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What should I do if there is a fire in my house?
Assuming the fire is something larger than a piece of bread in your toaster, you should:
1. Get all of the occupants out of the house immediately.
2. Call 911 from a neighbor's home.
3. Greet the firefighters in the first vehicle that arrives to answer any questions they might have.
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Why should I get my family out of the house quickly in the event of a fire?
Toxic fumes are given off when almost anything in your home burns, including the building materials, furniture, wall coverings, and even your clothes.
Firefighters have breathing apparatus to protect them when they enter a burning building. So, do yourself and your family a favor and get out.
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What happens when I call 911?
1. A dispatcher at the Ontario County 911 Center in Canandaigua will answer the phone almost immediately.
2. The dispatcher will ask you some questions about the nature of the emergency and the location.
3. The dispatcher will alert the appropriate emergency services: fire, police, and/or ambulance.
4. The emergency providers will come to the location of the emergency and remain there until the emergency is resolved.
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How long will it take for the fire trucks to arrive once I call 911?
It is difficult to put an exact amount of time this: it depends on the day of the week,
the time of day, and the time of year. If it is during the day, Monday through Friday, most
of the firefighters will be at work and will not even be aware there is an alarm or they
will be too far away to respond. If it is in the middle of the night, they have to get out of bed,
get dressed for the weather, drive their vehicles to the firehouse, get dressed in their protective
firefighting gear, and finally drive the fire truck to your location. So, the best time to need
them is during the day on a weekend during warm weather. They actually will get there quicker than
you think, but it may seem like an eternity.
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Why does the siren ring every Monday night at about 7:30 PM?
The Ontario County 911 Center in Canandaigua performs a test every Monday with every fire department
in the county to insure they are able to be dispatched in the event of a real emergency.
In Ionia, we let the siren ring one time except on the first Monday of the month when we let
it ring three times to be sure it cycles properly. In the event of a real emergency,
the siren will ring nine times.
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Do members get paid?
No, they volunteer their time and energy.
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May I become a member if I am not able nor desire to fight fires, drive fire trucks, direct traffic, etc.?
Definitely! This is the purpose of having the Service membership. We need people to help maintain the buildings and grounds,
work on fundraising events, serve on committees, hold business offices, etc. Basically to perform any non-firefighting task to
keep the company operating.
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When is Fire Prevention Week?
The first full week in October. Schools typically have activities throughout the week to teach
children what they should do in case of a fire. The local fire departments usually assist the
schools with these activities.
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