I called for an ambulance. Why did the fire truck respond also?

China Grove Fire & Rescue and Harmony Fire Department prides itself in the service we provide to the community. As part of that service, we have professionally trained medical staff available as first responders to initiate medical care before the arrival of the ambulance. Many times, the fire truck can arrive before an ambulance becomes available.

What can a fire truck for me if I am sick or hurt?

The fire truck carries much of the same equipment that you will find in the ambulance. The crew that arrives can secure the scene, provide an assessment of your medical condition and begin treatment before the ambulance arrives on scene. This provides for better and faster care to our community.

Why do I sometimes see a fire truck from another department?

During the course of a day it is not unusual for multiple emergencies to occur at the same time. If our crews are busy, we will dispatch a unit from another department. This mutual-aid agreement works both ways; therefore crews are commonly dispatched to the other municipalities and jurisdictions.

What do I do when I am approached by an emergency vehicle?

When you become aware of an approaching emergency vehicle, pull to the right and come to a complete stop. If you are approaching an intersection and see an emergency vehicle that is approaching the intersection from any direction, come to a stop preferably one or two car lengths back from the intersection. These simple maneuvers can result in seconds saved by the emergency vehicle and can translate into a huge difference for someone who is having a medical emergency or is experiencing a fire.

Why do so many fire trucks show up when all I had was a small fire?

We base our response on the type of call reported to us. In the event of a stovetop fire, we are dealing with a fire in a structure. These fires have the potential to become very serious, very quickly, endangering occupant’s lives and property. We are not on the scene and have no way to judge how serious the call is until we arrive. Therefore, our goal is to have an ample amount of firefighters on the scene of your fire within minutes of you calling 9-1-1.

Why does the fire department break windows or cut holes in the roof?

As a fire burns, it moves upward and outward. Breaking windows and/or cutting holes in the roof (called ventilation) stops the damaging outward movement and enables firefighters to fight the fire more efficiently, actually resulting in less damage to the structure and its contents.

Why does a fire truck running lights and sirens sometimes suddenly turn them off?

Emergency lights and sirens are used any time we are responding to an emergency call. Apparatus responding to calls can sometimes get cancelled en route, or the units on scene determine that that call is no longer considered an emergency and tell the units to respond in a non-emergency mode.

What is a Fire Weather Watch?

A Fire Weather Watch is when CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS are FORECAST TO OCCUR within the next one (1) to four (4) days. Continue to monitor the latest weather forecasts for possible Red Flag Warnings. Outdoor burning is not recommended during a Fire Weather Watch due to the increased threat of a wind driven wildfire.


What is a Red Flag Warning?

A Red Flag Warning means that CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER conditions ARE OCCURRING or WILL BE OCCURRING SOON. During a Red Flag Warning, avoid the use of open flames or any activities that may generate sparks. During Red Flag Warnings, accidental fire ignitions have the potential to grow very quickly into dangerous wind driven wildfires. Outdoor burning is STRICTLY PROHIBITED during a Red Flag Warning due to the immediate threat of a wind driven wildfire.

What is ISO?

The Insurance Service Office (ISO) evaluates fire protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. The ISO produces a Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating for a community based on three factors. These factors include: Fire Alarm and Communications Systems (telephone systems, telephone lines, staffing and dispatch systems) Fire Department (equipment, staffing, training and geographic distribution) and Water Supply (condition and maintenance of hydrants, available supply vs. fire flow requirements). The PPC rating is utilized by insurance companies to set insurance premiums for the community. Fire departments also utilize the PPC rating as a benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of the services they provide for the community.


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China Grove Fire & Rescue

2456 FM 1516 South

China Grove, Texas 78263

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(210) 648-0227

Emergency: 911

Content on this web site is maintained by the members and staff of China Grove Fire and Rescue.