Questions

Q	Does Englewood Fire Department provide EMS service?
A	No, EMS service is provided by Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. Englewood provides MFR service (Medical First Responder).
Q	Why do you respond to MFR calls?
A	#1 Response time - often the fire truck is the first to arrive. All of our firefighters are cross trained as EMT's. They assess the patient then render life saving care until the EMS-Paramedic unit arrives. #2 - Manpower - when a severe trauma or cardiac patient arrives at the hospital ER, they are met by a team of trained personnel. Likewise, a trained team is needed at the scene of an emergency. Our FF/EMT's assist the EMS-Paramedic unit on this team.
Q	Why not just send a small vehicle on a MFR call, instead of wearing out an expensive fire truck?
A	#1 When a fire truck clears a MFR call, they are available to respond to a fire call. With a small vehicle, they would have to return to the fire station, before being "available". #2 We do not wear out fire trucks, they become obsolete and rust out.
Q	Why do you send three fire trucks to a building fire, then only use one or two?
A	Manpower: In a major city, fire trucks are staffed with 3-4 firefighters. Due to budget considerations we are only able to staff our engines with 2 firefighters. At least 6 firefighters are needed to fight a fully involved house fire. Thus we send three engines to every structure fire.
Q	While driving, I see a fire truck approaching with lights and siren in use. What should I do?
A	Upon approach of any emergency vehicle, you are required to pull to the right and come to a complete stop.
Q	After a fire truck passes me on a emergency call, they suddenly shut everything off and turns around. What is going on?
A	The first fire engine has arrived and determined that additional help is not required. In the fire service, we "Plan for the worst and hope for the best" Upon arrival of the first engine, "size-up" is used to determine how much manpower and equipment is needed. The rest are canceled by radio. We always attempt to err on the side of safety.
Q	A fire hose is blocking the road, can I drive over it?
A	No, Florida law prohibits you from driving over fire hose. Driving over a fire hose may cause it to burst, injuring or killing the firefighters at the end.