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The following list contains questions we are often asked along with answers. If you have a question, .

We'll make every attempt to reply to your question and if it's a good one we'll post it on this page too.

Q: I collect patches. How can I get an IFD patch?

A: While we would love to send an IFD patch upon request we are unable to do so. We receive numerous patch requests via this web site every week.

Q: I want to become a career fire fighter in Ithaca. When will you offer the next civil service test?

Q: Sometimes I see a fire truck at one of the local grocery store. Why?

A: Unlike many cities with four to six fire fighters assigned to each fire engine or truck, in Ithaca there are usually only two.

The work shifts for our fire fighters are either ten or fourteen hours long without alloted time for meals. The fire fighters often collectively prepare a meal once each shift which they eat while maintaining a readiness to respond to alarms. When we have an extra fire fighter working, that fire fighter may take a small staff vehicle out to pick up groceries for the meal. He or she remains in service and responds to alarms. When we have no extra fire fighters working, the fire fighters on an engine or truck will often visit a local grocery store to pick up what's needed for the meal.

Q: How much does it cost each time you respond to a fire alarm?

A: We are asked this question often. There are a number of different ways to measure the cost of each call. In fact, we work hard to determine the cost of our most extraordinary incidents. When we do, we take into consideration the cost of personnel, overtime if needed, apparatus use, fuel, etc. - We hope to update this answer soon to provide a better sense of how much it costs us each time we go out the door.

Q: When someone is sick and calls for an ambulance, why does a fire truck come too?

A: Virtually all of our fire fighters are New York State certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's). Our engines are equipped with basic life support equipment including defibrillators. When someone reports a potentially life-threatening medical emergency within the Ithaca Fire Department's district, Tompkins County Dispatchers send Bangs Ambulance and the nearest Ithaca Fire Department engine.

IFD often reaches the patient before ambulance personnel and can quickly initiate appropriate patient care. In addition to quick response, IFD personnel often supplement the patient care provided by Bangs Ambulance. For example, if a patient is in cardiac arrest the ambulance personnel are often deeply involved with advanced life support while IFD personnel handle basic life support tasks such as CPR, oxygen therapy, etc.

Q: Why does the fire department "flush" hydrants?

A: There are over one thousand fire hydrants within the Ithaca Fire Department's response district. Each year, during the warmer months, the fire department "flow tests" selected hydrants within our fire district. Our objective is to flow test one hydrant "system" each year. Any particular hydrant will be tested at least once every ten years. By doing this, we are accomplishing many things:

(1) We determine the flow potential in gallons per minute based on data we collect including static and residual pressures as well as a pitot reading (velocity pressure).

(2) We exercise all the moving parts on the hydrant. In doing this, we occasionally identify problems with the hydrant which could adversely affect water supply during fire fighting operations.

(3) We inspect, lubricate, and properly secure the caps so that they will function properly when needed.

(4) We color code the hydrants based on their flow potential in accordance with national standards. Doing this helps us recognize what a particular hydrant's capabilities might be when used at a fire.

(5) We flush the hydrant thoroughly which helps remove mineral build-up from the water supply mains. In addition, by flushing the hydrant we occasionally find a large rock or other foreign material which might have had a significant impact on fire fighting operations.

As you can see, we do a lot more than just "flush" the hydrants.

In addition to flow testing hydrants, we perform annual maintenance on every hydrant each year. Annual maintenance does not include flow testing. Instead, we exercise the hydrant's moving parts, lubricate the threads, verify proper drainage, check for proper color-coding, paint as necessary, etc.

Q: Why do you send so many fire trucks to every fire call?

A: Currently, for a typical "alarm of fire" the Ithaca Fire Department sends 2 engines, 1 ladder truck, and the Duty Chief. In many cases this adds up to only 7 fire fighters. This number reflects an improvement over the way it was prior to August, 1996 when sometimes only 6 fire fighters were sent to fire alarms.

Despite this modest increase, 7 fire fighters simply aren't enough when so many tasks need to be completed in a coordinated manner within a very short period of time to successfully and safely extinguish any significant structure fire.

In many larger cities, engines and ladder trucks often have crew sizes of 4 or 5. In Ithaca, crew sizes are often only 2 which has generated the need to send more engines and trucks to get even 7 fire fighters on the scene