Emergency Response

When should I call 911 vs. non-emergency?

Call 911 for emergencies requiring immediate response:

  • Fire, smoke, or smell of gas
  • Medical emergencies (chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, unconsciousness)
  • Vehicle accidents with injuries
  • Any situation requiring police, fire, or ambulance immediately

Call our non-emergency number (817) 295-9539 for:

  • General questions about our services
  • Station tours or community events
  • Non-urgent requests (blood pressure checks, smoke detector help)
  • Follow-up questions about previous incidents

When in doubt, call 911. It's better to call and not need emergency services than to delay during a real emergency.

More Answers About Emergency Response

Emergency Response
Why does a fire truck respond to medical calls?
A fire truck will sometimes arrive at an incident first because it is the closest emergency unit to the emergency scene and we are committed to getting help to your location as fast as possible. All emergency response personnel are well-trained in providing Emergency Medical Services. We have several personnel... Read The Rest
Emergency Response
Why use lights and sirens at night?
The purpose of emergency warning equipment is to let drivers and pedestrians know that an emergency vehicle is on the way to an emergency. Texas state law as well as our standard operating procedures require that our drivers utilize emergency warning equipment during emergency response regardless of the time of... Read The Rest
Emergency Response
Why send multiple vehicles to a fire?
Each fire truck carries a specific complement of equipment and personnel. There are a number of specialized roles that firefighters undertake at the scene of a fire, and firefighting is a very labor-intensive activity. Firefighters must be rotated out periodically in order to change out air bottles and physically rest... Read The Rest