.
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CLASS A: Ordinary combustibles
such as wood, cloth, and paper.
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CLASS B: Flammable liquids such
as gasoline, oil, and oil-based paint.
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CLASS C: Energized electrical
equipment - including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and
appliances.
Some extinguishers are made to
extinguish multiple types of fire such as a BC extinguisher is made for
Class B and Class C fires. These are commonly bought for kitchens due
to their flexibility. They can extinguish small appliance fires as
well as grease fires.
Get to know the capabilities of
fire extinguishers before you buy one. If you use the wrong type of
extinguisher, you can endanger yourself and make the fire worse.
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I think my child is playing with matches excessively.
Does the fire department have a program for kids?
Call fire prevention at (617)376-1014
and ask about our Jr. Firestarters Program.
Just kidding about the test at the end.... |
