Link to Frequently asked questions about Fire and Aid Response
Please select from one of the following:
How can I arrange to have my children or school group visit a fire station?
Tours of the fire stations are available to the public. You must make reservations at least thirty days in advance. Call (425) 587-3650 for further information and reservations.
I'd like to have a neighborhood and organizational meeting at my local fire station, how do I make reservations?
Station 22 and Station 26 (after 6:00 pm) have meeting rooms available at no charge for groups up to 30 people. Parking is limited. For more information regarding reserving a meeting room, call (425) 587-3650
Does the Fire Department offer CPR training to the public?
The City of Kirkland offers free, basic CPR training to individuals and groups, through the Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department (not the Fire Department). The City of Kirkland does not offer 1st Aid training.
To learn when CPR classes are scheduled, visit www.kirklandparks.net or 505 Market St, Kirkland; or call 425-587-3300. Groups of 16 or more may arrange training directly with the training coordinator, Phil Bransford at, 206-963-9637.
Individuals or groups who require the Health Care Provider level of CPR training, or 1st Aid training, may be able to obtain training through local chapters of the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association , as well as, through local hospitals and technical colleges.
Our business or organization needs to develop an evacuation plan, can the Fire Department help?
Prevention Services offers their services to businesses or organizations needing assistance with emergency evacuation plans. Our Deputy Fire Marshals can come to your facility to provide a fire prevention and survival presentation. Handouts regarding evacuation plan development can also be made available to you. Please call (425) 587-3650 for this service.
Our business or organization would like to conduct a fire drill, can the Fire Department come to our facility?
Along with the Prevention Services assisting you with your evacuation plan, they can also provide in guidance in planning and executing fire drills. A fire engine company can also be available to assist with the actual fire drill and critique your facilities response to the alarms. Call (425) 587-3650.
I live in the Kirkland city limits, can I burn my leaves and brush?
Outdoor burning is banned in Kirkland. For air quality questions, call the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency at 206-343-8800. Also for air quality/indoor burning restrictions recording, 1-800-595-4341.
I'd like to learn more about how to be prepared for disasters, are materials available from the Fire Department?
Our Preparedness Services Division has a number of brochures and flyers available to the public, neighborhoods, businesses, day cares, retirement facilities, and schools. The Kirkland area can experience a number of disasters or emergencies, and we have flyers that will assist in preparing for those various emergencies. Call (425) 587-3650.
My neighborhood, business and/or civic group would be interested in a presentation about emergency preparedness, is someone available to help us out?
Staff is available to come to your community center, home and/or facility to present information about emergency preparedness. The focus will be on earthquakes, since the Pacific Northwest is due for a major 8.0 or greater magnitude earthquake. Please call (425) 587-3650 for assistance.
Frequently asked questions about Fire and Aid Response
Why do I see fire department vehicles using lights and sirens and then all of the sudden turn them off?
Usually they are "down graded" or cancelled by other fire units on the scene of an incident after those units determined that they weren't needed.
Why do I see many fire department vehicles responding to one call?
Even though it may seem many incidents can be handled with just one vehicle, most of the calls require manpower from multiple units.
Why do I see a fire engine followed by an aid car around town?
We cross-staff our fire engines and aid cars with the same personnel. We keep these vehicles together to handle either an aid or engine call.
What does cross-staffed mean?
At each fire station there is an aid car and an engine/truck. If the call is medical in nature we take the aid car and place the engine/truck out of service. If it is a fire related call we take the engine/truck and place the aid car out of service. Station 21 and Station 24 usually only have an aid car in service.
Why do I see two ambulances at calls?
As part of King County Medic One, the Kirkland Fire Department strives to respond in the most efficient manner. The KFD staffs Basic Life Support aid cars, which is equipped to perform basic medical procedures and heart defibrillation. This is the first "ambulance" that you see.
Most medical calls only require a basic response. For calls that require more advanced medical procedures a medic unit from either Evergreen Medic One, Bellevue Fire, or Shoreline Fire Medic One. These units can have the ability to perform advanced medical procedures including IV Therapy, drug administration, and advanced airway management.
Why at a fire or major accident, do I see fire vehicles from other cities?
Kirkland is part of an agreement with surrounding cities to provide automatic aid to neighboring department or receive the same aid. Most fires requires 3 engines, a truck company, and a command officer. Some fire stations in neighboring areas are closer to calls than other Kirkland fire stations, providing faster response to calls. The KFD also responds into other jurisdictions.
Are you firefighters or EMTs?
We are cross-trained in both areas.
Why do fire department vehicles arrive on scene at separate times?
Each vehicle that arrives responds from a different station located in different areas.
When a department vehicle approaches a scene, I notice it seems to start and stop all the time, why?
Usually we are looking for the address of the place we are responding to. Unfortunately many addresses aren't labeled properly or at all making it hard to find the place that we are responding to. That is why it is important to have the addresses highly visible.
Link to Commonly Asked Questions about Fire Service Career