What other responsibilities do Firefighters have other than fighting fires?

Emergency calls represent only about fifteen percent of the work of a typical fire department in New Haven.

Fire Fighting

The number of residential and commercial fires has steadily decreased over the years due to a variety of factors including improvements in construction, a greater public awareness of the risk factors leading to fires and a significant reduction in smoking nationwide. Fires, however, are only some of the emergencies to which the Fire Department responds. Nearly eighty percent of the Fire Department's emergency responses are, in fact, calls for medical aid, including illness/accidents at home and work, and injuries resulting from vehicle crashes. 

Emergency Response & Administration

Other calls for emergency response involve hazardous materials releases, response to fire alarms and other calls for public assistance. Firefighters also spend much of their time maintaining equipment, doing routine public safety inspections for businesses and rental housing, training for all types of emergency responses and filling out the reports and paperwork associated with these activities.

Show All Answers

1. Are all of the Firefighters also Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)?
2. How can I get a copy of a fire report?
3. How can I get one of the blue reflective address signs?
4. How do I schedule a tour of the fire station?
5. I would like to have a recreational fire on my property, is this allowed?
6. What if I smell gas in my home?
7. What is Subscription EMS? How do I become a member?
8. What is the difference between an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a Paramedic?
9. What other responsibilities do Firefighters have other than fighting fires?
10. Where do I discard expired fire extinguishers?
11. Who decides what hospital that I go to?
12. Who do I call if I have questions regarding my Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bill?
13. Who do I contact if my child is playing with fire?
14. Why do I sometimes see a fire engine following the ambulance?