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1. Where is my neighborhood fire station?

To discover where your neighborhood fire station is located view the Fire Station Map of York County (JPG).

2. Is York County a paid or volunteer fire and rescue department?

A combination of both. York County has a career (or paid) staff as well as a compliment of volunteers. All 6 neighborhood fire stations are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the career department members. The volunteer members supplement the career staffing in the fire stations and often provide additional staff for special events and other duties.

3. Why does a fire engine come to my house when I call for an ambulance?

There are several reasons why a fire engine may respond to a medical call. It is important to remember that all career firefighters in York County are cross-trained in emergency medical care.

Serious medical situations may require the application of multiple procedures. The additional assistance provided by department members from the fire engine often accelerates the patient care and treatment process as well as reduces the time it takes the patient to reach the hospital.

In some cases, the closest ambulance may be committed to another incident, in which case the closest fire engine responds to provide patient care and treatment until the next available ambulance arrives.

4. Do I need a burn permit and how do I get one?

Information about permit required burning as well as the York County Burn Permit Application can be accessed by viewing the Open Burning Regulations page.

5. How and where can I get a fire extinguisher refilled (recharged)?

York County does not refill fire extinguishers; contact a reputable fire extinguisher service company (consult the yellow pages for more information). Most home fire extinguishers are not refillable. If you are uncertain if your fire extinguisher can or needs to be refilled (recharged), please consult a fire extinguisher service company.

6. My insurance company is requesting information such as, the distance from my house to the closest fire station and if it is staffed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week?

All 6 York County neighborhood fire stations are staffed with fire and rescue personnel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. York County has an Insurance Services Office (ISO) protection class rating of 2/2Y.

For additional information about York County's Fire and Rescue service areas, please call 757-890-3600 Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m.

7. Does York County offer fire extinguisher training courses?

Yes, the department does offer fire extinguisher training courses by request for York County groups and businesses. Due to the demand for these courses, we request that you have a minimum of 10 or more participants before scheduling a course.

If you are interested in scheduling a fire extinguisher training course please call the York County Fire and Life Safety Educator at 757-890-3600 Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m.

8. Where can I purchase a fire extinguisher and what type should I purchase?

Many fire extinguisher manufacturers have models listed for various household uses. Many of these fire extinguishers are advertised as "kitchen", "garage" or multipurpose use extinguishers. Look for extinguishers that carry the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) listing. Most commonly available home fire extinguishers are suitable for household use.

The extinguisher should have a rating in letters, such as "ABC" or "BC". The letters represent the type of fire that the extinguisher is intended to extinguish. "A" is for common household items such as wood or paper. "B" is for flammable liquids, such as oil. "C" is for electrical fires including many household appliances. These letters may be accompanied by numbers such as "2A; 10BC". The numbers represent the amount of fire that the device is intended to extinguish. Thus, the higher the number the more fire it may put out.

Most extinguishers advertised for household use are acceptable and are readily available. Fire extinguishers can typically be purchased at most hardware and/or home improvement retailers and other general merchandise stores and shopping warehouses.

9. How can I arrange for the Fire and Life Safety Educator to come to my school?

The York County Fire and Life Safety Educator delivers fire and life safety educational programs in each of York County's Public Schools throughout the traditional school year. These programs often require multiple school visits and incorporate staff and apparatus from each of York County's 6 neighborhood fire stations.

These programs are typically coordinated between the school administrators and the Department of Fire and Life Safety. If you are uncertain if a program has been scheduled for your school or you represent a private school or daycare center in York County and would like to schedule a visit and/or educational program, please contact the Fire and Life Safety Educator at 757-890-3600 Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m.