Fire Department - For Emergencies, Call: 9-1-1
The mission of the Fire Department is to protect the lives and
property of all residents, businesses and the general public within the
city limits of Highland Heights. The Department will also deliver assistance
to all cities and villages to which our city relies on for like assistance.
The delivery of all services will be consistent with the highest quality
at the lowest cost to residents.
We’re proud to protect the City of Highland Heights.
Fire Department Annual Report 2006
Highland Heights Fire Department Organizational Chart
HIghland Heights Fire Department Part-Time Firefighters
Fire Department - Services
Fire Prevention
The Fire Prevention Bureau conducts numerous educational activities
throughout the year such as classroom training at the grade schools during
Fire Prevention Week, fire drills, and extinguisher training at various
businesses. All businesses in the City are inspected annually to ensure
that they are free from Fire Code violations. Additionally, all hood suppression
and sprinkler systems have inspections witnessed twice a year.
Permits
The City of Highland Heights requires a valid permit for numerous
activities, such as storage of hazardous chemicals and open
burning. The Fire Prevention Bureau is charged with the issuance
and recording of such permits. For more information or to apply for a permit,
contact Lieutenant Todd Ayers at (440) 442-7406 or tayres@highlandhtsfire.com.
Below is a partial list of the permits issued by the bureau.
- Plan review
- Open burning
- Application of flammable finishes
- Dip tanks
- Handling or storage of hazardous materials
- Organic coating manufacturing
- Tent or air-supported structures per Ohio fire code
- Storage or handling of compressed gases
- Removal, repair or installation of flammable/combustible liquid containers
- Hydrant permits
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
The Highland Heights Fire Department provides Advanced Life Support(ALS)
service to the residents and businesses of Highland Heights. A minimum of
two (2) paramedics are on duty every shift to provide this coverage.
We have two fully equipped ALS medic squads, which are able to treat any injury or illness. All Fire Department vehicles are also equipped as first responders in the event that a medic squad is not the first arriving unit:
- Ladder 821 is ALS equipped to provide advanced care on fire scenes or as an ALS first responder when a squad cannot respond.
- Utility vehicle 871 is also ALS equipped and is used as a chase vehicle with an additional paramedic. A chase vehicle is used so that if not needed, a paramedic can return to quarters and be available for another call if not needed to transport a patient to the hospital.
- Engine 811 and 812, as well as Fire Prevention car 855, are all Basic Life Support (BLS) equipped.
Emergency medical calls make up a majority of the calls that the Fire Department answers. Because of this, it is important for our personnel to continually educate themselves with the most up to date treatments available. Collectively, the Fire Department personnel must attend hundreds of hours of continuing education every year.
There are three levels of EMS responders:
- Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
EMT-Basics are able to monitor vital signs, treat injuries, administer oxygen, and use Automatic External Defibrillators for patients in cardiac arrest.
- EMT-Advanced
Advanced-EMTs, in addition to Basic skills, can also initiate IVs, Defibrillate certain rhythms for cardiac arrest patients, and administer drugs for patients with severe allergic reactions.
- Paramedic
Paramedics perform all of the EMT Basic and Advanced functions, but can also administer a wide variety of drugs for cardiac, respiratory, diabetic, and trauma emergencies. They are also trained to perform advanced airway techniques, cardiac pacing, and defibrillating. All new career firefighters must be certified as Paramedics upon taking the entrance exam.
Fire Suppression
The Fire Suppression section of the Fire Department is made up
of 15 career personnel; three (3) lieutenants and twelve firefighters. They
work a 24/48 shift rotation, averaging 50 hours per week. Shift personnel
are responsible for handling many emergency and non-emergency situations.
The administrative section is made up of three (3) career personnel: fire chief, executive captain and fire prevention lieutenant.
The Fire Department works out of one station, protecting an area of more than five square miles and 8,000 residents. The department also maintains an ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating of 4.
Department Responsibilities
The department is responsible for responding to fire emergencies
such as structural, vehicle, dumpster and brush fires, as well as non-fire
emergencies such as medical calls, motor vehicle accidents, downed power
lines, chemical spills, weather-related calls, carbon monoxide calls and
technical rescues. Medical calls make up the vast majority of the 
Fire
Department's activity, which involves responding to calls for both illnesses
and injuries. Daily and seasonal activities such as station and vehicle
maintenance, hydrant flushing, hose testing and in-service training make
up our day-to-day routine.
Highland Heights works with neighboring and regional departments through Automatic Aid agreements and through Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). This system of response allows all departments in the area to safely respond to building fires and major incidents.
Community Services
Blood Pressure Checks
The Fire Department conducts Blood Pressure checks for 
senior
citizens of Highland Heights. If you want your blood pressure checked,
just stop by the fire station, we’ll be happy to check it for you.
CPR
The Fire Department currently has several certified CPR Instructors
that offer 
classes
to community groups and businesses in the city when there is sufficient
interest. Contact Lt. Pete Rowe (prowe@highlandhtsfire.com)
or Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Bernhard (bbernhard@highlandhtsfire.com)
if you are interested in more information.
Aluminum Can Collection
Drop off your aluminum beverage cans behind the fire station
in the fenced area between the rear apparatus doors and parking lot to help
the nonprofit organization Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC). This
aluminum can recycling program was founded by the Northern Ohio Fire Fighters
and the Northeast Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association.
The proceeds are used for fire safety education, Camp Phoenix - a summer and winter outing for burned children, and to buy non-medical items not covered by insurance for burn victims.
For more information on the ACBC foundation, contact the Northern Ohio
Fire Fighters. 
The
program is sponsored by MetroHealth Medical Center of Cleveland, schools,
businesses, residents, and fire departments throughout Northeast Ohio. Ninety
percent of the ACBC Foundation's income comes from recycled aluminum cans.
Specialized Services
Technical Rescue
The Hillcrest Technical Rescue
Team (HRRT) was founded in 1995 to serve the 
Hillcrest
Region of Cuyahoga County. It was formed after a 1989 high-rise fire where
victims were stranded above the reach of ladder trucks. The team is equipped
and trained to rescue victims trapped in ravines, high towers, confined spaces,
collapsed buildings.
The HTRT is also trained in dive rescue and recovery. Heavy Rescue Unit 577, the team's response truck, is housed at Mayfield Heights Fire Department.
The Tech Team serves the cities of Beachwood, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Pepper Pike, Richmond Heights, and the villages of Gates Mills, Mayfield Village and Willoughby Hills. It also serves the Southeast/Chagrin Region of Cuyahoga County, and in return the Southeast/Chagrin Hazardous Materials Response Team provides response hazardous materials incidents. The two teams work closely together and assist each other on various types of calls.
Fire Investigation Unit (FIU)
The Hillcrest Regional Fire Investigation Strike Force serves
the cities of 
Beachwood,
Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Pepper Pike, Richmond Heights,
South Euclid and the villages of Gates Mills and Mayfield Village. The FIU
is made up of highly trained and experienced fire investigators from each
community. It is called upon by departments to determine the origin
and cause of fire incidents. The unit has an arson dog, Dakota, who is trained
in detecting accelerants. A full-time firefighter from Pepper Pike is the
K-9 handler for Dakota, who has been very valuable to the team.