Fire Department

Midland Fire Department Type of Call Definitions

The following are types of calls to which the Midland Fire Department could be asked to respond. These call types are based upon the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

Fire/Explosion
All calls concerned with actual burning or explosions. This category includes fires in buildings and vehicles as well as brush fires, refuse fires and fires in spilled fuel.

Automatic Fire Alarm
Calls triggered by an automated alarm system detecting smoke or heat, or that is manually activated (pull station).

Rescue
Calls are related to removing people from dangerous situations including extrication from crushed vehicles or machinery, removal from the water or ice, searching for lost persons and assisting people who are locked in a structure or vehicle.

Medical
Emergency medical situations; for example, heart attacks, strokes and lack of respiration or occasions when people need a medical assist, such as a fall without injury where someone needs help getting up.

Hazardous Condition
Situations of spills or leaks without ignition, excessive heat conditions, power lines down, aircraft emergencies, chemical emergencies and overpressure situations causing pipe or container ruptures.

Service
Calls involving people being locked out of structures, removing water from structures, assisting the police, checking unauthorized burning, smoke and odor investigations and steam or other vapor mistaken for smoke.

False Alarm
Alarm calls where no emergency situation exists such as malicious mischief, a bomb scare, alarm system malfunction or unintentional alarms.

Other
Calls not otherwise classified. These are usually responses discontinued before arrival on the scene.