Fire Safety
If I have a fire in my house, should I call CPFD or 911?
You need to call 911. We are a volunteer fire department, and the only way for us to get dispatched to the call is for the resident to call 911. The 911 dispatchers also confirm that you live within our fire district. (JD Clairmont)

Should I call the Fire Department even if it was only a small fire and I put it out myself?
You should call the Fire Department any time there is a fire. Even if you put out the fire yourself there may be something that you can't see. Fire can spread into walls and between cabinets. The Fire Department has special equipment that will detect heat and fire that may not be visible. (JD Clairmont)

How many smoke detectors should I have in my home?
At the minimum there should be one smoke detector inside or outside of each bedroom and one on each floor of the residence. But you can never have too many. If you have hard wired detectors that operate off of your home electricity, we suggest you add a battery operated detector on each floor, in the event that the electricity goes out. (JD Clairmont)

What about Carbon Monoxide detectors?
A Carbon Monoxide, or CO, detector tests the concentration of CO in the air. There are many types of detectors that vary in price. Ideally, your CO detector will plug into the wall and also have a battery in it for backup. Remember to replace the battery every time you change clocks for Daylight Savings time. The elements in most CO detectors last only 3-5 years and should be replaced after that. Read all the instructions when installing a new detector. Your house should have a CO detector on every floor and it should be placed about 5 feet up the wall because CO is lighter than air. Most important, leave your house immediately and call 911 if your CO detector alarm activates. (Dean Knight)

Why should I worry about Carbon Monoxide?
CO is a deadly gas that is usually a byproduct of incomplete combustion. Faulty or poorly-ventilated furnaces are a major source of CO. Because CO is colorless and odorless, all homes should have a CO detector installed. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness and mild flu-like symptoms. Never ignore your CO detector. (Dean Knight)

About the CPFD
How many calls does the Clifton Park Fire Department respond to per year?
We typically respond to around 500 calls a year. Of these, fire alarm activations and motor vehicle accidents are most common. You read our current incident log here. (Cory Donnelly)

How much training does it take to become a firefighter with the CPFD?
For most members who intend to become Interior Firefighters (qualified to enter burning structures), the initial training process takes roughly one year to complete. This training includes courses provided by the CPFD Training Department as well as those offered by New York State. After a member has become qualified as either an exterior or interior firefighter, he or she is expected to continue to develop his or her skills through weekly drills and supplementary classes -- a firefighter never stops training! (Cory Donnelly)

Why do I see firefighters wearing different colored helmets?
Because emergency incidents can at times be chaotic and it can be difficult to identify individuals while they are wearing their gear, the Clifton Park Fire Department and neighboring fire departments use helmet color to signify a firefighter's rank:

White - This color helmet is reserved for the Chief and his or her Assistant Chiefs. Because they often respond directly to the scene, these officers are frequently the first to arrive and deal most directly with the public.

Blue - Safety Officers are identified by their blue helmets and are primarily responsible for the well being of first responders on the scene. Safety Officers have the effective rank of Captain.

Yellow - Captains are identified by their yellow helmets. At large incidents these officers typically take on managerial roles.

Red - Lieutenants can be identified by their red helmets. Firefighters of this rank typically lead teams consisting of regular firefighters.

Black - Regular firefighters wear black helmets. Don't assume, however, that a black helmet signifies a lack of experience or leadership ability -- several of our past Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs are currently wearing black helmets and performing the duties of regular firefighters!

See the departmental organization chart for more information on the current command structure. (Cory Donnelly)

Can I rent the meeting room in the CPFD Firehouse?
To rent the meeting room, you must be sponsored by a member of the department, who must be present during the event.

Why aren't the fire trucks painted red?
Prior to the purchase of Clifton Park's first ladder truck in the mid 1970's, the members of the CPFD truck committee reviewed a 1959 study performed by an insurance association regarding the colors of fire trucks. The study determined that red fire trucks were much more difficult to see at night, even with headlights hitting them. Subsequent studies found that lime-green or lime-yellow fire trucks were much more visible at night, making them significantly safer. It was for that reason that the members of the truck committee decided to make the first ladder truck lime-yellow, otherwise known as lime-green. Since our first truck was delivered in 1976, all Clifton Park Fire Department trucks have been delivered in yellow.

This study was repeated by Stephen S. Solomon and James G. King and published in a report in 1994, which found that "the frequency of lime-yellow fire pumper intersection accidents [were] half that of red fire pumpers." Although the terms lime-green and lime-yellow were used in 1976, the color of all Clifton Park Fire Department apparatus is now simply referred to as "yellow."  For more information, see an article on apparatus color at the Auto and Road User Journal. (Art Hunsinger)