FAQ - Fire

Tempe Fire Department
P.O. Box 5002
Tempe, Arizona 85280
480-858-7200 (Main Phone Number)
480-858-7230 (Education Specialist)

For media inquiries, contact Sue Taaffe at 480-350-8663.

Baths salts are a serious problem across the United States, and Tempe is no exception. While some of the chemicals making up bath salts can be technically legal, the effects can be deadly. Baths salts are made up of beta-keto amphetamines, synthetic chemicals that mimic cathinone in the Khat plant. These are very powerful stimulants which cause rapid metabolism and dangerously high body temperatures of 107 degrees. Under the influence of bath salts, the body’s metabolism can be so extreme as to render the patient incapable of taking in enough oxygen to prevent cellular suffocation resulting in potentially fatal heart arrhythmias. Signs of a person on bath salts include ranting, removal of clothing and delirium. This is considered a medical emergency and people should call 9-1-1, when encountering a person on bath salts.

Secure Lockbox Program - The Lockbox Program is designed to allow fire and emergency personnel access into your home in an emergency situation where the likelihood of forced entry is likely. The Lockbox Program is primarily for seniors who live alone, have a physical disability or a medical condition. Your personal information and access instructions are linked to each lockbox stored in the Fire Department's database. This allows for storage of confidential information and creates a systematic emergency response. Lockbox combinations are confidential. Residents are asked to place a house key in the lockbox so that emergency personnel can easily access the home. This program is free to qualifying residents.

The Vial of Life Program - In an emergency situation, immediate access to medical information can literally save a life. You can assist first responders by giving them information they need. This service allows you to fill out a personal information form which includes patient medical and health information needed by first responders. The completed form goes into a "vial" and is then placed on the top shelf inside refrigerator and a magnet is placed on the outside of the refrigerator door. First responders are trained to look at the refrigerator door for the magnet. Upon seeing the magnet, they know that important information is waiting inside the refrigerator. This program is free to qualifying residents.

To get a Lockbox or Vial of Life, call (480) 350-2704.

Visit our fire evacuation tips for people with disabilities web page.

9-1-1 is the phone number to call to report a fire, police or medical emergency. 9-1-1 is initially answered by the Tempe Police Department, regardless of the emergency you are reporting. However, if you are reporting a fire or medical emergency, you will immediately be connected to a Fire Department. 

Yes. The Tempe Fire Department was the first Internationally Accredited Department in the nation, and we are fully accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The Tempe Fire Department has an ISO rating of 2. Tempe is one of 585 in the country to achieve this high rating and has maintained this rating since 1982, which speaks to the Department’s fire suppression capabilities.

Tempe participates in an automatic aid system with 26 other fire departments in the Phoenix area. Automatic aid means the closest unit is dispatched using GPS to an emergency regardless of jurisdiction. For example, if a fire is on the Tempe/Mesa border and Tempe Fire is closer to the incident than Mesa, Tempe will respond. This decreases response times, provides the department with unlimited resources, and is a more efficient and effective use of resources throughout the Phoenix area.

Business
If an extinguisher is brand new, it needs to be visually checked monthly by the business owner. If the owner does not want to take on that responsibility, they need to have it serviced annually. Every 6 years a full servicing should be done, and every 12 years a hydrostatic test should be done. It is often a better deal to buy a new extinguisher at the 6 and 12 year marks.

Residential
There are no requirements for personal residences, but it is recommended that they be visually checked every year to make sure there are no cracks or rust and to make sure the pin is still in the green. After 10 years or so the extinguisher should be replaced.

 

Visit our fire extinguisher page.

Visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html for a list of nationally recalled products.

A list of water safety devices and tips to prevent drowning can be found on our water safety web page.

A list of water safety devices and tips to prevent drowning can be found on our water safety web page.

There are several name brands available including Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Factory Mutual (FM). Smoke alarms are available for the hearing impaired and can be purchased through your local fire equipment companies. It's important that you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for installation, testing and maintenance. Visit our smoke alarm web page.

Visit our CPR and first aid web page to find out how to sign up for classes and watch videos on how CPR is performed.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, deadly gas. It can kill you before you know it because you can't see it, taste it or smell it. When CO is breathed in by an individual, it accumulates in the blood and forms a toxic compound known as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the bloodstream to cells and tissues. Carbon monoxide attaches itself to hemoglobin and displaces the oxygen that the body organs need.

