Get to Know MFMD!!

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department (MFMD) is fortunate to work in the great city of Mesa where we serve a population of over 500,000. I appreciate the Mesa community that values public safety and supports the ongoing operations of the department. MFMD could not accomplish all that we have and continue to do what needs to be done, without your ongoing support. The Mesa Fire and Medical Department is committed to serving our community with compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence (CARE).

It is important to recognize the dedicated men and women serving in the department. The work of each individual contributes to the department’s success, which translates to a high level of service to our community. It takes commitment and dedication from all areas of the department to get to where we are today—a fully accredited agency for the past 20 years and accredited for the fifth time this past July! Whether it is emergency response, fire prevention, public education, social services, community outreach, our volunteers helping when called upon or just our daily interaction in the community—living the mission of the organization as we serve, speaks volumes to the amazing men and women who make up MFMD. We are fortunate to have great people who truly CARE and it is an honor for me to serve with them.

Thank you to the residents of Mesa for your continued support. Thank you to the men and women in the Mesa Fire and Medical Department for your continued dedication and service to our community. Stay safe.

With gratitude,

Mary Cameli

Fire Chief

Mesa Fire and Medical Department

HOT OFF THE PRESS...

Thank you for helping us!

Thanks to the generous support of our community, we have four new engines for the city. Station 203 will be getting two new engines, and stations 206 and 220 will each get a new engine. They are 2022 Pierce Velocity Pumpers that come with Cummins X12 engines, 1500 GPM Waterous pumps, hydraulic ladder lifts, and water tanks to hold 500 gallons in reserve. They have state of the art lighting systems for fire fighter safety on scene and HAAS traffic systems that notify civilian drivers in the area through navigation in the car or on the phone that an emergency response unit is in their area. Our maintenance department is working to get these units on the road with custom mounts and brackets that they create in house to save the community thousands! All equipment that is functional from the engines being retired gets moved onto the new engine. The retired engines move to the reserve pool to sub in when engines are down for maintenance.

Keep on Your Feet- Take Steps for a Fall Free Future

Fall-related injuries are the most common cause for emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Fourteen percent of Mesa Fire and Medical Department’s emergency calls are due to falls. After a fall, many older adults become so fearful of falling again that they limit their daily activities, which leads to reduced physical activity and mobility, factors that ultimately increase ones’ fall risk.

Falls do not have to be a normal part of aging. You can take preventive steps to stay safe and independent.

• Stay Active- Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance. Tai chi strengthens the legs and arms and increases flexibility. Mesa Parks and Recreation offers courses and there are fee assistance scholarships to assist with cost.
• Talk to your Doctor- review your medications to learn if they increase fall risks, have your eyes checked regularly, and discuss the proper footwear for outdoor and indoor activity.
• Make your Home Safe- Use nightlights and make sure you have enough light throughout the home. Avoid having trip hazards such as loose rugs, clutter, or slippery floors. Consider adding grab bars and handrails in high-risk areas such as showers.
• Use an Assistive Device- Using canes and walkers correctly can help prevent falls. Talk to your doctor about the right size devices to use. Make sure the wheels and fittings are working correctly.

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department can provide more information on Fall Prevention. Contact us at fdhomesafety@mesaaz.gov or 480 644 3388.

🔥🔥 Burning Questions🔥🔥

Who is Mouse?

Mouse is a therapy dog with MFMD's Peer Support group who works with his handler Jessica. He is a one-and-a-half-year-old Bullmastiff Arizona native from Chino Valley. He has been training for over a year and hopes to be fully certified by his second birthday.

The PEER Support team provides support to the crews and staff after traumatic and stressful events. In their careers, first responders will experience firsthand numerous traumatic calls. The goal of the team being to mitigate the call and support the behavioral health of our employees.

Mouse and Jess have busy days which include visits to the stations, dispatch center, administrative offices, and naps under conference tables during meetings. He will also spend time with crews after rough calls and takes appointments with MFMD members and their families with Jess at Old Station 3. He works on maintaining his calm unflappable demeanor by spending time out in public at restaurants, parks, and with his training class mates.

Although he's a working dog, Mouse gets plenty of down time for naps, snacks, and play. True to his Arizona roots, Mouse knows how to keep it cool. His favorite napping spot is a cold tile floor, he loves to play in the water, and his favorite snack is a puppy popsicle.

You can find Mouse on Instagram @mesafiremouse

Can you Text 911?

Yes. They will also message you back. The text stream will look like any other in your messages. Here are some guidelines from Nicole in our Dispatch center.

How to contact 911

If you use a wireless phone or other type of mobile device, make sure to do the following in an emergency:

• Always contact 911 by making a voice call, if you can.
• If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled, and text-to-911 is not available, use a TTY or a telecommunications relay service, if possible.
• When texting to 9-1-1 the operator will not receive automatic location information. if you send a text message to 9-1-1, it is important to give the 9-1-1 operator an accurate address or location as quickly as possible.

Currently, text must be in English; there no language interpretation for text available. When texting 9-1-1, use plain English and no texting abbreviations or emojis.​​

Bounce-back messages

If you attempt to send a text to 911 where the service is not yet available, FCC rules require all wireless carriers and other text messaging providers to send an automatic "bounce-back" message that will advise you to contact emergency services by another means, such as making a voice call or using telecommunications relay service. Bounce-back messages are intended to minimize your risk of mistakenly believing that a text to 911 has been transmitted to an emergency call center when it has not.

Do you have any questions about MFMD? We want your questions to answer!

Email us your questions.

Keeping the FIRE out of your cooking.

Cooking is both a need and a pleasure for many people. Did you know that the number one cause of fires in the home happen in the kitchen?  In Mesa we average over 100 kitchen fires a year. The kitchen is also the leading location for home injuries.  Here are some tips to keep your cooking adventures safe for all!

• Always stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off stove if you need to step away.
• When simmering, baking, or roasting, check it often and stay in the house.
• Keep flammable items like oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, and food packaging away from the stovetop.
• Keep it clean! Put things away as you go and clean up spills on stoves, floors, and countertops. Keep ovens and stovetops clean between uses.
• Avoid clothing in the kitchen that is loose and could catch fire or catch on a pot causing it to spill.
• If a pan on the stove catches fire, smother it and turn off the burner. If there is five in the oven, turn it off and keep the door closed. In the microwave, unplug and keep door closed.
• Small appliances: no frayed cords, do not overload circuits, if it feels hot during use, replace or repair.
• Watch kids in the kitchen. Keep them clear of the stove and any spills. Watch out for sharp and hot items near their fingers.
• Install smoke detectors as directed and test them monthly.

If there is a fire and you feel safe trying to control it, turn off the heat source and cover with a lid or keep the oven door closed. Report it to the fire department to ensure all is safe. If the fire is larger than a small pan, leave the house making sure you get everyone else out and go to your meeting space to ensure all are safely out of the home. Call 911 from outside the home.