I saw a Mokena fire engine/truck and ambulance at a local grocery store and some of the firefighters were inside shopping for food. Why do firefighters use fire trucks for non-emergency purposes while they are on duty?

To ensure the most effective service at the time of an emergency, our crews must remain in their designated response territory with their fire trucks and ambulances during their entire shift. Our crews work 24-hour shifts with no scheduled breaks, and meals are not provided by the district. Personnel on each shift must purchase their own food and prepare their own meals, so they usually make a daily trip to the grocery store to buy whatever they need to prepare their meals for the entire shift.

The crew must be together with their apparatus as they are always ready to respond to any emergency.

How can I help the fire district?

• Pull to the right when you see lights and hear sirens
• Shovel 3 feet around your fire hydrant and up to your door
• Take CPR/AED/First Aid classes
• Test your smoke alarms and CO Detectors monthly, replace batteries 2 times per year
• Have a working fire extinguisher
• Call 9-1-1 if you see fire, smell smoke, someone is hurt, sick or in an accident
• Practice EDITH (Emergency Drills in the Home) and have a meeting place outside
• Know your location
• Keep items that can burn three feet away from any heat source, including stoves, space heaters, fireplaces, fire pits, grills, etc.
• Have a “Kid and Pet Free Zone” keep them at least three feet away from any heat source or hot surface.
• Know two ways out of each room in case of fire
• Never go back inside a burning building
• Never use a frayed cord
• Have chimneys and heating equipment inspected by a professional annually
• Keep your dryer vent clean
• Keep lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up and out of the reach of children
• Do not throw cigarette butts or matches into dry leaves, grass, or other flammable material
• Soak cigarette butts and matches in water before tossing into a trash can
• Never Smoke where medical oxygen is used
• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn
• Closely supervise outdoor fires at all times. Do not leave them unattended until it is completely out.
• Never throw water on a grease fire
• Only use an extinguisher on a small fire, call 9-1-1 for help
• Before trying to fight a fire, be sure that:
  • You know how to use the fire extinguisher and it is the correct type.
  • Everyone else has left the home and someone is calling the fire department.
  • The fire is small, confined, and not spreading.
• You have a clear escape route.
  • If the fire does not go out after using one extinguisher, back out of the room and get outside.
  • When in doubt, call 9-1-1