FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
For emergency purposes, you should always call 9-1-1. Our 9-1-1 dispatch system is set up to save valuable time and send the closest unit to you and/or your home. Due to training, projects, and other emergencies, personnel are often out of the station and not available to take calls.
Medical calls are the majority type of calls the Red Bluff Fire Department responds to. Time is of the essence for some medical emergencies and our sole purpose for responding is to help stabilize the patient with potential immediate medical needs prior to ambulance arrival and also to assist with emergencies that may require additional personnel.
The current staffing for the Red Bluff Fire Department has two personnel on each of two engines which enables our personnel to respond to multiple calls, when needed. There are times when a medical call may need more than two personnel to respond, in which case you could see more engines arrive...not necessarily for the engine, but for the added manpower. The first arriving engine will immediately release other incoming engines if they determine there is no need.
The overall average response time for our department, currently (2012), sits at approximately 4 minutes for fire calls and 2½ minutes for medical calls. This difference is due to having to put on more gear to prepare for the fire.
You must complete an Incident Report Request, found in our Document Library or located at our office, and submit it along with the required fee. Reports cost $10 for the first four pages and an additional .50¢ per page thereafter. You may contact our office to inquire about the total cost of your report 527-1126.
Firefighters also conduct business fire/safety inspections (of which there are over 1,000 businesses within City jurisdiction) and public demonstrations/tours as well as keep all equipment, apparatus, and the station in well-maintained working order on a daily basis - this takes a number of hours each day. The largest portion of their time is used for training; firefighters are required to document a minimum 20 hours of emergency training each month - this training consists of physical training, hands-on engine/truck training, equipment use, table-top excercises, and/or classes, just to name a few.
We currently have two chief officers who must be on duty 24/7 on alternating weeks to provide Duty Chief coverage. These officers are allowed to continue with their normal lives after office hours as long as they stay local and connected by radio and cell phone. They must also keep their work truck with them so they can immediately respond to large emergencies when dispatched.
We train a lot to stay physically and mentally fit for duty, and while we would love to do our physical fitness training at our fire station, we simply don't have the room or equipment at the station to do that so we must seek other locations.
No, we do not offer training to the public; however, the American Red Cross (244-8001) and other private organizations offer these classes. You may also contact St. Elizabeth Community Hospital (529-8000) for possible further information on available classes.
If you live in the City Limits, sand bags and sand are made available to the public by the Public Works Department only during times of potential flooding. You may contact the Public Works Department at 527-2605.
If you live in County jurisdiction you may call the County Road Department at 385-1462 for information on sand bag availability.
If you live in County jurisdiction you may call the County Road Department at 385-1462 for information on sand bag availability.
No, we do not provide fire extinguisher services. Please check the Yellow Pages under "Fire Extinguishers" for a listing of businesses that do provide the service.