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Fire Department

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1. Is outdoor burning permitted?

Burning of yard waste is prohibited within city limits. Outdoor burning is permitted for certain types of fires and under certain conditions. More...

2. Why does a fire engine respond with an ambulance to a medical call?

In a medical emergency, time is of the essence. Each fire engine has all of the capabilities of an ambulance with the single exception of patient transport to the hospital. In most cases, an engine will arrive on scene prior to the ambulance. Life saving medical assistance can begin immediately in preparation for the arrival of the ambulance and subsequent transport to the hospital. In addition, during complicated medical emergencies, the paramedic from the fire engine will assist the ambulance crew during transport, increasing patient care while en route to the medical facility.

3. Why do I see fire trucks parked at the grocery store?

Our fire companies work 24 hour shifts, which means they eat, sleep, and work at the fire station for 24 hours at a time. They may need to go to the grocery store to purchase food to prepare meals for the day. Because they must be able to respond to an emergency incident at any time, the crew is required to stay together, close to their apparatus, and be prepared to respond to an emergency immediately, even from the grocery store.

4. My cat is up a tree. Can you come get it down?

Generally, no. While we do understand that being separated from a family companion is upsetting, most cats who climb up into a tree generally find their way down on their own and in a healthy condition. Many cats that climb into the safety of trees do so because they are frightened. These frightened animals generally will not allow unfamiliar firefighters to pluck them out of the tree. If you have a unique animal rescue situation, please contact Lewiston’s non-emergency dispatch line at 208-746-0171 and they will help you determine if the fire department or another resource can help reunite you with your family companion.

5. What does it cost for an ambulance to come to my home?

Absolutely nothing! The response of an ambulance or fire engine to your Lewiston residence costs you nothing because you have paid property taxes to fund the nearly six million dollar budget of the Fire Department.

We will only charge a fee if we transport you. Those fees are recommended by the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board (EMSAB) to the City Council.

The City Council adopts or rejects those fees based on their decision-making processes.

6. How do I sign up for a CPR class?

The Lewiston Fire Department no longer conducts CPR classes. To find out who offers CPR/1st Aid classes in the area, click on the following link. Classes in the area

7. I have a child who likes to play with fire. What can I do?

The Lewiston Fire Department offers a Juvenile Firesetter Counseling Program utilizing the curriculum developed for US Fire Administration by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Juvenile Firesetter Counseling

8. Where can I go to have my fire extinguisher serviced?

Lewiston Fire Department does not endorse any particular company to service extinguishers or alarms. Please refer to the yellow pages in the local phone directory for a company that carries Underwriters Laboratory (UL) equipment.

9. Who do I contact to donate a house for fire training?

For information on donating a house to enhance firefighter training, contact Division Chief Steve Minnis at Lewiston Fire Department 208-743-3554 ext. 265.

10. What is the City’s ISO rating for fire protection?

The City of Lewiston has a Class 3 ISO fire protection class rating.

11. When I’m driving down the road and hear or see an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens on, what is the best thing to do?

According to the Idaho Driver’s Manual, when you hear an emergency vehicle, such as a fire truck, police vehicle or ambulance, you must immediately drive as close as is safely practical to the right-hand edge or curb of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop. Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.

12. When can I burn trash or yard debris?

Inside the city limits, burning of trash or yard debris is prohibited year round.

13. I would like to arrange a class visit to a fire station. How do I schedule that?

Call the Lewiston Fire Department Station 4 number at 208-743-0172 to schedule station tours and other public education events.

14. My neighbor’s weeds are very overgrown and I’m afraid they have become a fire hazard. Will you check this out?

Weed abatement issues are currently handled by the City of Lewiston’s Property Maintenance Officer. He can be reached at 208-746-1319.

15. Why do I see firefighters running at the track or exercising in some other way while on-duty?

It is critical that a firefighter’s mind, body, and spirit are able to operate at peak performance in a moment’s notice. The nature of the occupation demands a great deal of physical strength and stamina. As such, firefighters are encouraged to spend approximately one hour each day (on and off duty) exercising. While exercising, the firefighter is still prepared to respond at a moment’s notice to any emergency that may arise.

16. What is the firefighter's work schedule like?

Three shifts comprised of 15 firefighters each, provide emergency services protection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in what is called "constant staffing." To provide this coverage, each firefighter works a set of 5 alternating 24-hour shifts and then has six days off. For example, a firefighter may have a work cycle that includes Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday and then be off until the following Monday, etc.

17. What do firefighters do when they are not responding to emergency calls?

In the old days firefighters played cards and took it easy while waiting for the next fire. Now every minute of the day is packed with activity. EMS calls take up much of the day along with maintenance of vehicles and the equipment they carry, daily fire and EMS training, public education, and responding to questions and concerns from the public.