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1. Can I burn yard waste within the city limits?

Open burning within the city limits is prohibited.

2. Can I have a fire pit in my yard?

Please review the Recreational Fires (PDF) for more information.

3. 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 call 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.

4. Where do I place smoke detectors in my home?

Take a look at the Smoke Alarm and CO2 Information (PDF) for more information.

5. What are my responsibilities if I live on a fire access road?

If you live on a flag lot or your house is some distance from the nearest street, then most probably you live on an established fire apparatus access road. The Lewiston Fire Department asks that you check the current condition of your fire apparatus access road.

Fire Code Requirements

These items are Fire Code requirements. The Fire Department will notify homeowners when problems are observed, however, that observation may occur only when a fire engine or ambulance cannot make access during an emergency. Unfortunately, this is how many problems are found. Please take a moment to check the condition of your fire apparatus access road. Attention to these items will ensure the quickest, most efficient response by the Lewiston Fire Department. You don’t want us delayed when seconds may make the difference.

•  Are any vehicles including campers and/or ATVs parked in the required width/depth of the fire apparatus access road? Fire apparatus access roads must not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles and maintained clear to a height of 13 feet 6 inches. The minimum widths and clearances must be maintained at all times.
• Is there an address sign at the street? Approved address signs must be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. Signs must be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility. Remember, you also need at least a 4 inch high address attached to your house that contrasts the color of your house.
• Is there sufficient base and gravel to provide all weather access? The fire apparatus access road surface must be constructed and maintained to City of Lewiston Public Works standard.
• Is the fire apparatus access road longer than 150 feet? Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length must be provided with an approved area for turning around fire apparatus. This area must also be maintained in an unobstructed manner at all times.

6. 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. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls take up much of the day along with:

• Maintenance of the vehicles and the equipment they carry
• Daily fire and EMS training
• Public education
• Responding to questions and concerns from the public

7. What is the city's ISO rating for fire protection?

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

8. What is a firefighter's work schedule like?

Up to 15 firefighters 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 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
• Monday 

Then the firefighter will be off until the following Sunday, etc.

9. When I’m driving down the road and hear/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.

10. 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 or look up "fire extinguisher service Lewiston, ID" on the internet for a company that carries Underwriters Laboratory (UL) equipment.

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

For information on donating a house to enhance firefighter training, contact Safety/Training Chief Keith Weissenfels at Lewiston Fire Department by calling 208-743-3554, ext. 6267.

12. Why do I see fire engines 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 deploy immediately, even from the grocery store, if they get a call.

13. Why do I see firefighters running at the track/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.

14. 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.