Fire Department

In 2007, the City Council appointed Bill Crawford to serve as the Fire Chief for the City of Watauga. Chief Crawford was born in Sylva, North Carolina. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, where he served in the security police force. He has worked for the City of Watauga for 22 years. He has been in the fire service for 32 years and has been a paramedic for 25 years. He received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Tarrant County College. He has a Master Fire and Police Certification, Arson and Instructor Certificates, is a trained FBI Bomb Technician, and has been named Supervisor of the Year.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Watauga Fire Department is to safeguard the lives and property and to enhance the quality of life of any person that resides in, works in, or visits the City of Watauga through a commitment to service with Pride, Respect, Teamwork and Safety.

Special Announcements

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
RECALL OF SMOKE ALARMS

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of the make and model smoke alarm listed below. Consumers should stop using this product immediately. An electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire. This recall applies to the following smoke alarm units manufactured between August 1, 2008 and May 4, 2009. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, "HUSH" and "PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY" which are located on the front/center of the alarm. Click on the link below to view a photo of the affected alarms.

KIDDE MODEL PI2000 DUAL SENSOR SMOKE ALARM

Consumers should contact Kidde immediately to receive a free replacement smoke alarm by calling (877) 524-2086 or by visiting www.kidde.com.

CITY UNVEILS RENDERING OF NEW FIRE STATION

The new fire station will be located at 5909 Hightower situated on approximately two (2) acres of land at the corner of Hightower and Quail Run. The new station will replace the existing facility that was originally constructed in 1982. It is designed to house current departmental personnel and apparatus, as well as accommodate future needs. Construction is projected to begin in early 2010 with completion expected in the fall of 2010.

HOME INSPECTION

Fires kill more Americans each year than all other natural disasters combined. Your home should be a safe haven, but do you regularly check for fire hazards? If not, there is the potential for danger. Click here for a home inspection checklist. Fire extinguishers should be kept handy in the kitchen and garage. The majority of fires that start in the kitchen occur when the cook gets distracted. Install at least one smoke detector on each level of the house and outside each bedroom. Make sure you replace the batteries every six months. How much do you know about fire prevention? Click here to take the quiz.

PREPARING FOR A FIRE ESCAPE

Draw a floor plan of your home.
Know two ways out of every room.
Plan a waiting place where everyone will meet once they are outside.
If someone is trapped, let the Fire Department rescue them. Never go back inside a burning building for any reason.
Practice your exit plan until it becomes automatic to you.
When you hear a smoke alarm go off, or someone yells "fire" or "smoke", get down low on the floor and crawl.
Check the door before opening it. If it is hot to the touch, do not open it.
Open doors slowly and carefully. If the door is cool enough to open, be cautious, there may be fire on the other side.

FLOODING

During this time of year, severe weather can form with little or no warning. The Watauga Fire Department encourages you to monitor your local television or radio stations during periods of inclement weather. Our Emergency Management Personnel will closely monitor any approaching system and inform you immediately should the need arise. Some helpful suggestions are listed below.

During periods of heavy rain, stay away from streambeds, drainage ditches, and culverts.
Never drive your car into water of unknown depth. Most flash flood deaths occur when people drive their vehicles into floodwaters. Never go around barricades!
Be especially cautious at night, when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
If your vehicle stalls, abandon it and immediately seek higher ground.
Floodwater may rise very quickly and could cover the vehicle or sweep it away.
Water is a very powerful force and should never be underestimated.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radios or the Watauga Emergency radio station for more information.

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