FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. If I have an emergency, who should I call?
A. Regardless of whether you need the fire department, ambulance or police, call 911 for all emergencies.

Q. Are you a career, volunteer, or combination department?
A. We are a 100% volunteer department. This is something that our Department takes a lot of pride in and speaks volumes about the dedication of our members.

Q. How many and what types of calls do you respond to?
A. We respond to approximately 600 calls per year. This includes any fire such as structure fires, car fires, chimney fires, and brush fires. Many people are not aware that we also respond to motor vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, gas/propane leaks, entrapments, water/ice rescues, carbon monoxide incidents, and fire alarm activations. We also respond to serious medical calls such as cardiac arrests, to assist Madison EMS with extra  manpower, and respond to neighboring towns as mutual aid for structure fires in their district. In today’s world, fire departments are an all-hazards emergency response department that must be trained and ready for a wide array of incidents.

Q. How do I apply to be a member?
A. We are always looking to recruit the right people into our ranks. Refer to our recruitment page for information on how to join.

Q. I called 911 for a medical emergency. Why did the fire department show up?
A. Although the Fire and EMS services in town are different departments, we work together often. On all serious incidents such as cardiac arrests and overdoses, the Fire Dept is automatically dispatched with Madison EMS. Time is of the essence in these scenarios, and sometimes fire department personnel are able to get to the scene quicker. Upon our arrival, we begin administering BLS medical care and CPR until Madison EMS arrives and takes over. From there, we assist the paramedics in any way we can. All personnel in our department are CPR/AED certified. We also have a substantial group that are also certified EMTs. For less serious calls, the Fire Dept may be dispatched if the Madison EMS ambulances are busy on other calls. We provide BLS medical care until an ambulance is available, or a mutual aid ambulance arrives from a neighboring town to transport the patient.

Q. I saw a car parking at the Fire Station with a blue light on. What is the blue light for?
A. The blue light used by our firefighters to get to the scene of the emergency quicker. We appreciate if you pull off to the side of the road to let them pass, so they can get to the emergency as quickly as possible.

Q. Are Madison Hose and North Madison the same department?
A. The two fire departments in town are separate departments. Whether it’s a mutual aid call into the other department’s district or joint training, we have a good relationship with our neighbors to the North. The same is true with the other emergency services in town (Madison PD, Madison EMS, Fire Marshal’s Office, Office of Emergency Management). We continue to foster those relationships to ensure we are providing the best protection to the Town of Madison.

Q. How do I know if I’m in the Madison Hose District or the North Madison District?
A. Click here for our District Map. As a rule of thumb, Madison Hose covers everything south of the blinking light at the Horsepond Rd/Durham Rd intersection. 

Q. On big fires, I’ve seen crews from different towns in Madison. How does that work?
A. Like many fire departments in the state, we have set mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns to assist when major incidents occur. Madison Hose is part of the Valley Shore Mutual Aid Agreement which includes 12 departments in the area. On all structure fires, North Madison automatically gets dispatched to assist us with apparatus and manpower. Upon confirmation of a working fire, we receive aid from Guilford and Clinton for additional manpower at the scene of the incident. Killingworth is dispatched for “station coverage”, where they staff our Headquarters in case any other calls come in while Madison Hose crews are busy at the main incident. These aid agreements work both ways, so we respond into neighboring towns to assist their crews in a similar fashion.

Q. Am I allowed to burn outside on my property and how can I obtain a burn permit?
A. Burn restrictions are set and enforced by the Fire Marshal’s office. Please refer to the Fire Marshal’s website for permit applications as well as seasonal restrictions. https://www.madisonct.org/264/Fire-Marshal

Q. I had a fire and I need a copy of the fire report, how can I obtain one?
A. Please contact the Town of Madison Fire Marshal’s office to obtain a copy: https://www.madisonct.org/264/Fire-Marshal

Q. Do you take expired fire extinguishers, propane tanks, marine flares, etc. from the public to properly dispose of them?
A. We do not take expired items from the public for disposal. There is a regional residential hazardous waste facility in New Haven (HazWaste Central Regional Water Authority), that can assist with disposal of items and is free of charge for New Haven County residents. You could also contact the Coast Guard Station in New Haven for guidance on disposing of marine flares.

Q. Do you pump out flooded basements after heavy storms?
A. Unfortunately, we do not offer pumping services after heavy storms. Our crews are usually still very busy on calls that occur throughout and after a storm rolls through. We simply don’t have the equipment and manpower to help dozens of homeowners pump out their basements, although we wish we could help. If the water level gets more than 2-3 inches high, we highly recommend you shut off the main breaker in your electrical panel. This ensures no additional hazard develops if the water gets to the level of the electrical outlets in the basement, or gets up to the level of the home heating equipment. As an added safety measure, we recommend turning off the emergency shut off switch (typically at the top of the stairs) for your furnace/boiler. If you have a sump pump or a portable submersible pump, you will need to them off of an auxiliary power source such as a generator, as they will lose power once you flip the main breaker.

Q. Can I visit the fire station?
A. Of course! If you see a member at the station or the bay doors open, feel free to stop in.