Carboxyhemoglobin can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion and irritability. Later stages of CO poisoning can cause vomiting, loss of consciousness and eventually brain damage or death. Appliances such as furnaces, space heaters, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters, charcoal grills, fireplaces and wood burning stoves produce CO. Carbon monoxide usually is vented to the outside if appliances function correctly and the home is vented properly. Problems occur when the furnace heat exchanger crack or vents and chimneys become blocked.

The Tempe Fire Department recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm near the bedrooms. If a home has more than one story, a detector should be placed on each story.

Visit our carbon monoxide web page.

Visit our burn injury prevention web page.

The Tempe Fire Department Juvenile Firesetter Prevention Program is a multi-level approach to the education and treatment of juveniles involved in setting fires. A firesetter is any child under the age of 18 who sets a fire either intentionally or unintentionally. Children set fires for many reasons including curiosity and experimentation, boredom, anger, stress, attention or emotional instability.

The program was established to help reduce the number of fires started by juveniles within our community. The program is designed to assist parents and children in understanding the dangers of playing with fire, how to prevent repeat behavior and other consequences of their firesetting behavior. The program consists of five parts: identification, education, assessment, referral and follow-up. Parents/legal guardians are required to participate in the program. Request for services can be made by the parents or legal guardian of the child or by Juvenile Justice Court. Participation is voluntary except for those referred by the juvenile authorities.

Visit our Juvenile Firesetter Prevention Program web page.

Tempe firefighters have encountered many cases of hoarding. It’s a dangerous trend that risks the lives of firefighters and residents alike. According to Hartford Hospital, compulsive hoarding may affect up to two million people in the United States. Obsessive hoarding can cost thousands of dollars and isolate people from their friends and family.

People with friends or loved ones who may have a problem with hoarding can seek help from the Arizona Hoarding Task Force at www.azhoarding.com. Arizona Hoarding Task Force provides guidance in finding support groups and personal organization services. Tempe residents also can find help through CARE 7 – City of Tempe Crisis Response Team at 480-350-8004 or www.tempe.gov/care7.

Visit our hoarding web page.

Tents and temporary structures having an area in excess of 400 square feet and canopies in excess of 900 square feet must meet the requirements of Chapter 24 of the 2006 International Fire Code and require approval from the Fire Prevention Office. If you wish to erect a tent or canopy, complete the Tent/Canopy Permit online form and submit it along with a clean, accurate, detailed site plan (plans which are not legible will be rejected) to fireinspectors@tempe.gov at least 10 working days before the tent/canopy is to be erected. Permit fees are: $350 for first tent/canopy; $250 for each additional tent/canopy.

Infant safe haven laws were enacted as an incentive for mothers to have a place where they can safely relinquish their babies. Safe haven laws allow the parent to remain anonymous and to be shielded from prosecution for abandonment in exchange for surrendering the baby to a safe haven. Parents can surrender their baby, up to 3 days old, with no questions asked. In order to be protected under the safe haven law you must physically hand your baby to a member of a safe haven facility.

Safe havens in Tempe include Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital located at 1500 S. Mill Avenue or any of the Tempe fire stations listed below.
• Station 1, 1450 E. Apache Blvd.
• Station 2, 3025 S. Hardy Drive
• Station 3, 5440 S. McClintock Drive
• Station 4, 300 E. Elliot Road
• Station 5, 723 E. Curry Road
• Station 6, 655 S. Ash Ave.

If there is no one at the fire station, it is important to use the red emergency phone located outside the station to call 911. Let the operator know that you are requesting to leave your baby at the safe haven at the fire station you are calling from and that no one is there. The 911 operator will notify a fire crew in the area to return to the station so that you can physically hand the baby to them. You can remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.

The Fire Prevention Division manages the Company Inspection Program, which consists of assigning each engine and ladder companies with a list of occupancies in their management district to inspect. These occupancies consist of commercial buildings, strip malls and office complexes and are inspected on a quarterly basis. We also conduct inspections on those business that require a state or city license like; day care centers, group homes, residential care facilities, bars, taverns and restaurants. Restaurants and bars are also visited monthly by a team of Fire Inspectors on routine night inspections. Occupancy loads, and proper exiting are of primary concern during these inspections.

Visit our inspection web page.