Mayor Charlie Wyatt

FAQs

The purpose of this page is to answer some of the most commonly asked questions that the Fire Department receives. If you have questions that are not answered on this page, feel free to contact us.

FAQs

Why does the Fire Department respond to medical emergencies?
All Boonville Fire Department personnel are trained to provide emergency medical care at the Basic Life Support Level. All fire apparatus are equipped with adult and pediatric medical equipment and supplies. New firefighters are required to be certified by the State of Indiana as EMT's. In some instances, the Fire Department can get to the scene of an emergency before the ambulance and begin providing patient care, which will reduce the on- scene time of the EMS crew and allow them to get the patient to the Hospital quicker.
What responsibilities do firefighters have other than extinguishing fires?
Firefighters respond to a wide variety of emergency calls including, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents, water rescues, fire alarms, motor vehicle accidents, rescues, and any other call for public assistance. Between emergency calls, firefighters are responsible for cleaning and maintaining equipment and gear, completing building inspections, providing fire prevention and public education and training for all of the types of incidents that they respond to.
How much does it cost if the fire department responds to my home for an emergency?
The fire department is funded by tax revenue and there is no charge for a fire department response to your residence.
What should I do when I see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching me while I am driving?
When it is safe and you are able to do so, you should pull your vehicle to the right and stop until all emergency vehicles have passed you.
Where should I install smoke detectors in my residence? How many do I need?
Smoke detectors should be placed outside of each sleeping area of your home and at least one smoke detector on every level of your home, including the basement. If you have levels without bedrooms, smoke detectors should be installed in or near living areas. Remember to test your smoke detectors every month, replace the batteries at least twice per year when the time changes and replace your smoke detector every 10 years.
Why is my smoke detector making noises?
Anytime that you have a smoke detector going off, it is important that you react quickly. If a loud alarm is sounding, it is because it is detecting smoke. Check your home thoroughly, if you cannot find a fire but smell smoke, exit the house and call 9-1-1. If you cannot find a fire and do not smell smoke, the detector could have been set off by dust, steam, or a small insect such as a spider could have set it off. You can use a vacuum to remove the dust and see if the detector begins working properly. If the detector is chirping, it probable means that the battery needs to be replaced or the detector is bad. Install new batteries or a new detector as soon as possible. Without a working smoke detector, your chances of surviving a fire are dramatically decreased. If you are in doubt, please call 9-1-1 and have your home checked by the fire department.
What should I do if I smell natural gas or propane in my home?
Do not turn anything on, immediately exit the house and call 9-1-1 from a neighbors phone or a cell phone and request the fire department. The use of a phone or any other electrical appliance in the residence could cause the gas to ignite. Stay a safe distance from the home and wait for the fire department to arrive. DO NOT OPEN YOUR WINDOWS TO VENTILATE THE HOUSE! By doing so, you could cause the gas to reach the right explosive limit and ignite.
Why do so many fire trucks respond to an incident?
Boonville Fire Department has a designated response plan for emergency incidents, that determines the amount and type of equipment that is sent to each emergency. Once the first unit is on scene, they complete a size-up of the incident and if the other responding units are not needed they will be disregarded or released by Incident Command.
How should I create an escape plan for my family to follow in case of a fire at our house?
Draw a floor plan of your home, choose a safe meeting place outside, such as a neighbors house or mailbox, plan 2 ways out of each room of your house and practice your escape plan regularly. Make sure that the entire family understands your escape plan and make sure that your fire drills are realistic and that you have them often.
How can I plan for a disabled family member to exit the house safely if we have a fire?
Make sure that you have a well defined escape plan and you practice it regularly. Make sure that family members who are confined to a wheelchair have access to their wheelchair at all times. It is critical to have working smoke detectors, so you are notified of the fire in enough time to safely exit the house.  
What kind of fire extinguisher should I keep in my home?
Homeowners should have an extinguisher that can handle Class A-B-C fires. The ABC extinguisher is designed to extinguish fires that most commonly occur in homes.
How can I schedule a fire station tour or have a firefighter come speak to a group about fire safety?
You can contact Boonville Fire Department by calling 812-897-0280. If the date that you are requesting is already taken, we might not be able to schedule your event. If the crew on-duty receives an emergency call they might not be able to attend your event, or might have to end the station tour.
Can I have a bonfire or recreational fire on my property?
Warrick County and the City of Boonville, both have regulations for open burning. You can view the open burn ordinances by clicking on the following links.
Warrick County Burn Ordinance           City of Boonville Burn Ordinance  
How can I report arson activity?
If you believe that you have witnessed a person setting a fire, call 9-1-1 immediately. Give as much descriptive information as you can about the suspect to the dispatcher, such as clothing, physical features, vehicle type and direction of travel. If you have information about a recent fire that is under investigation, please call 812-897-0280.
What should I do if I have a child or family member playing with fire?
If someone is playing with fire, they are placing themselves and their family in great danger. Contact Boonville Fire Department at 812-897-0280 to receive assistance with this issue.
Can the fire department get my cat out of a tree?
Boonville Fire Department will assist with animal rescues, if we feel that we can safely rescue the animal. If the crew feels that the rescue attempt will put the firefighters in extreme danger or cause damage to some ones property, the crew will not attempt the rescue.
How can I become a firefighter with Boonville Fire Department?
Boonville Fire Department will post hiring notices in local newspapers and on the department web page. The hiring process to become a firefighter is a very lengthy process, that requires the applicant to complete many different steps and testing.