FAQs • Fountain Hills, AZ • CivicEngage

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Fire Department

1. There is a javelina in my yard. What do I do about it?: Javelina are wild animals that live in the desert. Leave them alone and they will go away. Do not feed them or they will come back.

2. What do I do with old propane tanks?: The fire department does not accept propane tanks.

3. There are bees at my house, can you come kill them?: The Fire Department can only respond to your house if the bees are attacking people or pets. In the spring time bees swarm and travel around. There is a good chance the bees will be gone in an hour or 2. You can also call an exterminator to kill the bees for you, but keep in mind, bee populations are declining rapidly and relocation might be a better option.

4. Can I stop by the fire station and have a car seat installed?: You should call 480-837-9820 option #3 and leave a message to make an appointment to have them installed. We will teach you how to install the car seat. This takes about 45 minutes.

5. Where are the fire stations in Fountains Hills?: There are two fire stations in Fountain Hills. Both are staffed 24 hours a day but that does not mean someone is actually at the station 24/7. If you have an emergency it is best if you call 911 instead of going to the fire station. Fire Station #1 is located at 16426 E Palisades Boulevard, across Palisades from Walgreens. Fire Station #2 is at:
16821 E Saguaro Boulevard

6. Is the Fountain Hill Fire Department hiring firefighters?: Fountain Hills contracts their fire department man power through the Rural/Metro Corporation.You can find open job postings for Rural/Metro by following the provided link. Rural/Metro Website

7. I have some old needles I need to get rid of. Can I drop them off at the fire station?: No, but you can call one of the hazardous materials disposal companies listed in the phone book. For example, PSC Environmental charges $125 for a 5 gallon size container plus $25 for shipping.

8. Can I drop off some hazardous chemicals I need to get rid of at the fire station?: No, check the town’s Household Hazardous Waste page for info.

9. What should I do with my old fire extinguisher?: For businesses, all fire extinguishers need to be inspected every year by a licensed fire extinguisher maintenance company. These can be found in the Yellow Pages under “Fire Protection Equipment” or on the extinguisher’s tag (this is the company who previously serviced it). If your extinguisher is more than 7 years old is it supposed to be rebuilt by a fire extinguisher company. Often it may be cheaper to replace the extinguisher than to rebuild it but it depends on the quality of the extinguisher.

If you have an old extinguisher at your house and the pressure gauge is in the “green” more than likely it will work, but not for sure. It is best once or twice a year to turn the extinguisher upside down and hit the side and bottom of it with a rubber mallet to break-up the compacted dry chemicals.

10. What do I have to do to maintain my fire sprinklers?: Per the International Fire Code, every commercial building must have their sprinkler system inspected every year by a licensed company. You can find these companies listed in the Yellow Pages under “Fire Protection Equipment” or you can find the inspection tag, which should be attached to your riser, and call the company who inspected it last year.

For your home, the National Fire Code does not require annual inspections after the sprinklers have passed the initial inspection but it is good if you have them checked buy a licensed company once a year.

11. How do I maintain my smoke detectors?: Twice a year you should change the batteries and blow the detector out with a can of compressed air or an air compressor. We recommend the 4th of July and Christmas or whatever holidays you can remember. If you cannot reach the smoke detectors yourself you can call a handyman to change the batteries for you. Smoke detectors have a 10 year lifespan and need to be replaced every 10 years. Most of the smoke detectors in Fountain Hills are hard wired to the house so they do not use battery power. Sometimes people think they do not need to change the batteries in these smoke detectors; however, the batteries are a back up. If your house loses power and in the event of a fire, you will need the charged batteries in your smoke detectors.

12. Can I get my blood pressure checked if I come to the station?: Yes, you can come to the either station and we will be happy to check your blood pressure, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

13. Can you come get a dead animal out of the road?: If there is a dead animal on town property (most likely in the road) call Town Hall 480-816-5100 extension 0 (during business hours) and they will send a service out to remove the animal. If the animal is on your property it is your responsibility. These are a few animal removal services Entrust Pet 602-430-6866, ACS 623-842-0908, and Fountain Hills Construction Clean-up 480-560-3917. The charge around $70 for pick-up and Entrust Pet and ACS offer cremation for around $100 depending on the size of the animal.

14. I locked my keys in my car; can you open my car for me?: We are only able to unlock your car if there is a child or a pet locked inside or the vehicle is running. For any other reason you will need to call a locksmith. If you go through your car insurance company you may get a lower rate.

15. What is the Redicare Ambulance Membership Program, and how do I join?: Basically it is a program that covers any costs from an ambulance trip that your health insurance does not cover. It currently costs $88.99 a year and covers anyone living in your residence. Anyone interested can contact Rural/Metro Customer Service Division at 480-627-6200 or 1-800-645-9413 for more details.