Fire Rescue & EMS Frequent Questions

Please contact Fire Administration at 407-742-7000 for Fire Incident Reports and EMS records.

You will receive a billing statement in the mail several weeks after your incident. This statement includes an insurance information form. You can complete this form and mail to:

Osceola County Fire Rescue
2586 Partin Settlement Rd.
Kissimmee, FL 34744

Or fax the completed form to: 305-428-5385.

Or, you can go online to ambulancebilling.com to submit your insurance information.

Insurance companies will normally cover the fees for medically necessary ambulance transportation. Medicare and Medicaid require that all ambulance transportation be medically necessary or they will not pay. Should this occur, you will be responsible for the complete bill.

If the balance on an account remains unpaid the account will be sent to an outside collection agency.

Whenever you add, remove, renovate or upgrade a new or existing fire suppression, alarm or hood system.

Minimum of two weeks, maximum of three weeks if no provisions are required.

Yes. Provided permissions has been granted and the applicant has a reasonable situation for request.

Current editions of all N.F.P.A. codes, Florida State Uniform Codes, Florida State Fire Codes 4A-60, N.F.P.A. Life Safety 101 and County Land Development Code.

You may reschedule 48 hours in advance.

Flow tests must be performed by a certified contractor or engineer.

The land use in your area and the type of vegetation around your home contributes to wildfire risk. Living in a woodland setting, in or near rural areas is also a risk factor.

People start most wildfires. Incendiary items like smoking materials not disposed of properly and arson are the causes. Arson, escaped debris burning and lightening are also causes.

Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Plan fire-resistant shrubs and trees. Create a defensible space around your home. Use fire-resistant roof and exterior construction. Or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with UL-approved fire retardant chemicals. Create a disaster plan. Make sure your house number is easy to read on your home.

It is at least 30 feet of lean, clean and green space surrounding your home. This space gives firefighters room to put out fires.

Make your yard lean by pruning shrubs and tree branches within 15 feet of your chimney or stovepipe. Remove dead tree branches that extend over the roof. Make your yard clean by raking leaves and removing dead tree limbs and twigs. Stack firewood at least 100 feet away from your home. Make your yard green by removing flammable vegetation and replacing it with fire-resistant plants.

Plants that are fire resistant are:

• Dogwood
• Viburnum
• Redbud
• Sycamore
• Magnolia
• Beauty berry
• Oaks
• Red maple
• Wild azalea
• Sweet gum
• Coontie
• Winged elm
• Black cherry
• Persimmon
• Wild plum
• Sugarberry
• Florida soapberry
• Fringe tree
• Ferns
• Wild olive
• Blue beech
• Hop hornbeam
• Sparkleberry

Class-A asphalt shingles, metal, cement and concrete products help resist fires. Added protection is a fire-resistant sub-roof.

Fire-resistant wall materials are cement, plaster, stucco and concrete masonry. Windows that are double paned glass can also help a home be more resistant to heat and flames.

If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your home, stay tuned to your radio or television for evacuation information and updates. It is very important to follow the instructions of local officials! If advised to evacuate, do so immediately!

• Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Disconnect automatic door openers, so you can escape if the power fails. Close all garage doors and windows.
• Confine pets to one room so they can be easily located.
• Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relatives house outside of the threatened area.
• Place valuable papers like insurance policies, birth certificates and other documents in the car for fast get away. Put family photographs and other memorabilia in the car that you may want to take.
• Keep your radio and television tuned to a local station for fire reports and evacuation information.
• Put your Disaster Supply Kit in the car.
• Make sure your escape route takes you away from dangerous areas.

• Make sure infants, children and other family members are present before you drive off.
• Load pets into car.
• Lock your home.
• Leave immediately!

If you are sure you have time, take the following steps to protect your home:

Inside Your Home

• Close windows, vents, and doors. This will help prevent drafts and will stop sparks from blowing inside.
• Remove lightweight curtains to prevent them from being ignited by radiated heat.
• Close mini-blinds and heavy drapes to keep out heat and to provide safety in case heat or wind breaks windows.
• Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.
• Turn off pilot lights. Shut off gas at the meter.
• Open the fireplace damper to stabilize inside/outside pressure. Close the fireplace screens to keep sparks from starting a fire in the house.
• Move flammable furniture away from windows and sliding doors to reduce the possibility of ignition.

Outside Your Home

• Turn off propane tanks.
• Place combustible patio furniture inside of the house, garage or barn.
• Seal attic and ground vents with precut plywood or storm shutters to keep out sparks.
• Make sure the garden hoses are connected to the outside taps.
• If you have a portable gasoline powered pump to take water from a swimming pool or pond, make sure it’s in place and ready to run.
• Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above ground fuel tanks. Wet the roof of your home.
• Wet shrubs within 15 feet of your home.