Frequently Asked Questions

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FAQ

This page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff, along with some tips that we have found useful and presented here as questions.

How do I become a volunteer?
What can I do about my neighbor's burning?
Will you get my cat out of a tree?
Why so many ambulances when I call 9-1-1?
Can I rent the meeting room?
Are you guys all volunteers?
Is there someone at the fire station 24 hours a day?
Why are the fire trucks white?
Do you do home inspections?
Can we have some water from your tank?

"How do I become a volunteer?"

Click here or on "Volunteer Information" in the menu bar to the left.

Then stop by the office at Station 1 (3707 Steamboat Loop NW) during regular business hours and talk to us.

Or come to one of our weekly drills (meetings) Tuesday at 7:00 PM.

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"What can I do about my neighbor's burning?"

Outdoor burning is allowed in Thurston County—natural vegetation and clean material ONLY.

You must have a copy of the Burn Regulations on-site and obey all of them.

NO GARBAGE!

Complaints about outdoor burning can be forwarded to Olympic Air Pollution Control Authority or Griffin Fire Department.

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"Will you get my cat out of a tree?"

We are sorry—the fire department will not rescue cats in a tree or up a pole.

It has been proven that cats will come down on their own when cold or hungry. This may take up to 3 days.

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"Why so many ambulances when I call 9-1-1?"

It is the way the Medic I system is built.
When a 9-1-1 call is received, the dispatch center calls out the fire department and an ambulance company. If it is a life threatening call, a paramedic unit is also dispatched.
You may also receive the department's second aid unit, staffed by volunteers.

The theory is, that it is better to have unneeded units arrive than for needed units to be delayed.

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"Can I rent the meeting room?"

Yes—if your group is a community based non/profit group.

The stations are available on a first come basis. The rental fee is $25.00.

No food or drink is allowed, and documentation forms must be filled out in advance.

Click here to send an email request to use the meeting space.

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"Are you guys all volunteers?"

90% of us are.

We also have four paid employees: one Administrative Assistant and 3 paid firefighters. The paid firefighters work 10 hour/4 day shifts on opposing days to give us full 7 day coverage.

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Is there someone at the fire station 24 hours a day?

Not always.

There is always someone in the area of one of our four fire stations.

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Why are the fire trucks white?

Across the county fire trucks can be seen in many colors.

The story goes that back when city departments become paid, they claimed red for their trucks. The thought was that people could see them better on city streets—and it is the color of fire.

Volunteer departments distinguished themselves with white trucks. Volunteers are still a proud group... after all, that is how all fire departments started. So if we believe the story, it comes down to tradition.

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Do you do home inspections?

No.

We leave this to the professionals listed in the Yellow Pages.

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Can we have some water from your tank?

Sorry... we do not have clean water.

Our water is obtained from many different sources and there is no way to certify its cleanliness.

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