Where do I call to get CPR or Public Education classes?
Call the Fire Marshal's office at (423) 870-3731 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

What do I do with old gasoline/oil/paint that I don't want?
Waste motor oil which is not contaminated with other fluids or dirt can be recycled. Take this to the Warner Park Recycle Center. Local auto parts stores may also accept used motor oil. Other household waste products can be taken to the Household Waste Collection Facility at 3925 N. Hawthorne Street. Hours of operation are 8 AM - 12 Noon on the second Saturday of each month. The phone number is (423) 698-9531.

How do I get a copy of a fire report?
Call RBFD Administration at (423) 877-7252. We will need the date and address of the incident.

How do I get a burning permit?
Call the Air Pollution Control Bureau at (423) 643-5970.
Air Pollution Control Bureau Website

Do you get cats out of trees/telephone poles/off of roofs?
As a general rule no. Try opening a can of tuna and waiting for the cat to get down on its own. Cats have been known to stay up in trees for several days. We will come and see if we can assist and if safety permits we may be able to retrieve the pet in distress. Call us at (423) 877-7252 or 877-1711. Please do not call 9-1-1.

Do you check blood pressures?
Yes, at any RBFD fire station between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

How can I schedule a fire truck or a firefighter at my function?
Call RBFD Administration at least two weeks in advance at (423) 877-7252.

Do you fill fire extinguishers?
No. Check the Yellow Pages under Fire Extinguishers. We can give you information on fire extinguishers by calling RBFD Administration at (423) 877-7252 or the Fire Marshal at (423) 870-3731.

When I call 9-1-1 for an ambulance, why does a fire engine show up?
All Red Bank Fire Department members are trained in First Aid and CPR and are considered first responders. A First Responder is a person trained to arrive on scene and provide immediate care to a person having a medical emergency. RBFD fire engines carry medical equipment including heart defibrillators / monitors and oxygen. When a medical emergency occurs the 9-1-1 dispatcher will determine whether a fire engine can arrive quicker than an ambulance, which may be out of district on another call. The RBFD has saved many lives due to our quick response to life threatening medical emergencies prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

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 RBFD thinks pessimistically when they respond to citizens in need of help. In other words, the firefighters are prepared to deal with the worst that could happen. They are fast, well-trained and pleasant in their response.

A computer selects the closest unit to respond to an incident. Depending on the nature of the emergency the dispatcher may send more than a single fire station. The fire department's philosophy is to get our firefighters there as soon as possible. There may be three fire department vehicles on the scene of what appears to be a "simple" incident. However, in emergency services we have learned that if we assume something "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 citizens who need 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?
As explained in the previous answer, 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 canceled 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 canceled 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.

Why do I see fire fighters opening up fire hydrants and letting them run?
All fire hydrants in Red Bank are inspected twice a year by the fire fighters. This is to insure that they are in proper operating order. We also make sure that fire hydrants are not obstructed by high weeds, trees, shrubs, fence posts,etc. that would make them hard to see or cause a delay in connecting hoses to them. Some citizens like to plant flowers and shrubs around fire hydrants to make them more attractive. Please do not do this because when we flush them it usually washes away flower beds. Also shrubs can block the hydrant making it difficult to see and connect hoses.