The members of the Rockwall Fire Department are trained in many different areas relating to fire and emergency services. Brief descriptions of the services offered by the members of the Fire Department are as follows:

Fire Suppression - The Fire Department is equipped and trained to extinguish fires from the smallest trash fire to large multi story commercial and residential buildings.

Extrication- TheFire Department has all of the equipment and training necessary to conduct vehicle extrication. These tools include the “Jaws of Life”, hydraulic cutters, hydraulic spreaders, and air bags, which will lift up to 24,000 lbs.

High Angle Rescue- The Fire Department is able to perform rescues from above grade locations. The necessary ropes and other equipment are on hand to perform these types of rescues.

Below Grade Rescue- These types of rescues present a different challenge than above grade rescues. The members of the Fire Department have the equipment, such as ropes and escape type air packs to perform these rescues with the utmost of safety and confidence.

Rescue/Recovery SCUBA Diving- The Rockwall Fire Department has a team of 6-8 members that have all the specialized equipment and training to perform underwater rescues or recoveries if needed.

Hazardous Materials Response- The Fire Department has a team trained as hazardous materials technicians. To support the technicians, all members of the department are trained to respond to lower level hazardous material emergencies.

Swift Water Rescue- The Fire Department has members which have been specially trained to perform rescues in high and swift water situations. The department possesses all the necessary equipment for these members to safely perform in these types of emergencies.

Fire Prevention and Education- The members of the Fire Department in conjunction with the Fire Marshal’s office are proactive in Fire Prevention and Education. These members believe education and prevention are very important, and they are very dedicated to educating the our community about fire prevention and life safety.

Building Pre-Planning - The Rockwall Fire Department strives to be prepared in case of an emergency at a local building. Pre-Planning of buildings within the city allows the firefighters to have prior information of building layout, building construction, building contents and special hazards within a structure.

Inspections - Fire Inspections are conducted annually at each commercial building within the City of Rockwall. The Department utilizes the International Fire Code along with all applicable National Fire Protection Association Codes, City Ordinances, and Fire Department policies to ensure that each building meets the required fire and life safety standards.

Emergency Preparedness - Assist the City Emergency Management Coordinator with planning and training to assure the city and all departments are prepared for natural and manmade disasters.

Development Plan Review - Plan reviews are completed on all new construction projects within the City of Rockwall to ensure compliance with International Fire Codes, national standards, City Ordinances, City Engineering Standards and Fire Department policies. Plan reviews help ensure that each building meets all applicable standards.

Volunteer Coordination - The Fire Department staff is responsible for coordinating various activities for the volunteer members of the department. These activities include the following: overall staffing of the stations during the evening and on weekends and holidays; coordinating training and staffing of booths for various public education events throughout the year; fundraising for MDA; and installing smoke detectors. The department also tracks the response levels and times for incentive programs. Coordination of volunteers also involves the purchase and distribution of gear, uniforms, and pagers to each firefighter. The department also maintains training records and emergency information on each firefighter.

Fire Investigations - In the unfortunate event of fire, the Fire Marshal’s office is responsible for conducting the fire investigation.  The fire investigation consists of determining fire cause and origin.  If the fire is determined to be intentionally set, the investigator files charges and makes arrests through the criminal process.

Grants Management - Fire Department personnel assist the Emergency Management Coordinator and the Finance Department with management of grants related to Homeland Security & Fire Prevention. We research and make recommendations for the items we would like to purchase, and if we receive the grant funding, we order and track those items.

Volunteer Recruitment & Retention - Recruiting and retaining volunteers is a very important function of the Rockwall Fire Department. We rely heavily on volunteers so that we can minimize expenses, yet still provide quality fire protection and services to the citizens of our community.

Training - The Rockwall Fire Department holds three meetings per month. During these meetings, members go through various types of training including hands-on and classroom training. Members also have the opportunity to attend external training classes, including courses offered through the Texas Fire Training School at Texas A&M University, an Emergency Medical Technician school, and other training opportunities offered throughout the state. Due to life safety concerns for our volunteers and citizens, the department trains volunteers beyond the minimum requirements. We are continually researching innovative methods to train volunteers.

18 Reporting- The Fire Department is responsible for reporting to numerous agencies, including the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), Juvenile Firesetter , State Fire Marshal’s Office, Texas Forestry Service, State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association, Firefighters Pension Commission and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. These reports include training documentation, type of fires reported, and fires involving juveniles. Also, response times, manpower responding, and types of calls, including false fire alarms, are reported in monthly documents provided to the City Council and Mayor. Firefighter response levels are also tracked and recorded for pension and incentive purposes. Additionally, fire reports are provided to citizens and insurance agencies as needed.