▼

Fire Department

Show All Answers

1. What are the requirements to become a career-paid firefighter?

The RHFD requires successful completion of the Firefighter curriculum at the St. Louis Fire Academy. In addition, entrance requirements have become more stringent with the need to possess a current paramedic license. Finally, an applicant should have a valid State of Missouri driver’s license and be of good moral character.

2. If I already have the necessary requirements to become a firefighter, how do I get an application to you?

We do not accept applications or resumes unless we actually have a position that is open. It is recommended that you scan the help wanted ads in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch every Sunday because that’s where we advertise when openings occur. If the Post-Dispatch is not readily available to you, you can access it on-line at STLTODAY.COM. You can also check current listings on our website, under Employment.

3. On EMS calls involving sick cases, why does the RHFD send both an ambulance and a pumper?

This is standard for almost every Fire Department. While the pumper itself is not probably needed for sick cases, the personnel assigned to the pumper are frequently needed at the scene of a sick case. Most of the pumper’s crew have EMT and Paramedic training and, as such, may be directed by the ambulance crew to perform jobs that the ambulance crew might lack the time to perform. Moreover, since the ambulance crew normally consists of two employees, three pumper crewmembers can add needed muscle to the job of transporting the patient while on a stretcher.

4. What is “mutual aid”?

Mutual Aid is an agreement, usually written but sometimes merely implied, that binds all fire departments and fire protection districts into providing adequate and timely fire fighting services when the need arises. For example, a call to the Galleria will result in not just the RHFD responding but also the Brentwood FD and other jurisdictions. In 2005, the RHFD provided mutual aid to 17 other jurisdictions for 655 calls while we received mutual aid from 11 other jurisdictions on 776 emergency situations in Richmond Heights.

5. How long does it take to get to the scene of an emergency in Richmond Heights?

While there are no standards to be met. Every effort is made to be at the scene within four minutes from the call coming to us. In most cases we are on the scene within three minutes or less. It should be emphasized that the “clock starts running” for us upon receipt of the call. Some jurisdictions time their responses from the point when their equipment and apparatus actually become enroute.

6. How many calls does the RHFD handle in a day?

In calendar year 2005 we responded to 2,289 emergency situations, which equates to over six calls a day, every day. The RHFD is considered to be one of the busier firehouses in the region.

7. What type of schedule do RHFD personnel follow?

We have three shifts (A, B, C) with a scheduled shift starting at 7:30 a.m. Of course we are manned 24/7. Our shift times are based on a schedule that is typically used by most fire departments. It is patterned as follows:
Work 24 hours
Off 24 hours
Work 24 hours
Off 24 hours
Work 24 hours
Off 72 hours.
This schedule will result in 2,592 hours per year (24 hours x 9 days x 12 months) compared with what most folks work, 2,080 based on 8 hours x 5 days x 52 weeks.

8. Does the RHFD pumper carry its own water supply?

Both of our pumpers have a 750 gallon water tank. That size is standard for most fire departments although some have 500 gallon tanks and a few others have 1,000 gallon tanks. Years ago the industry standard was 500 gallons but today it is 750 gallons.