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 We apologize, but due to the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department not being a commercial business, we do not sell our patches or shirts. Also, being on a limited budget, we cannot give out our shirts. It is also company policy NOT to trade patches.
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  The Mexico Volunteer Fire Department will accept new members after the potential candidate is interviewed and if there is an opening. Go to the Join Page for information as to how to apply.
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 Emergency medical services in Mexico are provided by another volunteer organization called McFee Ambulance
Service which is not affiliated with the Fire Department. However, if the emergency is life threatening in
nature or a motor vehicle accident, the fire department is called, by Fire Dispatch, to respond with the
ambulance. Some of the first responders from the fire department are qualified EMT's that may in fact be
able to get to your residence or emergency before the ambulance or rescue if it's on their way to the fire
station. When the ambulance arrives, our EMT's provide support to the paramedics while they care for the
patient. This system provides the quickest response possible and enough personnel to efficiently provide
care and manage the scene. Mexico Fire Rescue also carry AED's (automatic external defibrillators),
allowing firefighters to administer electrical stimulation to a patient in cardiac arrest. The success
of this procedure depends on administering the shock as soon as possible.
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 The best way is to contact the fire department is by phone (315-963-7494) in advance so that we can respond to your questions.
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 There are a total of 32 fire departments in Oswego County. We have 30 volunteer fire departments, 1 of which that is split between Oswego County and Onondaga County, and 2 paid fire departments, 1 of which is in the city of Oswego and the other in the city of Fulton..
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 Apparatus responding to calls are frequently canceled, or the first arriving unit determines that the call is not an emergency and tells the other responding units to respond in a non-emergency mode. Emergency lights and sirens are only used together when responding to a true emergency call or if an apparatus creates a potential traffic hazard.
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 Fire in a building creates a tremendous amount of heat and smoke. In many instances, firefighters must
remove this heat and smoke before they can get close enough to extinguish the fire. Heat and smoke rise,
so cutting a hole in the roof and breaking out windows in strategic locations allows the smoke to vent
upwards, allowing cool air to enter the structure from below. We call this "ventilation".
This improves visibility and lowers heat conditions for the firefighters inside, allowing them to quickly
and safely extinguish the fire. Ventilation can actually reduce overall damage to a building and contents.
The picture to the right illustrates how the heat and smoke get trapped, causing more damage within a structure when not ventilated.
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This all depends on you and the fire protection features of the building you are in at the time of the fire.
Relying on the expertise and resources of your local firefighters to save you in a fire is risky at best.
The best rescue is self rescue. Install smoke detectors in your home, and check them monthly. Have a fire
escape plan that includes 2 ways out of each room/home, and practice it. Learn what to do in the
event of fire in your home. Never re-enter a burning building. If you panic, your chances of survival
decrease drastically. If you are trapped and you know the fire department is on scene, make your location
known by yelling, opening a window and dropping something out, or calling 9-1-1 and relaying your location
to the dispatcher. You should stuff bedding or towels under the door to keep deadly smoke and gases out of the room.
Do not hide under a bed or table! Stay near a window or doorway. Firefighters are taught to search under
windows and doorways during rescue searches. If you are on a second floor you may be able to hang from a
window and drop to the ground without suffering significant injury. This option should be considered as a last
resort, when smoke and/or heat make the room you are in uninhabitable. For more information, please read
this page regarding how to make a Home Fire Escape Plan.
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 Some traffic signal intersections in Oswego County have a light sensitive sensor facing in all directions of
travel. The flickering white light on the vehicles is actually a high intensity strobe light (called an
"OPTICOM") that flashes at a preprogrammed rate. This flickering light trips the sensor at the
intersection from a distance of approximately 1000 feet, changing the traffic lights to green in the
direction of the responding emergency vehicle, and red in all other directions. This significantly lowers
the chances of a collision for emergency vehicles, and improves response times.
