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1. Does the Fire Department offer fire station tours or appearances?

Yes. Garden City Firefighters welcome groups at the station, but prior arrangements are encouraged. A typical tour is 30-60 minutes long and includes a short talk on fire safety and injury prevention, a demonstration of firefighters protective gear, and an age-appropriate video that reinforces key fire safety points. This is followed by a short tour of the facility and a closer look at the fire and EMS vehicles.

Firefighters are also available to visit block parties and other community events. All appearances involve on-duty fire/EMS crews that are subject to emergency calls, and may be called away or unable to make a scheduled event. Families are also welcome to visit the fire station. To make arrangements for a station tour or community appearance, contact the Shift Commander.

2. Does the Fire Department provide ambulance services?

Yes. All Garden City fire engines and rescue units are staffed by cross-trained firefighter-paramedics and equipped to provide Advanced Life Support, the highest level of emergency medical care available outside of a hospital. After stabilization at the emergency scene, transportation is provided in Fire Department ambulances to Garden City Hospital or to Beaumont Hospital in Wayne.

3. Is there a charge for fire suppression?

The Fire Department stands ready to respond to any emergency. If the homeowner is insured and filing a claim, we will make an attempt to collect a fire response fee from their provider for fire suppression response. Residents will not be charged directly for fire suppression.

4. Which hospitals do fire department ambulances transport to?

Garden City Fire Rescue units typically transport patients to Garden City Hospital or to Beaumont in Wayne. It is in the patients best interest to be stabilized at the scene, then transported to the closest appropriate hospital for definitive care. If there are insurance or other factors that make transfer necessary before admission, hospital personnel can help arrange to have patients transferred as needed. It should be noted that all EMS providers, both public and private, operate under strict medical control protocols that require that unstable and emergent patients be cared for at the closest appropriate hospital.

5. Is there a charge for EMS care?

There is no charge for medical care provided on the scene of an emergency. If ambulance transportation is necessary, there is a charge for this service. Most health insurance plans are invoiced directly by the city’s billing service.

Billing questions can be directed to Medicount Management at 800-962-1484. For any other questions, contact the Fire Department.

6. How can I get a copy of my fire report?

Fire reports can be viewed at the Fire Department business office during business hours. Copies are available for a charge of $15.

7. How can I get a copy of my EMS report?

EMS reports are protected medical records and as such are available only to the patient upon proof of identity, to others with a properly executed release, or by subpoena or court order. The fee for copies is $15. Garden City complies with the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act (HIPPA). For more information, contact the Fire Department.

8. Why does the fire engine go on EMS runs?

Many medical responses can be handled efficiently by the 2 firefighter-paramedics staffing the rescue unit. Serious patients, however, can be cared for more quickly and effectively with additional manpower. In these instances, both a rescue unit and a fire engine respond to field up to 3 additional paramedics to help with patient care.

If the rescue unit is unavailable and another medical emergency occurs, an engine is dispatched to provide initial advanced life support care until a mutual aid rescue unit can arrive from a neighboring community. Garden City fire engines are staffed by firefighter-paramedics and are equipped with Advanced Life Support equipment identical to that carried on the rescue vehicles.

9. My smoke detector is occasionally chirping. What should I do?

Your smoke detector is the single most important piece of safety equipment in your home. Smoke detectors typically alarm with a loud, constant sound that persists until the smoke clears or until its owner disables the unit. An occasional chirp is typically a sign of a low battery.

Check the home for any indication of smoke or fire. If there is any question in your mind as to whether there may be a fire, get out of the building and call 911. Never leave a smoke detector in a non-working state. If the battery is dead or borrowed for another use, make it a point to replace it with a fresh one before you retire for the evening. Your life, and the lives of your family, may depend on it.

10. What should I do if I see a wire down?

Call 911. Overhead wires can carry electricity, cable television or telephone service. Electrical voltages vary from as little as a few volts to over 13,000. All wires should be considered as dangerous because they could come in contact with an electrical transmission line somewhere along their path.

Downed wires may also come in contact with fences and other conductive objects. Stay away and contact your Fire Department. We will help to identify the wire and assess the risk. Firefighters will then establish a safe perimeter using yellow barrier tape and notify the appropriate utility for repair. In high-hazard cases, firefighters may stand by at the scene to keep people safely away.

11. What if my carbon monoxide detector goes off?

Carbon monoxide can build up over time until is eventually reaches a level sufficient to set off your detector, or it can build quickly due to gas-fired cooking and heating appliances that may not be properly vented. Newer detectors feature digital displays to indicate how many parts per million have been detected. The safest action is to leave the home and call for assistance.

Opening doors and windows will make a safer environment but will make it more difficult for firefighters to find the problem. Garden City firefighters have sophisticated instruments that can help to detect and measure this toxic gas. Firefighters can also check for obvious problems in the furnace or water heater duct work and assess other potential sources.

If anyone in the home is feeling ill, firefighter-paramedics will provide any care that may be appropriate. In many cases we will notify the gas company to send a representative as well. Gas company technicians are even better equipped to identify and correct the problem, however a gas company service charge is applicable.

12. Are bonfires allowed in Garden City?

No. Such fires can present a fire hazard to neighboring buildings and property, and their smoke can impact on neighbors with respiratory ailments. All open burning is therefore prohibited by local ordinance. Outdoor fires used for cooking on a barbecue grill are permitted, as are fires in a chiminea or similar device that utilizes a smoke stack.

13. Are fireworks legal in Garden City?

The Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011 allows consumer grade aerial fireworks like bottle rockets and Roman candles. The storage or sale of all fireworks is restricted to properties in Garden City’s that have received the appropriate state and local permits. Please use caution, common sense and courtesy if you are using fireworks.

Per Michigan law, fireworks may only be used the day before, the day of and the day after a holiday. Per Garden City ordinance, fireworks may not be used within 200 feet of a residential structure and not within 20 feet of an open flame, a burner, gasoline, ignited gas or electric grill. Fireworks may not be used on public property and no fireworks may be used between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Pay special attention in summer because of dry conditions and the risk of fire from fireworks and consider neighbors with dogs, small children, the elderly or veterans suffering from PTSD when using legal fireworks.

14. Do you offer Child Safety seat inspections?

Yes we do. We have a team of trained firefighter/ Paramedics that can help you learn how to safely install your Child Safety seats. These inspections are by appointment only and are done free of charge. If you would like for information or to schedule an appointment, please call 734-793-1780.