Fire Prevention Through Fire Inspections

By Deanna Zeisset, Fire Marshal



New Year Fire Prevention Tips

As we embark on a new year, it's essential to prioritize safety, and what better way to kick off the year than by focusing on fire prevention? Here are some valuable tips and information to help you safeguard your home and workplace from the risk of fires.

1. Test Smoke Alarms: January is an excellent time to ensure that your smoke alarms are in working order. Test them regularly and replace batteries if needed. Smoke alarms play a crucial role in providing early warnings in the event of a fire.
2. Heating Safety: With the winter chill in full swing, many of us rely on heating devices. Whether it's a furnace, space heater, or fireplace, ensure that they are properly maintained and free of any potential hazards. Keep combustible items at a safe distance from heating sources. Space heaters should be plugged directly into a receptacle, not power strips or adapters.
3. Kitchen Safety: Cooking-related fires are common, and the kitchen is often the heart of the home. Practice safe cooking habits and never leave the stove unattended.
4. Electrical Safety: Check for frayed wires, overloaded circuits, or any other electrical issues. Address any concerns promptly, and avoid overloading outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use and invest in surge protectors to safeguard your electronics.
5. Candle Caution: If you enjoy the ambiance of candles, be sure to place them in stable holders away from combustible materials. Never leave candles unattended, and extinguish them before leaving a room.
6. Emergency Escape Plan: Take the time to review and practice your emergency escape plan with family members or colleagues. Knowing what to do and where to go in the event of a fire can make a significant difference.
7. Clearing Clutter: Remove clutter from your living and working spaces. Clutter can fuel fires and impede escape routes. Keep hallways and exits clear of any obstacles.
8. Fire Extinguisher Awareness: Confirm that fire extinguishers are easily accessible and that everyone knows how to use them. Consider providing a brief demonstration on proper fire extinguisher use.

By incorporating these fire prevention tips into your routine, you are taking proactive steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property. Let's make fire safety a priority for 2024. Stay safe!

New Stations Update

By Aaron Burlingame, Battalion Chief

With the Fire Departments commitment to providing top-notch emergency service, it is reflected with our improvements and replacements of our fire department infrastructure. We are excited to announce the completion of our new Station 3, and Station 2 will be completed soon as well. The new enhancements were designed to improve functionality and efficiency of our facilities, ensuring our emergency personnel have the best environment for quick response and effective operations.

These facilities have many energy-efficient upgrades and eco-friendly design implemented across both new firehouses. These efforts align with the fire departments commitment to the community and our environmental responsibility.

With safety being one the fire departments priority, and that includes tools, equipment, and apparatus we use. With our commitment to the citizens we are putting in service the latest technology in our equipment and apparatus, including New SCBA’s and 2 new ladder trucks. These investments are crucial to maintaining our high standards of emergency care.

These new SCBAs will be in service very soon after we are go through vigorous training to familiarize ourselves with the features and functionalities of these state of the art devices. Some of the key features of the new SCBA’s are advanced respiratory protection, more ergonomic and lightweight allowing personnel to move freely and perform with greater ease. They will also have integrated communication system. Communication is very crucial during emergency operations especially during a fire operation. With this enhancement it will help with coordination and ensuring good communications between firefighters. The introduction of these new SCBA’s reflects our commitment to providing our firefighters with the best equipment and tools. SCFD believes that investing in their safety directly contributes to the safety of the City of St Charles.



The Fire department will have an official open house on a future and “ warmer” date. This event will provide an opportunity for you to learn about the new fire houses and SCBA’s. Your Prop R approval, support and understanding of these advancements helps us create a safer St Charles.

Vial of Life - It May Just Save Your Life!

By Marc Doll, EMS Chief



The Vial of Life is a life-saving initiative designed to provide crucial medical information to our paramedics during critical situations. The concept involves placing a container, often a small vial or a designated plastic bag, in a readily accessible location within a person's home. This container holds essential documents and information about the individual's medical history, current medications, allergies, and emergency contacts. The purpose is to offer quick and easy access to vital details that can assist emergency responders in providing appropriate and timely medical care, especially when the person may be unable to communicate this information themselves.

Inside the Vial of Life, individuals typically include a medical information form or a list of details written clearly and concisely. This may include the person's name, date of birth, known medical conditions, prescribed medications, allergies, and any specific instructions for a person’s medical history. This proactive approach aims to bridge communication gaps during emergencies and contribute to more informed and effective medical interventions, ultimately improving the chances of positive outcomes for individuals in distress.



