FAQs • City of San Marcos, TX • CivicEngage

What is the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck?: A fire engine is designed to carry 500 gallons water and pump water from a hydrant. Generally 1500 gallons per minute.

A fire truck is designed to carry ladders, special rescue equipment, and other special fire fighting equipment along with an elevating ladder. San Marcos operates three fire engines. We also operate three quints. A quint is like a fire truck in that it carries an elevating ladder and all of the equipment of a fire truck, but also carries up to 500 gallons of water and can pump water from the hydrant like a fire engine. A quint can do the job of both. Quints are much more expensive than an engine or truck.

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Fire Department

1. How do I get information about a call / incident that the fire department responded to?

You can request a Fire Report by going to City Clerks Office- Gov QA . You will have to create a profile so we know where to send the information. Questions related to fire reports can be directed to the City Clerk's office at 512-393-8090. Legally, open records are allowed 10 days to respond back to your request.

Open Records Release Request.

2. Where do I submit fire plans / fire alarm systems / fire sprinklers?

All permits are submitted electronically with a Fire Marshal Permit Application. https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/745/Permits

For more information, please contact the Fire Marshal's office at 512-805-2600 or by emailing fireplan@sanmarcostx.gov.

3. Who do I contact with a code enforcement / code compliance question?

The Fire Marshal office answers all questions concerning the City’s code requirements and violations.

https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/727/Fire-Marshal

For answers to your questions, please contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 512-805-2600 or visit their webpage Fire Department.

4. What is the Fire Marshal's phone number / contact information?

Fire Marshals Office

Phone: : 512.805.2600

Fax: : 855.825.9422

Emergency Phone: : 9-1-1

https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/727/Fire-Marshal

5. Are there always firefighters at the fire station?: No. The fire company may receive an alert to report to a scene of an emergency incident. Fire stations are fully staffed 24 hours a day but they do operate in an active 9-1-1 system. When they get an emergency call, the staff will respond the emergency.

6. What kind of work schedule does a firefighter have?: A San Marcos Firefighter works one of three shifts that are designated as A-Shift, B-Shift, and C-Shift. They work 24 hours on/48 hours off.

7. What is a fire apparatus?: It is a vehicle designed to assist in firefighting and other rescue operations. The terms fire engine and fire truck represent different types of firefighting apparatus.

8. Why does a fire apparatus respond to auto accidents?: In many instances auto accidents require Firefighters to remove injured persons who are trapped. Firefighters also assess the scene for hazards, such as fuel leaks, disabled airbags, auto batteries that may need disconnecting, and blocking lanes of traffic on the Interstate to keep responders safe.

9. Why does a fire apparatus respond with an ambulance on medical calls?

Fire Engines assist ambulance crews on calls for several reasons. Certain types of medical calls require additional personnel. Heart attacks, strokes, and major accidents and many other medical calls require additional personnel for effective medical treatment.

While ambulances are housed at our stations, ambulances operate under San Marcos Hays County EMS https://smhcems.com/

10. Are all fire apparatus's staffed with medically trained personnel?: All San Marcos Fire Department personnel are trained and certified to a minimum level of Emergency Medical Technician.

11. Why do I see fire trucks at the grocery store or at other stores?: Firefighters work 24-hour shifts, which require grocery shopping for food to cook, and shopping at other stores for other items needed to stock the firehouse.

12. What is the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck?: A fire engine is designed to carry 500 gallons water and pump water from a hydrant. Generally 1500 gallons per minute.

A fire truck is designed to carry ladders, special rescue equipment, and other special fire fighting equipment along with an elevating ladder. San Marcos operates three fire engines. We also operate three quints. A quint is like a fire truck in that it carries an elevating ladder and all of the equipment of a fire truck, but also carries up to 500 gallons of water and can pump water from the hydrant like a fire engine. A quint can do the job of both. Quints are much more expensive than an engine or truck.

13. How many firefighters respond to an incident call?: The San Marcos Fire Department requires a minimum staffing of at least three firefighters on each piece of fire apparatus. San Marcos Fire Department maintains needed staffing levels 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

14. How do I request a fire station tour or demonstration event?

San Marcos Fire Department enjoys giving back to it's community though community outreach!

We do offer educational station tours to youth organizations and schedule public education fire department visits to school groups and other similar groups.

Click here to fill out your information for us to review and schedule: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/564/Fire-Station-Tour-or-Demonstration

Melinda Villarreal.

15. What is an ISO rating?

ISO (Insurance Services Office Rating) classifies communities from 1 (the best) to 10 (the worst) based on how well they score on the ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, which grades such features as water distribution, fire department equipment and manpower and fire alarm facilities. ISO field representatives use the schedule when surveying a community's fire protection capability. The score that is determined from applying the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule is translated into a public protection classification.

The current rating inside the city is a 2/2X/10. To look up your ISO by your address, visit this link: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/1142/ISO---Insurance-Services-Office-Rating

For more information on ISO ratings from the State Fire Marshal Office, please visit the State Fire Marshal Texas Department of Insurance Public Protection Classification (PPC) page. www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/fmppcfaq.html.

16. What does it mean when my smoke alarm chirps?: The smoke alarm will chirp when its time to replace the battery. We encourage residents to change the smoke alarm battery when they change their clocks for Daylight Saving time in the spring and fall each year. Free battery operated smoke detectors are available for residents living within the City limits. If you need help installing or checking your battery home smoke detectors, San Marcos Fire Department can install new detectors and check your current ones. More information is available here: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/567/Home-Smoke-Detector-Program.

17. How can I become a firefighter?

Details on SMFD's minimum requirements are outlined on it's Employment Opportunities Page: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/536/Employment-Opportunities

We host a hiring process about once a year.

Information on how to become a Texas Firefighter may be found on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection website.

18. How can I become a EMT-Paramedic?

Qualifications required to become an EMT-Paramedic are listed on the Texas Department of State Health Services

Texas Department of State Health Services “DSHS” Emergency Medical Services Certification EMT-Basic or higher (National Registry, DSHS Licensed, or DSHS Certification)

website.