I worked for two years for our vollunteer fire dept. 1) As a customer you do not want to have a visit from us. Between the time a call is made and by the time we visit, your home is probably going to be burn't down or so badly damaged it will have to be torn down and rebuilt. We respond to fires to protect lives, and to protect property. Much of our efforts are the prevention of fires spreading over to other buildings, for the most part by the time we get there the building is pretty much involved.
Given those facts avoid having a fire in the first place. Keep the chimney cleaned, chimney fires are one of the most common source of structure fires in rural areas, and more so as many more choose wood heat as their primary source of heat. Make sure the smoke detectors work. They buy you time to catch the fire in its early stages, and at worst they buy time so that you can get out alive.
As has been mentioned in this thread, traveling time from the station to the fire is the big issue and weather can be a factor. The best solution is prevention, to have a plan for a fire and and adequate insurance policy.
Given those facts avoid having a fire in the first place. Keep the chimney cleaned, chimney fires are one of the most common source of structure fires in rural areas, and more so as many more choose wood heat as their primary source of heat. Make sure the smoke detectors work. They buy you time to catch the fire in its early stages, and at worst they buy time so that you can get out alive.
As has been mentioned in this thread, traveling time from the station to the fire is the big issue and weather can be a factor. The best solution is prevention, to have a plan for a fire and and adequate insurance policy.
