| Frequently Asked Questions |
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- Is the Wetumpka Fire Department full time or volunteer?
- The Wetumpka Fire Department was formed in 1906 by citizens concerned about fire protection in their community. It has continued to be an all volunteer force since. Currently there is one paid full time position and that is the Fire Chief.
- Is there a need for more volunteers in Wetumpka and how would I be able to help?
- The Wetumpka Fire Department is always actively seeking individuals who wish to support their community through giving of their time. More information on how to become a volunteer with the Wetumpka Fire Department can be found on the “Volunteer Opportunities” page under the Fire Department menu to the left.
- Does the Fire Department burn buildings for training?
- No, while it was a practice in the past to have ‘live’ fire training with buildings that had been condemned for some reason, that is no longer the practice. The dangers involved with our business are great enough as they are, to purposefully put people in harm in situation that is at best semi-controlled just is not practiced any longer. The hope is to one day have a training facility with a safe and controlled way of showing the fire fighter how to handle structure fires.
- How many smoke detectors should I have in my house?
- It is best to check with the building department for the most current codes involving fire protection in the home. However for existing structures it is recommended that there by a smoke detector on every level of the house as well as just outside of all sleeping areas.
- How long does a battery in a smoke detector last?
- This varies by brand of detector and brand of battery. It has become common practice to change your battery’s in your smoke detectors twice a year as you are walking through your house changing your clocks twice a year. This way you do not have to think about when the last time was that you changed it, and there will always be a good on inside the detector.
- How effective are home sprinkler systems?
- Very. More than 4000 people die on average in fires over the year. 80% of those are in house fires. 90% of house fires can be controlled and possibly extinguished with the activation of just 1 sprinkler head in the home. In addition, fire sprinklers in your home have the potential to reduce your insurance cost. Need more proof that they are effective? Please visit Home Sprinkler Stats and Info
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