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Pearland Volunteer Fire Department | ||
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Frequently Asked Questions | ||
| May I burn paper, trash, limbs, leaves, wood or other general refuse, build a bonfire or camp fire within the City of Pearland? Who do I report Fire Code violations to? Who do I report Fire Lane Parking violations to? What do I do if I see an emergency vehicle approaching from the front or rear of my vehicle? How do I obtain a copy of an incident report? How can we contact the Fire Department without calling 911? What do I need to do if I want to volunteer? Why do I see fire trucks coming down the street with lights and sirens on and suddenly they shut their lights and sirens off? Are they just trying to get through the traffic? How do the volunteers get notified of a fire? Does the department offer any type of training to its residents or business owners? Are the stations open for tours? How often should I change my smoke detector battery? How do I clean my smoke detector? My cat ran up the tree and won't come down. Will the fire department come help? Dos the fire department refill / recharge fire extinguishers? Does the fire department come out to birthday parties? How is the fire department funded? How long do smoke detectors last? May I have a private company conduct fire extinguisher training for myself or my employees on my own residential or commercial business property? | ||
May I burn paper, trash, limbs, leaves, wood or other general refuse, build a bonfire or camp fire within the City of Pearland?Answer: No! Open burning of any type without a permit, is prohibited at all times within the City of Pearland or within any area or location in the Pearland extra territorial jurisdiction that is within 5000 feet of the Pearland City Limits by City Ordinance 10-46.Violations are enforceable by any certified Peace Officer (Local, County, or State of any jurisdiction) and violators will be issued citations and subject to fines. For further information, or to inquire about or apply for a permit, contact the Pearland Fire Marshall's Office at 281-652-1950.Who do I report Fire Code violations to?Answer: Pearland Fire Marshall's Office at (281) 652-1950 within the City of Pearland, locations in the Pearland ETJ should contact the State Fire Marshall's Office 1-800-578-4677.Who do I report Fire Lane Parking violations to? Answer: Pearland Police Department (281) 652-1100 within the City of Pearland, locations in the Pearland ETJ should contact the appropriate County Sheriff's Office for the location of the violation. What do I do if I see an emergency vehicle approaching from the front or rear of my vehicle?Answer: Slow down, move as far to the right as possible, stop and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle(s) has passed. Be alert to the possibility there may be more than one emergency vehicle approaching. Do not suddenly slam on your brakes or stop directly in front of the emergency vehicle.How do I obtain a copy of an incident report?Answer: The Pearland Fire Department creates an incident report for every call that the department responds to. Please have the date, address, and type of call available when you call. Requests can be made by phone 281-652-1913, or by mail Pearland Vol. Fire Dept., PO Box 104, Pearland, Texas 77488-0104. There is a $5.00 charge for each request.How can we contact the Fire Department without calling 911?Answer: You can contact us by calling (281) 652-1925 or you can email us at info@pearlandfire.org.What do I need to do if I want to volunteer?Answer: Join us at the 2nd or 3rd Monday night meeting at our Station No. 1 located at 2020 Old Alvin Road (corner of E. Orange and Old Alvin Road) Online Application forms coming soon.Why do I see fire trucks coming down the street with lights and sirens on and suddenly they shut their lights and sirens off?Answer: In most cases what this means is that after the fireman were notified of an emergency and they began to respond to the call, they were either disregarded by another truck or an officer that arrived on the scene prior to that truck's arrival or it could be that the person who called in the emergency called back and said there was no longer an emergency. We do not turn our lights and sirens on for no reason. Sometimes you will see us parked with our lights on but no sirens, this is so we can be seen and protect our personnel, etc. but if you hear our sirens that means we are responding to an emergency call of some type.How do the volunteers get notified of a fire?Answer: Each volunteer in our department is issued a voice pager. This device is portable and alerts the individual to an emergency by beeping when their station is requested to respond to an emergency. After their pager beeps our dispatch center's dispatcher tells us what type of call we are responding to and the location.Does the department offer any type of training to its residents or business owners?Answer: Yes, currently the department offers fire extinguisher training to businesses for a nominal fee. Please contact our Fire Education Department for additional information, or call (281) 652-1952.Are the stations open for tours?Answer: Yes. Contact our Fire Education Department for additional information, or call (281) 652-1952How often should I change my smoke detector battery?Answer: Biannually is the recommended interval. A good trick to help you remember is to change them with the time changes in the fall or spring. However, you should test each detector at least weekly and if not working, change the battery immediately.How do I clean my smoke detector?Answer: We recommend using a vacuum cleaner to pull the dust out. Using compressed air can also be used to blow the dust off.My cat ran up the tree and won't come down. Will the fire department come help?Answer: Animal rescues from trees, roofs, drainage pipes, fences, etc. The Pearland Vol. Fire Dept. will respond and evaluate each situation to determine if the equipment necessary is available and if it is feasible to attempt the rescue without undo risk to the safety of the firefighters. Each situation will stand on its own merits. No guarantee of initiating an animal rescue attempt is implied nor the success of such an attempt.Does the fire department refill / recharge fire extinguishers?Answer: No, we do not even refill our own. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Fire and Safety Equipment." The companies are listed that do perform that service. Sometimes it may be necessary to buy a new extinguisher as some cannot be recharged after use.Does the fire department come out to birthday parties?Answer: No, the growth of the city and the corresponding increase in calls for the fire department keeps us busy.How is the fire department funded?Answer: The PVFD is funded by the City of Pearland and your donated funds. The City funds the daily operating expenses and capital equipment costs. Your donated funds go towards our Public Safety Training Field, which allows us to train while remaining in town and in service. A very small amount is also funded annually by Brazoria County.How long do smoke detectors last?Answer: The entire detector should be replaced after 10 years. Newer units have a recommended replacement date printed on the unit.May I have a private company conduct fire extinguisher training for myself or my employees on my own residential or commercial business property?Answer: Yes, however if the training will involve the ignition of any type of fire of any size, the City of Pearland Fire Marshal's Office must be contacted first at 281-652-1950 for authorization and scheduling. The Fire Marshal will provide the requirements and guidelines for conducting such activities which will include requiring an Engine and crew from the Pearland VFD to be present to monitor and oversee all live fire operations at all times. This applies to all locations within the City of Pearland Corporate Limits or any location in the Pearland extra territorial jurisdiction that is within 5000 feet of the City Limits. Failure to comply is a violation of City Ordinance and may result in the issuance of a citation and fine. | ||