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Fire Department

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1. What are the Fire Department office hours?

The two fire stations have personnel assigned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Office hours for official business are from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

2. What are the burning regulations?

For more information on the burning regulations check out our link to Municode and read the City of Cedar Falls burning code in Chapter 11. In general here are the highlights of the city of Cedar Falls open burning regulations.

*Bonfires must have Fire Department approval.

*Grass and leaves MAY NOT be burned.

*Fires used solely fo rthe cooking of food is permitted.

*Recreational fires are permitted under the following parameters:

• Must be supervised by competent person at least 18 years of age.


• Must be 20 feet from any building.


• Must be in a fire pit or contained area, such as an incinerator or fire ring.


• Must be between the hours of noon and dark (it is considered dark when street lights turn on), after dark needs Fire Department approval.


• Cannot burn leaves or grass.


• Twigs and sticks must be at or less than 1½ inches in diameter.

*Burning of garbage or rubbish is prohibited.

*No burning is allowed on a street, alley or boulevard.

*No burning is allowed in commercial, industrial, or shopping districts.

*Burning of building materials is prohibited without Fire Department approval.

*The Fire Department can prohibit any fire type that has received a complaint.

*Sticks and twigs from your own property may be burned, if:

• They are in an approved incinerator with a maximum capacity of 30 gallons, metal with a lid and ventilations holes.


• Must be 20 feet from any building.


• Used only from noon til dark, unless otherwise approved by Fire Department.


• Must be supervised by competent person and must be attended at all times.


• The sticks or twigs can be no larger than 1 ½ inches in diameter.

3. Why do fire trucks arrive before or with ambulance on medical calls?

Currently, under various medical and traumatic injuries first responses we have fire personnel respond with Sartori Paramedics. We do not respond to all medical calls, but we do respond when called for breathing problems, heart trouble calls, stroke, falls and other traumatic injuries. The reason we respond with the paramedics is that often on a major medical response or traumatic injury response the paramedics need additional help to perform specific tasks in the treatment of a patient. In addition, depending on the medical call fire personnel may drive the ambulance so that both paramedics may assist the patient.

4. Can you help me get my car or house door unlocked?

Generally, the answer is no. The only time we would consider assisting a citizen unlock a door is if there is imminent danger to someone’s life.

5. Who do we call to get our cat out of the tree?

Unfortunately, as much as members of the Cedar Falls Fire Rescue would like to help get your cat out of the tree, for liability reasons we do not perform cat rescues. Your best bet would be to call the Cedar Bend Humane Society at 319-232-6887 for ideas on how to get your cat down from the tree.