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ENGINE/RESCUE COMPANY 4
EMERGENCY DIAL
911
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I become a Linden Volunteer Firefighter?
- You can email the membership
committee, call (540) 636-3473, or fill out our on-line membership
application.
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- How can I find out what programs the Fire Company offers?
- You may visit our About LVFD page
on our website or call (540) 636-3473.
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- Where can I find out about CPR classes?
- CPR is taught using the
American
Heart Association course for Health Care Professionals.
To Schedule this or other American Heart Association courses for yourself or an organization, call the
Fire Depeartment(540) 636-3473.
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- How can I schedule a fire truck or a firefighter at my
function?
- Call the Fire Department at (540) 636-3473.
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- Who do I call about a fire extinguisher that doesn't work?
- Look in the Yellow Pages under fire extinguisher or fire
extinguishing systems.
- When an emergency vehicle is approaching that is displaying
emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?
- By Virginia law, you are required to pull to the right and
stop. This allows fire and rescue apparatus adequate and
clear lanes to safely and quickly continue its response.
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- 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 Warren County Fire and Rescue
Services thinks overcautiously when they respond to citizens
in need of help. In other words, the firefighters are prepared
to deal with the worst that could happen. Discovering that we
need more units once we arrive is often too late. We have learned
from experience that its better to have too much help than not
enough.
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- A structure fire requires a number of people to do all the
assigned tasks. Firefighting teams are assigned certain
responsibilities such as fire extinguishments, search and rescue,
ventilation, salvage, safety, accountability and rapid intervention
teams when firefighters become trapped or injured.
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- Why do I see fire trucks or ambulances 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, assessed the situation and informed the
dispatcher that the situation was under control or that a single
unit could handle the emergency. All other responding units were
cancelled and put back into service, ready to take another call.
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- Most likely, when you see an emergency vehicle with red lights
and siren through an intersection and then slow down and turn
the emergency lights off, they have been cancelled from the call
they were responding to.
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- 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 (explosion) 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.
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- Why do I see firefighters breaking windows in a building
on fire?
- As mentioned in the statement above, dangerous superheated
gases need to be ventilated to allow firefighters to safely and
quickly rescue trapped occupants and extinguish the fire. By
venting the window of a room that is on fire, it actually helps
to contain the fire within that room of origin. Otherwise heated
gases spread throughout the inside of the house. Breaking the
window really prevents a great deal more damage than it appears
to cause.
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- Why do fire trucks respond to motor vehicle accidents?
- Two reasons. First, automobile accidents present other
hazards such as potential fire, ruptured fuel tanks, and/or the
presence of hazardous materials. Second, firefighters are trained
in extricating (removing) trapped occupants of the vehicle.
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- I am having chest pains, what should I do?
- There are many conditions that can cause chest pains, the most
serious of which is a heart attack. A heart attack is a very serious
condition which can and often does result in sudden death. Anyone
experiencing chest pains should immediately call 911 even if you are
not sure if the pain is from a heart attack or indigestion. The only
way to be certain of the underlying condition is to have a doctor
evaluate an EKG and perhaps some other tests. Even if the condition is
not a heart attack, it is far better to be safe than sorry.
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