See also: Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights
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NY State law and common sense dictate that vehicles yield to emergency vehicles that are operating their
emergency lights and siren. Emergency vehicle drivers are taught to pass on the left whenever possible
when responding in an emergency mode. When safe, slow down, pull over to the right, and stop. However,
there are circumstances where that may not be possible (if your car is already stopped, and you don't have
anywhere to pull over). Simply stay put until the emergency vehicle goes around you. If you are blocking
the route of the emergency vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area, use your
turn signal to indicate your intentions, and proceed at a safe speed. Never slam on the brakes and
stop in the middle of the road when you see apparatus approaching. Make no sudden moves. If an
emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, you should pull over and stop. You have no
idea if they are proceeding down the road, or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right
in front of you. You are not required to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles that are responding
in the opposite direction on a divided freeway or highway. Do not tailgate, "draft", or
follow a responding apparatus closely. Not only is this illegal, you run the risk of collision as
vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by.
See also: Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights
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 No and neither should you or anyone else! It's more dangerous than you think. Instead, put an open can of tuna at the bottom of the pole or tree and wait for the cat to get down on its own.
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 Contact one of our officers. Visit our Contact Page for information on how to get in touch with us.
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 The Mexico Fire Department does not offer CPR classes. The local chapter of the American Red Cross offers these courses for a minimal fee.
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 Our EMT's would be happy to check your blood pressure if they are readily available at the fire station. If they are not, you can try McFee Ambulance.
A simple phone call to either organization to set up a time to have your blood pressure checked would be best. That way, one or the other organizations would be sure to have a qualified individual
present to perform the check for you.
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 Our door is always open to the public. Please contact us in advance of the desired date. We will be more than happy to set it up with you.
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Why must so many people respond to my emergency?
 Both the fire and ambulance service respond when called out by Fire Dispatch. The first responders are
trained Emergency Medical Technicians or first responders who, because of their close proximity,
usually arrive first and are able to render aid until the paramedics arrive. They then provide support
to the paramedics while they care for the patient. This system provides the quickest response possible
and enough personnel to efficiently provide care and manage the scene. Think of it as an emergency room that makes house calls!
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Why must you use lights and sirens?
 Lights and sirens are necessary for the emergency vehicles to move quickly and safely through traffic.
Emergency lights are frequently left flashing at the scene by the first responders in order to provide
direction to other responding personnel. If the call is determined to be less urgent, responders may travel
in a non-emergency mode, moving with normal traffic.
See also: Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights
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What charges might I expect for services?
 There is no charge for any emergency response from the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department.
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Will you bill my insurance?
 The Mexico Volunteer Fire Department can NOT and will NOT bill your insurance company for any reason. We do however, accept donations.
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Will my insurance pay for an ambulance service?
 Generally, most insurance companies will pay for ambulance transportation to the nearest hospital.
There may be some exclusion by contract with your insurance company. The insurance contract may
state that if your medical condition did not warrant ambulance transport they will not pay.
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What if I don't have insurance?
 If you do not have insurance, or for that matter, even if you do have insurance, it is not required that you or they pay
for the volunteer service. However, paid service providers operate under different rules. We aren't one
of them so we won't go into that here.
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How can I or my attorney obtain access to my medical record?
 Your privacy is of the utmost concern with us. You and/or your attorney should contact
the medical facility involved as we do not keep any medical information on anyone. Your attorney should already know this and steer you in the right direction to save time and confusion.
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Where is Oswego County Fire Dispatch located?
Oswego County Fire Dispatch (E9-1-1 Center) is located at:
39 Churchill Road
Oswego, NY 13126
Michael Allen, Director
315-349-8215 or 1-800-679-3911
To report non-emergency incidents, call 343-1313 or 1-800-962-4433.
Remember, 9-1-1 is for emergency use ONLY! | 
Click Image To Go There |
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When should I call 9-1-1 for help for a medical problem?
Dial 9-1-1 anytime you are confronted with an acute medical situation that you do not understand, or feel that someone
may have suffered a significant injury. If in doubt, call 9-1-1. Emergency Medical Technicians and
paramedics will respond to assess the situation and determine the best course of treatment and
transportation to the hospital if necessary. You can use this tool to create a "Contact Information" tag to place next to your phone. Many medical conditions can be referred to your own private
physician, or handled by your own transportation to the emergency room or clinic. We recommend attending a
basic First Aid course that teaches basic patient assessment, CPR, and basic patient treatments. This
enables the lay person to properly treat minor medical problems without having to rely on E.M.S.
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