Frequently Asked Questions
I called for an ambulance, why did a fire truck show up?
The Bellevue Fire Department has trained staff available to respond to medical emergencies with the ambulance. Many times having only two people on the amublance requires extra help, so an engine is dispatched to certain calls with the ambulance. In addition to helping the ambulance crew many times the engine will arrive first and begin administering care.
Why do the firefighters take the fire truck on building inspections?
We cannot control when emergencies happen, and need to be able to respond at all times. The inspectors are also on duty firefighters who need to be available to respond while doing an insepction. Extra time required to go back to the station to get the trucks and equipment is unacceptable for the people who called for help.
Do I need a permit for open burning in Bellevue?
Yes, you can find a copy of the permit here Open Burning Permit
Am I allowed to have a campfire at home?
Yes, additional information can be found here in section 5.34 Recrational Fires Fire Pit Regulations
What do I do if an emergency vehicle is approaching with the lights and sirens going?
Please pull your vehicle to the right side of the road and stop, this will clear the lane and allow us to pass. If you are in a roundabout please go through and clear the roundabout, then pull to the right and stop. Remember to look for other vehicles before moving to the right, as we do not want any injuries to result from our response.
Is the Bellevue Fire Department Volunteer or Career staffed?
The Bellevue Fire Department is a combination department, meaning we have both paid-on-call staff and full-time staff. The full-time staff work 12 hour shifts starting at 6 a.m and ending at 6 p.m. Paid-on-call staff carry a pager and respond to emergencies at all times of the day.
Sometimes I see the firefighters getting food for lunch, where does the money for this come from?
The firefighters will commonly pool their money together and purchase meals for the day.
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