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1. What is the Leander Fire Department's ISO rating?

The Leander Fire Department's ISO rating for businesses and residents within the city limits of Leander is a Class 2. This rating became effective January 1, 2018. You may be able to save costs on your homeowner's insurance due to this new rating, but you will have to bring this change to their attention, especially for mid-term policy adjustments.

Find out more about the ISO classification. Contact your taxing entity to find which fire service responds to your home.

For more information on your specific address, please contact Fire Administration at 512-528-2848 or email Kimberly Penberg. You may wish to have your insurance company contact us directly.

2. I live in the city limits of Leander; why can't I burn my tree trimmings and brush?

Burning within the Leander city limits is prohibited by city ordinance.

Section 5.05.003 Prohibited Acts; Exceptions

It shall be unlawful for any person within the city limits, in any way, to intentionally, knowingly or carelessly burn or cause to be burned any combustibles, including but not limited to grass, weeds, timber, rubbish, leaves, or other natural or synthetic materials, garbage, trash, rubbish, litter, solid waste, hazardous waste or any such like substances, on any street, alley, lot or premises. Such prohibited fires shall include bonfires and fires used for ceremonial purposes not in compliance herewith. The following exceptions to burning apply:

1. Burning may be conducted for the purposes of outdoor cooking in a device designated and constructed for such a purpose in compliance with this article. No burning of waste or garbage shall be permitted in cooking devices.
2. Firefighter training conducted under the supervision of the fire marshal.
3. On-site land clearing on lots of greater than two acres upon which the owner intends to clear the lot itself of selected trees, brush and other plant growth. When approved by the fire marshal, burning may be permitted in a manner approved by the fire marshal, provided a standby firefighter is present if required by the fire marshal and the on-site land clearing is conducted in compliance with state, federal and local laws and regulations. A permit shall be acquired and approved safety measures shall be employed.

Outdoor Burning

The City of Leander has enacted Ordinance 13-038-00 Article 5.05 prohibiting outdoor burning within the City limits. Areas falling outside the provisions of this ordinance must comply with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality laws and regulations. Read more on the Outdoor Burning page.

3. Why do both a fire truck and an ambulance always show up for a medical emergency?

When a 911 call comes in, dispatchers often are not given precise or complete information. As such, units are dispatched on a worst-case scenario. To ensure the highest level of care, Leander Fire Department (LFD) sends the closest fire engine (staffed with a minimum of three personnel) or squad (staffed with a minimum of two personnel). Williamson County EMS sends an ambulance (staffed with two paramedics).

No medical call is "routine." Most require assessing the patient, obtaining their vital signs, providing oxygen therapy, and moving them, at a minimum. EMS may also need to place an advanced airway, administer drugs intravenously, or monitor cardiac conditions. All of these procedures are completed more efficiently when the appropriate amount of help is on scene. Efficient care is our goal, and efficient care often is the difference between life and death.

Unfortunately, units have no way of knowing what they will encounter on a call until they arrive. They work in a "what if" and "all risk" business. Responding to the unknown is public safety.

4. Why do so many units respond to “simple” incidents?

Dispatch always assigns units for a worst-case scenario. Time is also of the essence in emergency situations. Our response typically includes an engine or two engines and a supervisor (called a Battalion Chief). Other units might include Leander Police patrol officers, Williamson County Sheriff's patrol deputies, and a Williamson County ambulance.

Getting the correct number of responders to the side of the patients is the priority, but not all responders are needed to directly touch the patient. For instance, often times you will see two large fire engines and multiple other EMS and Police units at what appears to be a very minor vehicle collision. This is done to protect the citizens involved in the collision, protect the citizens driving near the collision, protect the emergency personnel providing care and all while facilitating the removal of the damaged vehicles so that the roadway can be reopened.

