The Dothan Fire Department delivers service to our customers from eight strategic locations throughout the City.  Currently, the Department meets all Federal, National, State and Local mandates, laws and recommendations that dictate our service.  We are one of the largest, if not the largest, providers of EMS Service Personnel and Hazmat Technicians in the State of Alabama.

The fire and EMS responses are achieved with four man engine companies consisting of two firefighters and two paramedics.  We are proud to say that our timely intervention of all emergencies (average of 4 minutes and 37 seconds) is well within all response criteria mandates.  The Insurance Services Organization has rated the Dothan Fire Department as an ISO 2.  Having a rating of at least 5 minimizes the cost of insurance to every homeowner.  Ratings below 5 reduce the cost of insurance to business and industry.

Services provided by the Dothan Fire Department other than fire and EMS:

Þ    Smoke Detector Program:  The Department offers free smoke detectors, installation and maintenance to the Citizens of Dothan at no expense to the taxpayer.  We are glad to announce that we know of several cases where smoke detectors that we installed alerted the occupants of the house when they had a fire and they were able to get out.  An article on one of these events was published in a national fire department periodical.

Þ    Hearing Impaired Smoke Detector Program:  The Department entered into a partnership with Wallace Community College and the Institute for the Deaf and Blind to formulate the hearing-impaired smoke detector program.  The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations chose this program as the nations leading community relations project.  Our program was in competition with 1,640 community projects throughout our nation.

 Þ    Hazmat Mitigation:  The Department offers a dedicated HAZMAT Response Team for the City of Dothan and for Southeast Alabama as a partner in the State of Alabama Office of Domestic Preparedness Mutual Aid Response Program.

 Þ    Technical Rescue:  The Department is specialized in technical rescue for the disciplines of trench rescue, high angle rescue, confined space and water.  The Department offers this capability to the Citizens of Dothan and for Southeast Alabama as a partner in the State of Alabama Office of Domestic Preparedness Mutual Aid Response Program.

 Þ    Alabama Fire College Permanent Training Facility:  The Dothan Fire Department was recently approved and awarded to continue as a Permanent Fire Training Facility for the State of Alabama.  This program certifies the Department with being allowed to administer various fire training programs throughout the State.

 Þ    City EOF:  The Department houses and maintains an Emergency Operations Facility in Fire Administration that is available to all City departments for command and control of citywide catastrophes.

Þ    Public Education:  The Department takes every opportunity to interact with our customers to provide education on health and fire related safety issues.  Our educational programs are addressed to all age groups through a variety of mechanisms.

o       CPR Classes

o       Automatic Defibrillator Classes

o       Explorer program—coordinated through the Boy Scouts of America

o       Citizen Ride-Along program (following graduation from the Citizens Fire Academy)

o       Fire Prevention Displays and educational programs

o       Emergency evacuation planning for industry

o       Child Safety House

Þ    CERT:  Community Emergency Response Teams.  The Department is developing partnerships with communities to aid in preparing each of us to assist each of us. The Chestnut Ridge community is our first CERT community and we look forward to building this program in other neighborhoods.

Þ    Community Access Defibrillation Program:  The Department is working with area Cardiologists and Emergency Department Physicians to create awareness, provide training and furnish AED’s (automatic external defibrillation devices) in high-risk target areas within the City of Dothan.  This is a wonderful attempt to improve the survivability potential of victims of sudden death by initiating life saving techniques much quicker than is currently available.

Þ    Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement:  The Department has a bureau to provide fire code enforcement for business and industry as well as cause and determination for all fires that occur within the City of Dothan.

Þ    Night Club Inspections:  In addition to routine business inspections by the Fire Prevention Bureau, engine companies monitor overcrowding at nightclubs throughout the City of Dothan.

Department Statements:

Þ    “Seeking Opportunities for Success”

Þ    “Smoke Detectors Save Lives”