The Vial of Life program has gained popularity as a simple yet effective way for individuals, particularly those with chronic illnesses or elderly residents, to enhance their emergency preparedness. By providing quick access to essential medical information, the Vial of Life is a valuable tool in medical emergencies, ensuring that medical professionals can make informed decisions and promptly administer appropriate care. This initiative emphasizes the importance of community involvement, as your fire department collaborates with residents to promote awareness and encourage widespread adoption of this life-saving practice. A vial of life can be picked up at St Charles Fire Department Headquarters.

Training Division Update

By: Jamie Young, Battalion Chief

As we reflect on the past quarter, SCFD’s commitment to excellence in firefighting and emergency response has never been stronger. In the 3rd quarter of 2023, crews conducted over 6000 hours of fire training. July kicked off with a comprehensive Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) refresher training, reinforcing the vital skills that ensure our firefighters can operate effectively in hazardous environments. This training not only sharpened our teams' abilities but also emphasized the importance of safety protocols to protect both our responders and the communities we serve.

In August, our focus shifted to honing the critical skills of our Driver Operators. Precision and expertise behind the wheel are imperative for a swift and safe response to emergencies. Driver Operator training covered the latest techniques in vehicle operation, emphasizing situational awareness and decision-making under pressure. This ensures our firefighting apparatus can navigate through any obstacle to reach those in need efficiently.

September marked a period of intense training on hose and nozzle advancement. Proficiency in deploying hoses and effectively utilizing nozzles is paramount in controlling and extinguishing fires swiftly. Our teams underwent rigorous drills to enhance their understanding of water flow dynamics, nozzle techniques, and teamwork. This training equips our firefighters with the skills needed to handle diverse firefighting scenarios, ensuring a robust response to any incident.

As we look ahead to the 4th quarter of 2023, we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation. Our ongoing training programs are designed to keep our firefighters at the forefront of firefighting techniques and technology.

The St. Charles Fire Department Training Division consists of three Shift Training Officers, one Training Battalion Chief, and numerous Missouri State Fire Instructors.

Fire Equipment Update

Kyle Longinette, Battalion Chief

Hello, I'm Battalion Chief Kyle Longinette. I am the C-Shift Battalion Chief, overseeing our department's apparatus and equipment with the assistance of several department members and specialty mechanics from inside the City of St. Charles and outside of the organization. Your City of St. Charles Fire Department currently maintains a fleet of two 75' ladder trucks, three front-line engines, and two reserve engines for our community's fire suppression needs. In addition, we maintain a fleet of six ambulances. Three ambulances are in front-line service, and three units are utilized as reserve units. Our reserve units are critical to our fleet because they are placed in service when another front-line unit requires scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. In addition, we partner with "Rehab 1," operated by the St. Charles County Fire Rehab Team, a local non-profit dedicated to assisting first responders and residents impacted by incidents. We maintain over 30 primary response, specialty resource, and command staff vehicles.

Last year, we discussed the acquisition process for our two new "ladder towers" that the City of St. Charles placed on order. In December 2021, the City Council and Administrative Staff coordinated with the fire department to secure an order of two Pierce 100' Ascendant Mid-Mount Towers and one Pierce engine. The two towers will replace the current 75' ladders, which our community has outgrown. We are proud to report that we have taken delivery of the two ladder towers, and department members have started the in-depth training process so that we can prepare to place the new equipment in service over the next few months. The pumper is scheduled to be in service by mid-2024. Additionally, we were able to place the two new ambulances in service. One is located at Station 1, and the other is located at Station 5.

Outside of apparatus, the department recently took delivery of our new SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus). Members of the organization across all levels invested hundreds of hours completing research, product evaluation, and hands-on functionality testing to ensure we could select the most reliable product available to meet our community's needs. The current equipment that we are utilizing has exceeded its lifespan and has become extraordinarily challenging to service because of the age of the equipment. Our SCBAs are the lifeline that protects the men and women who serve the organization and allow them to enter hazardous environments to protect property and save lives! SCBAs are one of the most critical components of our firefighter's equipment. We are grateful for the City's assistance and partnership, allowing us to acquire the much-needed replacement equipment.

We are extraordinarily grateful for our community's support and are privileged to serve you! Our service capabilities would not be possible without the direct support of everyone who assists with our vehicle and equipment needs! Please feel free to look at your equipment when you see us in public or stop by and see us at the stations.