5. Why do fire trucks go through a red light with lights and sirens then turn off their lights and slow down?

Most likely, the call has been canceled. This often happens when the first unit arrives at the scene, surveys the situation, and determines that the request for assistance can be handled by that individual unit. Therefore, the other units will then be canceled so they are ready to take another call.

Firefighters will tell you, this cancelation always seems to happen as the big red truck comes up to an intersection and surprises the citizens in their vehicles sitting at the traffic light. It is often times safer to complete the passage of the intersection and then turn off all of the lights and siren rather than turn them off as drivers have already reacted to the apparatus' presence.

6. What do firefighters do during the day when not on emergency calls?

Preparation

When a firefighter arrives at the station for a shift, their first priority is to check the trucks and personal protective equipment and get ready for the next call. Although they do not fix major mechanical problems with the fire engines, the firefighters often do minor repairs.

Planning & Training

Firefighters are constantly training and learning and practicing. The LFD Training Division makes sure that firefighters keep up with Medical, Fire, Special Operations, and other trainings. Firefighters train as a department 3 days a week, and with their individual companies every shift.

Housework

Firefighters also address "house work." Leander firefighters live at the stations 24 hours; it is their second home. The stations and trucks are viewed as the citizens property which the firefighters are responsible for maintaining and caring for. Firefighters sweep, mop, throw out the trash, dust, wash linens and windows, and clean the fire trucks. We also take care of small maintenance issues such as painting.

Public Outreach

Firefighters often provide station tours for the public or speak at special events. These talks cover many topics such as: babysitting safety, exit drills in the home, wildfire safety, fire prevention, and using a fire extinguisher.

Physical Training

Leander firefighters must work out for 1 hour each shift. Firefighters undergo a battery of exams and self fitness assessments, and physicals to help ensure that we remain healthy from year to year.

Equipment Testing

Individual companies inspect and test all of the fire hydrants and every linear foot the fire hoses throughout the year to ensure that they are prepared to fight fires.

Reporting / Documentation

Firefighters must document each event they respond to, no matter how big or small. Most reports take 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Also, each individual piece of equipment check or maintenance is documented and recorded. A Leander firefighter can often times spend between 2 to 6 hours a day on documentation.

7. Why do firefighters go to the grocery store together on a fire truck while on duty?

Your Leander firefighters are always ready to respond! One of the unique oddities of the trade is that the shifts are 24 hours long. The company an individual firefighter is assigned to becomes a surrogate family. Firefighters eat together, spend 24 hours (and sometimes 48 hours) together at a stretch, have disagreements, laugh, and generally experience long periods of busy work interjected with short bursts of life threatening and split-second decisions. Firefighting has long been recognized as one of the most stressful careers available.

The Leander Fire Department encourages it's firefighters to sit down with each other at least once a shift and have a meal together. It is very much like having dinner with your family at home. Meals are often filled with lots of general conversation and lots of laughter. In order to facilitate some of these meals, the firefighters go as a group to the grocery store. They go as a group so that they can (and often do) stop shopping, leave the grocery cart where it sits, and respond to a request for assistance from the citizens.

Our firefighters are never far away from the engine or each other. They get no formal "breaks." Even though they may be buying groceries, these firefighters are still available for 911 calls.

8. What do firefighters do at night?

Firefighters are always in "ready response" mode, so their day is by no means over after 5 pm. In fact, sometimes companies work throughout the night with no sleep at all.

When not responding to calls, Leander firefighters are allowed to "relax" after 6 pm. Firefighters spend this time to call home, visit with family, study for tests (promotion, annual re-certification, college degree etc.), read, or watch T.V.

Sometimes the department conducts periodic "night drills" at odd hours to keep firefighters adjusted to differing conditions.

Usually the stations are fairly quiet at night and have been cleaned and prepped for the "shift change" that takes place promptly at 7 am the following morning. Firefighters try to catch some sleep (trucks coming and going from the station, dispatch radio squawking in the background, etc) but are always ready to jump and run at a seconds notice.