FAQ

How much do I pay in fire fees?

• Please click here for fire fee information. 

What should I do in case of a fire? 

• The most important thing you can do is to leave the area and call 911.

What is the most common cause of fires? 

• A good portion of the fires in this area happen because people are careless with a stove, cigarette or other household item that can produce a fire.

What information should I have ready when reporting a fire?

• You should try to be as specific as possible when reporting a fire. It is important to let the fire station know if everyone is alright, how the fire started and what type of fire it is. You should also be prepared to give your name, location and the location of the fire.

What kind of fire extinguisher should I buy?

• There are two types of fire extinguishers available on the market today. They are either rechargeable or disposable and come in portable sizes. Portable extinguishers (rechargeable or disposable) for home use are not designed to fight large or spreading fires. Even against small fires, they are useful only under certain conditions. You should select only fire extinguishers that have been tested by an independent laboratory and labeled for the type and size of fire they can extinguish. Use these labels as a guide to purchase they type of extinguisher that suits your needs. Multipurpose fire extinguishers, labeled ABC, may be used on all three classes of fire. If you use the wrong type of extinguisher, you can endanger yourself and make the fire worse.

What are the classes of fires?

• Class A: Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth and paper.
• Class B: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and oil-based paints.
• Class C: Energized electrical equipment, which includes wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery and appliances.

Where is the best place to put a smoke detector?

• Every home should have at least one smoke alarm outside of each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. The National Fire Alarm Code, published by National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) requires a smoke alarm in every sleeping room for new construction. On floors without bedrooms, alarms should be installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms or family rooms. Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke alarm.  If any residents are hearing-impaired or sleeps with bedroom doors closed, install additional alarms inside their sleeping areas as well. There are special smoke alarms for the hearing impaired; these flash a light in addition to sounding an audible alarm. For extra protection, the NFPA suggests installing alarms in dining rooms, furnace room, utility rooms and hallways. Smoke alarms are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms or garages where cooking fumes, steam or exhaust fumes could set off false alarms, or in attics and other unheated spaces where humidity and temperature changes might effect an alarm's operation.

  Because smoke rises, mount alarms high on a wall or on the ceiling. Wall- mounted units should be mounted so that the top of the alarm is 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters) from the ceiling. A ceiling-mounted alarm should be attached at least 4 inches (10 centimeters) from the nearest wall. In a room with a pitched ceiling, mount the alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point. In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke alarms anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. But always position smoke alarms at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading from the basement, because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching an alarm located at the top. Don't install a smoke alarm too near a window, door or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with the alarm's operation. Remember to test the smoke detector once a month and to replace the batteries at least once a year.

Does the city provide fire protection outside of city limits?

• The city does provide fire protection to some residents and businesses outside the city limits. To find out if you are in an area protected by the City of Bridgeport Fire Department, please contact the Fire Department at 304-842-8252.

How many calls does the fire department receive a year?

• Station 51 (downtown Bridgeport-Main Street) receives an average of 208 fire calls and 1,444 EMS calls per year.
• Station 52 (sub-station-by UHC Hospital) receives an average of 188 fire calls and 796 EMS calls per year.