FAQ's

Where did the name “Cunningham” originate?

In 1950 a group of civic minded charter members formed a volunteer fire department in our community that at the time was primarily farmland. Land that was centrally located in the community was identified as a proper setting for the first fire station. The Cunningham family owned the land at the time. The Family donated this land to the Fire Protection District and it was accepted in exchange for the family name “Cunningham” to be used in perpetuity as a name for the Fire Protection District.

Why are the firefighters always at the grocery store?

All of our firefighters work 24-hour shifts which means that they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the firehouse. They must stop at a grocery store once a day to purchase groceries for their meals. The entire crew must go shop together so that the engine is always staffed and ready to respond should an emergency arise even when they are shopping.

Why is a fire engine sent when I call for an ambulance?

All firefighters at Cunningham Fire Protection District are trained as medical providers - either EMT’s or paramedics. The fire engine crew responds to assist with medical care, loading of patients and the preparation for transport to the hospital. Sometimes the paramedic will need assistance with patient care while en route to the hospital and a firefighter will ride along to help out.

What do firefighters do when they are not responding to emergencies?

There are many other jobs and responsibilities of a firefighter besides responding to emergencies. Some of these include: training and continuing education, physical fitness, inspections at local businesses, public education, station and vehicle cleaning/maintenance, report writing and data entry. They also drive through the community to become familiar with the area to reduce response time during incidents.

How come I sometimes see fire engines and ambulances driving with lights and sirens and all of a sudden they turn them off and slow down?

Sometimes emergency units are initially dispatched to a call and then cancelled before they arrive on scene. The first unit may have arrived on scene and determined that the situation could be handled without the need for further units to respond or that they can respond in a non-emergency mode. They would notify dispatch that the situation was under control and all other units would be returned to service, ready to respond to another call.

How long does it take to respond to a 9-1-1 emergency call?

It normally takes between 4-6 minutes for engines to arrive on scene after a 9-1-1 call has been placed.

What is the work schedule for Cunningham Firefighters?

There are firefighters on duty 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. There are three different shifts, each working 56 hours per week. A shift is for 24 hours from 7:00 am to 7:00 am the next morning.

Do I need to put a smoke alarm in every room?

Smoke alarms should be placed in each bedroom and outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On floors without bedrooms, smoke alarms should be installed in or near living areas such as dens, living rooms, the kitchen, or family rooms.

What kind of fire extinguisher should I buy for my house?

Homeowners should buy an extinguisher that can handle class A-B-C fires. A 2A:10B:C extinguisher is the preferred rating. The extinguisher should be UL of FM listed. They should be designed to extinguish fires that more commonly occur in homes including: wood, paper, flammable liquids and electrical fires.

What is the importance of my address being visible from the street?

If there is an emergency, precious time could be lost if the fire department has trouble locating your address.

How do I go about drawing up an escape plan for my home/business?

Draw a floor plan of your home/business. Define at least two exits from each room. Agree on a safe meeting place away from your home/business. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

Do you rescue cats from trees?

We typically do not rescue cats from trees. It is best to call Animal Control for help with such matters.

When an emergency vehicle is approaching while I am driving, should I always pull over to the right and stop?

Yes. State law dictates that vehicles yield to emergency vehicles that are operating their emergency lights and siren. Emergency vehicle drivers are taught to pass on the left whenever possible when they are responding emergent. Therefore, the safest thing is for you to slow down, pull over to the right and stop. Stay put until the emergency vehicle has gone past you. Make no sudden moves. Do not pull behind and follow closely behind an emergency vehicle that is driving emergent.

Why do the firefighters break windows or cut holes in the roof when fighting a fire? It seems as thought they are causing more damage.

As a fire burns, it moves upward and outward. By breaking windows and/or cutting ventilation holes in the roof, it acts like a chimney to allow fresh air to fill the building. This action alone can save a tremendous amount of property. It reduces smoke damage and makes conditions more favorable for firefighters to enter the building.

Why do the firefighters tear open walls even though it doesn’t seem like there was fire in a room?

Fire often travels up inside of walls and can go undetected for a long time. Fires that are left undetected can re-ignite several hours later and cause extensive damage to a structure. Thermal imaging cameras are used to help firefighters detect heat inside of walls using infrared technology which helps to eliminate the need to cut so many holes.