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Hutchinson Fire Department

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1. How do I get information about the Youth Fire setter Program?

Call the Community Risk Reduction Division at 620-694-2874, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

2. Are you allowed to burn trash and branches or have campfires in Hutchinson?

You are not allowed to burn trash within the city limits of Hutchinson. You may however burn non dimensional wood such as downed branches and tree trimmings. You are also allowed to have recreational and ceremonial fires as long as they adhere to the following burn regulations.

Recreational Fires

• No permit needed for recreational fires. (campfire, cooking hot dogs or marshmallows, religious ceremonies)
• Recreational fires must be at least 25 ft. away from structures.
• The size of a recreational fire is defined as being no bigger than 3 ft. or less in diameter and 2 ft. or less in height.
• Portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 ft. away from structures.
• Must have a means to extinguish the fire readily accessible. Extinguisher, garden hose, dirt, sand, and shovels to spread the dirt and sand.
• Must always be attended and never left to burn on its own in case it needs to be extinguished quickly.
• No burning, open or recreational, when atmospheric conditions or local conditions, known commonly as “red flag” days would make it hazardous to burn.

Open Burning Permit

Open Burning and Recreational Fires Laws Section 307 of the International Fire Code:

• And individual must call for a burn permit to be issued for open burning, bonfires, or for the purpose of silvicultural or range or wildlife management. (burning downed branches, leaves, grass clippings, to burn off a spot for a garden etc.)
• An open burn pile must be at least 50 ft. away from structures.
• No burning, open or recreational, when atmospheric conditions or local conditions, known commonly as “red flag” days would make it hazardous to burn.

 Fire District #2 Residents: See Reno County Burn requirements

For further information please call the Community Risk Reduction Division at 620-694-2874

3. How can I get a smoke detector from the Fire Department? Will you change the batteries?

The City of Hutchinson Fire Department has a limited supply of smoke detectors and batteries that it can provide to the citizens of Hutchinson/Fire District #2 who might not be able to afford them. These are provided through a grant from the State of Kansas and The American Red Cross. If you can afford a smoke detector but have a question about the installation or the proper mounting location, please call the Fire Marshal’s office at 620-694-2874.

4. When should I replace my smoke detector and or carbon monoxide detector?

Typically, smoke detector needs to be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide detectors every 5 years. Certain models need to be replaced earlier, to be sure, you should check the manufacturers recommendations.

5. Do I need a smoke detector in every room? How many do I need?

You should have at least 1 detector on every level of your home and place them outside the bedrooms so you can hear them at night when you are sleeping. Also. If you can, place one in your children’s rooms because this is where they typically play with fire according to the National Fire Protection Agency. For further details please call Community Risk Reduction at 620-694-2874

6. What kind of fire extinguisher should I buy?

Extinguishers come in many sizes and types. The best fire extinguisher to have for your home is an ABC extinguisher. It can extinguish type A, B, and C fires. A good size to have for your home is 3A:40BC. This will extinguish fires that consist of wood, paper, flammable and combustible liquids, and electrical fires in their incipient and early free burn stage. Fire extinguishers need to be serviced annually. Call 620-694-2874 for more information on sizes, types, and proper use of the extinguisher.

7. How can I get a home safety inspection or a home daycare inspection?

Call the office of Community Risk Reduction Division at 620-694-2874

8. Can my family/group tour the fire station?

Hutchinson Fire Department welcomes the opportunity to have the public visit any of our fire stations. If your family, school or group would like to schedule a tour, please call (620) 694-2871, Monday-Friday, from 7AM-4PM. In addition to touring the fire station and viewing our apparatus, our personnel can also provide age appropriate fire and life safety information catered to your request.

9. Should I have a “Fire Escape Plan” for my family?

Yes. The plan should include 2 ways out of every room and every floor. It’s important to have a meeting place for family members and practice the drill monthly, or more frequently if children live in the home.

10. How Many Fire stations are in Hutchinson?

There are six fire stations strategically located throughout Hutchinson. The department covers the City of Hutchinson and Fire District #2. This includes a total response area of 107 Square miles. Each fire station defines the first-due area for each station. Each fire station is located to ensure effective distribution of resources and limit undue risk from extended responses. The Hutchinson Fire Department also operates a Command Training Center at 3204 East 4^th Avenue that houses fire administration offices and a 54-acre training ground.

