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City of Auburn, Maine- Home
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Fire FAQs
The following are frequently asked questions related to the Fire Department:
Auburn’s firefighter/paramedics and EMTs are cross-trained to respond to fire and emergency medical incidents. Emergency medical equipment is carried on all first response vehicles so that medical care can be initiated immediately, regardless of what vehicle arrives first. The department responds to calls in a tiered system based on the nature of the call as determined through the Emergency Medical Dispatch process handled through the L/A 911 Center.
When responding to a minor medical incident (ex. fracture, back pain, illness), only an ambulance will respond to the scene. Typically there is a firefighter/EMT and a firefighter/Paramedic on board.
When responding to a major medical incident (ex. chest pain, cardiac arrest, difficulty breathing, seizure), an engine or truck company may respond with an ambulance to the scene. Typically there are three firefighters on the engine who are EMTs or Paramedics. This initial response provides the minimum number of responders required to address the critical needs of these patients. If the patient’s condition requires additional medical personnel during transport to the hospital, one or two of the firefighters arriving on the engine or truck will assist with patient care while en route to the hospital. If the patient is stabilized on scene and no further assistance is needed, the firefighters arriving on the engine or truck company remain in service and available for subsequent calls.
When responding to a motor vehicle crash, an engine or truck company as well as a Battalion Chief will respond along with an ambulance. Firefighters arriving on the ambulance immediately begin assessing the medical needs of the patient(s). Firefighters arriving on the engine or truck company evaluate and address hazards associated with scene safety (fuel spills, power lines, traffic, etc.) prior to assisting with patient care or extricating patients from vehicles.
When responding to a fire incident, firefighter/paramedics arriving in the ambulance typically function as firefighters, performing assigned fire suppression activities. However, when individuals with injuries are found on arrival, the firefighters responding in the ambulance are immediately available to provide emergency medical care.
Incident, fire, and EMS report copies can be obtained at Central Station for a fee of $5. Please call ahead at 207.333.6633 ext. 3 to request the report. It would be helpful to have the date and location of the incident.
EMS billing information can be obtained by contacting our EMS billing agency, Medical Reimbursement Services, at Medical Reimbursement Services, 711 Roosevelt Trail, Windham ME 04062. To contact them by phone, please call 1-800-734-6677.
The fire department issues blasting permits, burn permits, firework permits, and oil burner permits. Information on how to obtain a permit and the fee involved is listed below.
Companies can obtain blasting permits at Central Station for no charge. Companies must provide the fire department with a completed Notifcation of Blasting Application, Certificate of Liability Insurance, a Dig Safe #, and a State of Maine Permit to Use Explosives. Please contact the Fire Planner at 207.333.6633 ext 4 for more information.
Burn permits can be obtained at any of our three stations for no charge. Burn permits can also be obtained online (FREE) thru the Warden's Report website. It is recommended that you call Central Station at 207.333.663 ext. 1 after 9:00 a.m. on the day you wish to burn to verify that burning is allowed for that day. For information on what is permissible to burn with and without a permit, please refer to our Open Burning Guidelines.
Companies can obtain firework permits at Central Station for no charge. Companies must provide the fire department with a completed notification of blasting for fireworks form, certificate of liability insurance and a State of Maine Permit for Outdoor Fireworks Display. Please contact the Fire Planner at 207.33.6633 ext 4 for more information.
Oil burner permits can be obtained by a master licensed heating technician at Central Station for a fee of $30. Once a permit has been obtained and the oil burner has been installed, the fire department must conduct an inspection for final approval. Please contact the on-duty Battalion Chief at 207.333.6633 ext 1 to schedule an inspection.
Consumer fireworks in the City of Auburn are a violation of city ordinance and carry a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each violation. This includes firecrackers, bottle rockets, and missiles.
Licensed pyrotech companies can display fireworks in the city as long as they have received a fireworks permit from the fire department.
The use of sky lanterns or Chinese lanterns are illegal in the State of Maine. For more information, visit http://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/documents/sky_lanterns.pdf.
For information on when carbon monoxide detectors are require, please refer to our carbon monoxide detector guidelines.
Every type of extinguisher is designed to fight a certain class or classes of fire. All ratings are shown on the extinguisher faceplate. Some extinguishers are marked with multiple ratings such as AB, BC and ABC. These extinguishers are capable of putting out more than one class of fire. Select the most appropriate type of fire extinguisher for your needs based on the class of fire, which are listed below.
Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics. Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane. Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools. Class D fires involve certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium.
If you have further questions regarding your fire extinguisher needs, please refer to the yellow pages in the phone directory for a company that carries Underwriters Laboratory (UL) equipment.
Auburn Fire Department does not endorse any particular company to service or dispose of extinguishers or alarms. Please refer to the yellow pages in the phone directory for a company that carries Underwriters Laboratory (UL) equipment.
Each year thousands of Mainers use millions of needles and lancets or "sharps" as part of their routine for controlling medical conditions. To learn the proper procedure for disposing of these sharps, visit http://www.maine.gov/dep/waste/biomedical/documents/SharpsBrochure.pdf.
Yes, you can schedule a fire inspection by calling the Fire Department Planner at 207.333.6633 ext. 4. There is no charge for a fire inspection. Generally we inspect tenement buildings, businesses, schools and industrial facilities. We typically check for general fire and life safety violations. Inspections are typically conducted in the basement, hallways, and common areas of the building.
Knox boxes are not required; however, the fire department strongly suggests that businesses and tenement buildings obtain one. For more information, please contact the Battalion Chief at 207.333.6633 ext 1.
Knox boxes can also be purchased directly from the Knox Box company at www.knoxbox.com. Once connected to their site, select Knox Box 3200 Series on the left and enter Auburn's zip code to view the various Knox boxes available.
The Auburn Fire Department offers a Juvenile Firesetter Program. For more information, contact our Fire Prevention Officer, David O'Connell, at 207.333.6633 ext. 6 or doconnell@auburnmaine.gov.
For information on what to expect after you have had a fire at your property, please review FEMA's After the Fire Brochure.
Fires are categorized into different classes. Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics. Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane. Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools. Class D fires involve certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.
Most insurance carriers use what is know as ISO, Insurance Service Organization, to determine the quality of fire protection available and therefore establish insurance rates. The City of Auburn has a Class 3 ISO fire protection class rating for properties within the hydrant district and a Class 9 ISO fire protection class rating for properties outside of the hydrant district.
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