Please click on the subject below or you can reach us at chief@ricevillefire.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Residents and families of the Riceville Community are invited to take a tour of the fire station, apparatus and equipment. Come and meet your local Firefighters and Rescuers, while getting a tour of our facility, all of our apparatus and the specialized equipment that is utilized by the Firefighters & Rescuers on a daily basis.
You will learn about the day-to-day operations of today's fire service including the training we participate in and the types of calls that we respond to. The kids will enjoy visualizing our protective gear, while we are in it so they are not afraid of us, sitting in the trucks, and maybe even squirting some water from the fire hose, weather permitting.
Contact us to schedule your tour! Captain Chris Redden 828-298-24556 x2 or email chris.redden@ricevillefire.org
The Community is split between 2 school districts: with Charter Schools as well.
both schools are rich in tradition and are supported by elementary and middle schools throughout eastern and southern Buncombe County
Please reach us at chief@ricevillefire.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
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The Public Protection Classification (PPC™) program recognizes the efforts of communities to provide fire protection services for citizens and property owners. A community’s investment in fire mitigation is a proven and reliable predicator of future fire losses. Insurance companies use PPC information to help establish fair premiums for fire insurance — generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection. By offering economic benefits for communities that invest in their firefighting services, the program provides an additional incentive for improving and maintaining public fire protection. The program also provides help for fire departments and other public officials as they plan, budget for, and justify improvements. The most significant benefit of the PPC program is its effect on losses. Statistical data on insurance losses bears out the relationship between excellent fire protection — as measured by the PPC program — and low fire losses. PPC helps communities prepare to fight fires effectively. Public Protection Classification (PPC™) information plays an important part in the decisions insurers make affecting the underwriting and pricing of property insurance. In fact, most U.S. insurance companies — including the largest ones — use PPC information in one or more of the following ways: • to identify opportunities for writing new business • to manage the quality of community fire protection across their book of business • to review loss experience in various rating territories • to offer coverages and establish deductibles for individual homes and businesses Insurance companies — not ISO or NC OSFM — establish the premiums they charge to policyholders. The methodology a company uses to calculate premiums for property insurance may depend on the company’s fire loss experience, underwriting guidelines, and marketing strategy. Here are some general guidelines to help you understand the benefits of improved PPC ratings for residents and businesses: • PPC may affect the underwriting and pricing for a variety of personal and commercial insurance coverages, including homeowners, mobile home, fine arts floaters, and commercial property (including business interruption). • Assuming all other factors are equal, the price of property insurance in a community with a good PPC (rating) is lower than in a community with a poor PPC (rating).
source NCDOI OSFM
Because our firefighters can and do get there first or with the ambulance to support any additional needs, and time is critical in a medical emergency. Every full-time Riceville Firefighter is cross-trained a minimum to Advanced Life Support, AEMT credential. What does that mean to you, a citizen phoning 911? Simply read on... Just a few is minutes is a critical time frame for someone who has experienced a heart attack, injury, or other illness that makes them stop breathing. The heart and brain have a better chance of full recovery they receive oxygen in four minutes or less. Early hands only CPR increases the survival of a victim of cardiac arrest. After that, a person can suffer brain damage or worse. Our firefighters, most of them are educated to the level of advanced emergency medical technician as well as several paramedics can use life-saving techniques including defibrillation and medications to help prevent death or permanent injury. These life-saving techniques are much more effective if they can get to a patient within the first four minutes.
Emergency calls represent only part of the work of a typical fire department. The number of residential and commercial fires has steadily decreased over the years due to a variety of factors including improvements in construction, a greater public awareness of the risk factors leading to fires and a significant reduction in smoking nationwide. Fires, however, are only some of the emergencies to which the Fire Department responds. Nearly eighty percent of the Fire Department's emergency responses are, in fact, calls for medical aid, including illness/accidents at home and work, and injuries resulting from vehicle crashes. Other calls for emergency response involve hazardous materials releases, technical rescues, response to fire alarms and other calls for public assistance. Firefighters also spend much of their time maintaining equipment, conducting fire hydrant testing, developing pre-incident response plans, training for all types of emergency responses, teaching life safety programs to citizens and school age kids, and filling out reports and paperwork associated with these activities.
First verify that you have everyone together, you will need to get out of the house and then call 9-1-1 for the Fire Department from outside of the house or from a neighbor's house. The use of a phone could cause the gas to ignite if you called from inside the house. While calling 9-1-1 verify what type of gas you have and where the cut off is located.
In North Carolina, all firefighters, regardless of category, must be at least 18 years old with a high school or GED diploma and a valid driver's license. Many firefighters earn degrees in fire science to hone their skills and build knowledge of how fires start, spread, and affect the landscape and population
Because the duty crew works a 24-hour shift, they eat their lunch and dinner at the station. At times firefighters all eat the same meal, as a group and sometimes their families come to join them, . The crews pay for their food out of their own pockets. So, after the equipment is checked and the housework completed, the fire truck will then make a quick trip to the grocery store to purchase the food for the shift. At times you may see crews eating at local restaurants. All crews remain in service to respond to calls during this time. After the meal maybe they will show the truck if you ask.
Firefighters usually only need a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, some firefighters possess a bachelor's degree in fire science or in fire technology, which takes about four years to earn. States may require firefighters to have some college credits and paid work experience.
Contact Riceville Fire Chief to inquire about volunteer opportunities and the application process. We have many needs beyond the traditional firefighting duties. We have opportunities with the Auxillary that supports the membership with fundraising, fire prevention and public education, training, fire ground support, and much more. Becoming a Volunteer for the Riceville Community benefits everyone and provides a plan for the future as needs change.
No, volunteer firefighters do not get paid; however, their equipment and training are paid for by the Department. When a volunteer reaches the age of 55 with 20 years of service, he or she is eligible for retirement benefits.
Call 911 immediately and provide the location, what is burning, and size of the fire if possible.
Weeds and bushes should be kept three feet from fire hydrants for visibility and accessibility. If a hydrant has been damaged, please notify us as quickly as possible so can notify the proper authority and make alternative water supply plans till repairs are made. Please do not paint or alter the appearance of the hydrant.
Create and practice a home fire escape plan with your family. Ensure that smoke detectors are installed and working properly, and keep a fire extinguisher on hand. Fire prevention is taught in the Buncombe County Schools in the month of October, challenge the children to share what they have learned. Riceville VFD has a Fire Life Safety Officer available to answer questions for risk assessment to help you understand what you can do.
The Fire Department is not always manned for a number of reasons. We may be on another call, at a training event, doing equipment maintenance, or simply unable to answer the phone. Riceville Volunteer Fire Department personnel have pagers, radios, and an alarm alerting system in the station that alerts them to a call. That is why you should always call 9-1-1 when there is an emergency.
Yes, we do give tours! Please call ahead and schedule a time to visit the station for tour groups of children. This helps ensure that there is someone available to show you around. You can call the Fire Department at (828) 298-2456 to schedule a tour of the station and the trucks. Ask for Captain Chris Redden to schedule your tour.
Fire Departments block traffic lanes for the safety of our personnel and our patients. Blocking multiple lanes to keep our personnel safe when they go back to our apparatus to get more equipment and help protect the victim we are trying to stabilize. More than 25 firefighters are killed or injured each year while working at incidents on streets and highways. Slow down and be patient. Everyone Goes Home!
No, we are not able to fill swimming pools. While we cannot recommend a private company, they are easily found through various internet search platforms.
Email Chief Tom Kelly at chief@riceillefire.org