Asheville firefighters are trained to act quickly and decisively to protect lives and property during emergencies. Have you ever wondered what Asheville firefighters do if they are called to your home for an emergency?
When firefighters first arrive, they assess the situation and then investigate what may have caused the emergency. If there is a life-threatening emergency, such as a fire, they will approach the home and, if anyone is inside, attempt to make entry to rescue anyone inside.
If no one is home, firefighters will make every attempt to contact a homeowner, if possible. If an emergency is happening and a firefighter needs to enter the house, a last resort is to make a forced entry. While forced entry is a necessary and life-saving move at times, it can also cause extensive damage to a home and make it difficult for a firefighter to reach the patient or victim quickly.
There are ways homeowners can make it easier for firefighters:
- Ensure your address is clearly visible, keep driveways clear for trucks, and maintain the spaces around your home by removing brush.
- You can also make sure your doors are unlocked, and the lights are on if you are home during the emergency, so they can quickly get in if needed. As we said, they will force entry if necessary.
- Another option for homeowners is using a Knox Box for key access. This is a home product that can assist Asheville Fire; it doesn’t replace the required Knox box requirements for commercial buildings under the NC Fire Code. For more information about a home Knox Box, click here.
Was this resource helpful? Visit our Fire Education webpage for more resources.