11. What is an ISO rating?

The Insurance Services Organization (ISO) is the leading provider of statistical data supplied to insurance companies nationwide assisting them in establishing fire insurance rates. When this data is utilized, a lower ISO number defines a better premium on fire-insurance rates for both commercial and residential properties. Ratings can only be lowered by significant “measurable” improvements in the fire protection infrastructure, delivery of service methods, response times, adequate staffing, water supplies, etc. Score range from 1 thru 10 with class 1 being the best and class 10 being the worst.

12. What is the Hutchinson Fire Department ISO rating?

The City of Hutchinson Fire Department has an ISO rating of 1, the best possible score that is achievable. People living in Fire District #2 have a ISO rating of 4.

13. Should I call 911 for a fire that I put out?

Yes, no matter how big or small the fire, you should always have the fire department check it out. We want to make sure the fire is completely out and has not found hidden spaces by which to spread. Also, insurance companies generally want a fire report from the fire department about the incident.

14. Why do your fire trucks use lights and sirens, even in the middle of the night when there is limited traffic?

The purpose of emergency warning equipment is to let drivers and pedestrians know that an emergency vehicle is on the way to an emergency. By Kansas state law, we do have certain privileges extended to us. Those being, to carefully proceed through a controlled intersection and travel against the designated flow of traffic. These privileges have rules that the legislation and department policy put on the drivers of these emergency vehicles. The main rule is that we cannot do these things unless there are lights flashing and sirens going, which includes in the middle of the night.

15. Why does a fire truck come when I call 911 for a medical emergency?

A fire truck will sometimes arrive at an incident first because it is the closest emergency unit to the scene, and we are committed to getting help to your location as fast as possible. The City has six fire stations spaced strategically around the city. All firefighters are trained to provide emergency medical treatment under their Kansas EMT license. The ambulance service is provided by the local Hospital. Since there are limited paramedic units in the city, firefighters respond to pre-determined calls involving life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, trauma, etc. They initiate treatment to stabilize patients and provide information to the paramedics enroute to the call so they will be aware of any additional advanced life support that will be needed on scene.

16. I saw a City of Hutchinson fire truck at a local grocery store and a firefighter shopping for food, why do firefighters use fire trucks for non-emergency purposes while they are on duty?

To ensure the most effective service at the time of an emergency, our crews must remain in the designated response territory with their fire trucks during their entire 24-hour shift. Our firefighters work 24-hour shifts with no scheduled breaks and meals are not provided by the city. We respond to calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Many times, firefighters work 48, 72, or even 96 straight hours without the ability to leave the fire station due to varying situations. Personnel on each shift must purchase their own food and prepare their meals. In many cases, the crews eat together. In addition, this allows for driver training and a lot of public educational opportunities with our citizens.

Whether it’s at a grocery store or some other business, fire crews do not physically have to be at the fire station to be dispatched for an emergency call. Since all city fire trucks maintain constant radio contact with the 911 Communications Center, they are always ready to respond to any emergency regardless of their current location. One may be surprised, but our firefighters spend long periods of their day running calls, without returning to the station or stopping to eat.

17. Why do you send so many fire vehicles to a fire, especially a small fire?

Each fire truck only carries three firefighters and it is necessary to have enough firefighters on the scene of an incident. There are a number of specialized roles that firefighters undertake at the scene of a fire, and as we know, firefighting is a very labor-intensive activity. Fire units are dispatched according to the information received by the 911 operator. The Hutchinson Fire Department deploys units by a term called “effective response force” concept. Initial tasks that must be accomplished quickly are calculated for how many firefighters in takes to complete the task. The total number of firefighters equal the effective response force and the correct number of units are dispatched. These numbers vary dependent on the call type. These tasks are industry standards and entered into the dispatch system.

18. How can I get a copy of a fire incident of fire investigation report?

You may arrange to receive a report by calling the Hutchinson Fire Department Administrative Staff Aide at 620-694-2871 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

19. How do I become a Hutchinson Firefighter?

The Hutchinson Fire Department has OPEN enrollment year-round. This gives an individual an opportunity to apply at any time they have met the requirements. Go to http://www.hutchgov.com/300/Recruitment for further information.