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You can contact Niceville Fire Department to schedule fire inspections or public education events within the city of Valparaiso. Call 850-279-4050
The Valparaiso Fire Department provides Basic Life Support (BLS) First Response for Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services. By providing this valuable service, we are able to arrive on scene many times prior to the ambulance and initiate life saving treatment until the ambulance can arrive.
All fire department vehicles carry first aid kits, oxygen, and defibrillators which can provide electric shock to heart attack victims to hopefully get the heart back into a manageable rhythm. When you call 911 the dispatcher who is Emergency Medical Dispatcher trained will ask you several questions after dispatching the trucks and can then give you certain treatment procedures to include CPR instructions over the phone. Getting trucks to the scene is never delayed by dispatchers asking too many questions.
O2+Fuel+heat=Fire
- Have a working smoke alarm outside each sleeping area, inside each sleeping area, and on each level of your home.
- Test smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year. We recommend changing your battery when you change the clocks in the spring and fall. Do not change the battery if you have a lithium battery. The alarm will let out a periodic "chirping" sound when it needs a new battery.
- Install smoke alarms away from air vents.
- Install smoke alarms on the ceiling or wall, at least 4 inches from the corners.
- When affixed to walls, smoke alarms should be between 4 and 12 inches from the ceiling.
- Never disable or remove smoke alarm batteries.
The dispatcher you speak with on the telephone is typing information into a computer. Another communications officer is relaying that information, via radio, to the responding Firefighters. The 911 operator will ask certain questions in a particular order to most efficiently fill in the fields on the computer screen. Once a few preliminary questions have been answered, the operator will be in a better position to provide more details or narrative information, such as a the extent of the fire or is anyone still in the burning structure.
The Valparaiso Fire Department suggests calling 911 from a cell phone or another phone outside the residence to expedite the evacuation. Never go back into a structure after you have left it. Many people have died in fires after they had already gotten out once but made the ultimate mistake by re-entering the burning structure. The responding Firefighters may have specific questions regarding the situation while they are en route. Unless you are in an unsafe location, it is in your best interest to remain on the line until the 911 operator has obtained all of the information and the operator may ask you to remain on the line until the Firefighters arrives.
Just like medical calls, the fire department first responds on all accidents with confirmed injuries or confirmed leakage. We also respond if there is unknown leakage or injuries. Our fire engines carry special equipment to deal with vehicle accidents to include the "Jaws of Life." There are several hazards involved with a vehicle accident besides fire or leaking gas.
Some of those hazards include hot fluids from the engine compartment, battery acids, air bags that have not deployed, and extremely high voltage wires from the new hybrid vehicles. Our philosophy on every call we go on is that it's better to respond and not be needed than to not respond and be needed.