FAQ

Studies show that one of the most dangerous activities for fire departments is getting their vehicles to the emergency incident. The purpose of emergency warning equipment is to let drivers and pedestrians know that an emergency vehicle is on the way to an emergency. If we do not provide reasonable warning, we could be liable for any injury or accident. By state law, we are exempt from certain traffic rules; however, we must still ensure that all traffic is aware of us responding even in the middle of the night. This is balanced with the need to respond quickly to save a life or protect property.

When dealing with medical emergencies – seconds count. In the City of Clovis, ambulance response times are usually around ten (10) minutes; whereas the Clovis Fire Department response times are usually around five (5 )minutes. Therefore, we send both types of crews so the firefighters can provide rapid assessment and basic life support treatment for the patient, and then assist the ambulance crew when they arrive later with advanced life support measures and transporting of the patient. This deployment method is used throughout the Nation as it is still one of most effective and efficient means to save lives.

The Clovis Fire Department must be prepared to deal with the worst case scenario at any given incident. Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by the 9-1-1 operator. A computer selects the closest unit or units to respond to an incident. Once the first crew arrives on scene, they can lower or raise the number of units responding; however, years of data has allowed us to determine the right number of units to send initially to ensure the quickest and safest resolution to the problem at hand.

As mentioned in question #2, sometimes several units are dispatched to the same incident depending on the type of emergency. The first unit may have arrived on the scene, surveyed the situation and informed the dispatcher that the situation did not need all the responding units. All other responding units are then cancelled and put back into service, ready to respond to another call.

To ensure the fastest response at the time of an emergency, our crews must remain in their designated response district and within a few hundred feet of the fire engine during their entire shift. Our crews work 48-hour shifts with no scheduled breaks, and are occasionally required to stay 72 to 96 hours depending staffing levels. Meals for firefighters are not provided by the City; therefore, each crew must either purchase their own food or prepare their own meals. Firefighters are allowed to make trips to the grocery store to buy whatever they need to prepare their meals or to a local restaurant within their response district. It is also important to note that fire crews are not guaranteed a meal break, so their meal times are constantly being interrupted for emergency calls.

The Clovis Fire Department is excited to share our profession with our community. Citizens interested in participating in the Ride-Along Program may call Fire Headquarters at (559) 324-2200 for an application. The application will be reviewed and, if approved, a background check will be initiated. If the background check is clear, the applicant will be contacted to schedule the ride-along. Individuals must be at least 18 years old and are limited to two (2) ride-along opportunities within a 12 month period.

The Clovis Fire Department is excited to share our profession with our community. If you are interested in having someone speak at one of your meetings, please call Fire Headquarters at (559) 324-2200 to make your request.

Typically the chirping noise is caused by a low battery. Replace it immediately. Remember to test your detector once a month by pressing the “test button” found on the smoke detector. Also, remember to change the battery when you change your clock to and from daylight savings time.

Portable fire extinguishers can be purchased at a wide variety of retail stores. Home improvement centers and hardware stores generally carry an adequate selection to choose from.

No; however, there are a number of private fire protection companies that offer this service. They can be found in the phone book or by doing a simple internet search for “fire extinguisher service”.

There are a number of types and sizes of extinguishers depending upon the hazards within the business. The Clovis Fire Department will be happy to help explain the right solution for your business. Please feel free to contact our Fire Prevention Division at (559) 324-2200.

Contact the Fire Department at (559) 324-2200 and we can help you with scheduling.

Contact us at (559) 324-2200. We will ask for your address and provide you the information on the closest fire station. Or you can find fire station response area maps on our Stations page.

Contact our Fire Prevention Division at (559) 324-2200.

Contact our Fire Prevention Division at (559) 324-2273. Or you can report it online at our Customer Service page.

Contact our Fire Prevention Division at (559) 324-2273. Or you can report it online at our Customer Service page.

There is no charge to obtain a copy of an incident report. Requests can be made by phone, email, fax or in person. Please be prepared to provide the date and location of the incident so the report can be found. Reports can be mailed, faxed, emailed or picked up in person. Please contact us at 559-324-2200 or visit us at 1233 Fifth Street for more information.

The City of Clovis recruits for the position of firefighter as needed. Information regarding application for a Firefighter position and the job description can be found on the City of Clovis web site under the employment tab. Most firefighter candidates have previously obtained some training and have their certifications already completed, usually through a fire technology or fire academy program provided at most local community colleges.

Outdoor fires are typically only allowed for cooking purposes. The San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District has the most restrictive rules in regard to open burning and can levy significant fines for improper burning. The fire department will charge for illegal fires as well. For more information on the rules concerning open burning please refer to the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District website at: http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm or call the Air Pollution control District at (559)230-6000.

The KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System was specifically developed for the fire department. With one master key, the fire department can gain access to commercial and residential properties without forcing entry and causing damage. If you are interested in participating on this program please contact the Clovis Fire Department at (559) 324-2200 for an application.

The City of Clovis allows the use of “Safe and Sane” fireworks. Each legal “Safe and Sane” firework will be marked with the California State Fire Marshal logo.

Many products found in your home are potentially hazardous substances. Because of their chemical nature, they can poison, corrode, explode or ignite easily when handled improperly. When discarded, they are considered household hazardous waste. Since they may threaten human health or the environment when inappropriately disposed of, household hazardous wastes are not exempt from California hazardous waste laws. It is illegal to dispose of household hazardous waste in the trash, down storm drains or onto the ground.

Call the County of Fresno, Department of Public Works and Planning, Resources Division at (559) 600-4249 for the date of the next HHW Drop-off event or contact the Division of Environmental Health at (559) 600-3271 for additional information and resources.

Please refer to the Fresno County Division of Environmental Health.

The Insurance Service Office (ISO) provides a fire protection classification or ranking on all fire agencies. The classification is a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best possible rating. The Clovis Fire Department maintains a fire protection class rating of “Class 2”.

For more information on any questions you might have, please contact us at (559) 324-2200.

Be Safe.