Education is the key to preventing fires, saving lives and property. That’s why the Fuquay-Varina Fire Department offers a variety of fire and safety outreach programs for all ages. Listed below are some of our community outreach and education programs. If you would like further information, please contact our Administrative Office at (919) 552-0422 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Child Passenger Safety Seat Inspection Program
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 to 14, due in large part to the nonuse or improper use of child seats and seat belts. Working with parents and our partners, our goal is to ensure every child is properly secured and safe every trip, every time. This includes babies in car seats, toddlers in booster seats, and older children in seatbelts.
The Town of Fuquay-Varina Fire Department’s Child Safety Seat Program teaches parents and caregivers how to properly install child safety seats into their vehicle. Certified car seat technicians (Fire Department personnel) are available at all three fire stations to assist you with installing your new car seat, answering any questions you may have, and checking to see if your current car seat is properly sized for your child. In addition, they will also check a constantly updated online database of car seat recalls ensuring that the seat you are using has no defects and meets all federal standards. Personnel are available every day of the week, unless they are away from the station on a call, from 8:00am until Noon and then again from 2:00pm until 8:00pm. Also, the department typically schedules two checkpoint events each year usually in March and September.
There is NO CHARGE for this service and no limit to the number of seats installed. Although this is a free service, running this program does have associated costs. We purchase child seats to have on hand so that unsafe seats never leave the station. We also must purchase supplies, tools, and equipment to use for the proper installation of the child safety seats. Our commitment is that every child leaves the station safer than they arrived. This program is completely funded through grants and donations.
Many people assume that a car seat installation is a simple and straightforward thing to do. In reality, studies show that as many as 90% of car seats are either not properly matched to the child’s size or are improperly installed. Don’t take a chance with your child’s safety – read your manual and when in doubt, call the fire department for help. That’s what we are here for!
Please help us help you! We ask the following from you:
- Please ensure that the child passenger safety seat is clean prior to arriving for an inspection.
- Please bring the child that will be riding in the seat when you come for an inspection
- EXCEPTION: Expecting parents wanting to get that special seat just right for the ride home from the hospital are encouraged to stop by. We only ask that you come back after your new arrival comes to ensure a proper fit.
- Plan on spending between 30-45 minutes for an inspection or installation. Our goal is to teach parents proper installation techniques so you can do it correctly every time.
To have your car seat inspected or to ask a question, please feel free to call or stop by any of our fire stations:
| Station #1 | Station #2 | Station #3 |
| 301 South Fuquay Avenue Fuquay-Varina, NC (919)552-0422 |
5617 Hilltop Road Fuquay-Varina, NC (919)552-4949 |
2474 Bud Lipscomb Road Willow Spring, NC (919)557-2787 |
Fire Station Tours
The public is invited to visit any one of our three fire stations. However, due to training and other scheduled needs, please call 919-552-0422 to make arrangements for fire station tours. Residents and groups should have the desired date and time selected for a tour before contacting the Fire Department. There is no charge for this service and fire safety “goodies” are generally given to guests touring the station.
Public Education Presentations
Free fire safety presentations are given at pre-schools, elementary schools, medical facilities, elderly care facilities, service club meetings, public fairs, and other events upon request. "Sparky the Fire Dog" (a furry, six-foot Dalmatian costume worn by one of our personnel) may be available to come to events for children depending on staffing levels for that day. Fire inspectors also conduct hands-on classes in the use of portable fire extinguishers, enabling participants to extinguish a live fire. To request any of these services, call 919-552-0422.
Blood Pressure Screenings
The Town of Fuquay-Varina Fire Department is available to assist citizens in maintaining a healthy heart by offering FREE blood pressure screenings. Residents may stop by any one of the three fire stations during normal working hours throughout the year for a screening by one of the firefighters. For questions, please call 919-552-0422.
Special Events
An Open House during Fire Prevention Week is conducted every year in October. The Open House event, which is always a great success, includes:
- Fire Station Tour and equipment display
- Fire and Life Safety Displays
- Safety Games with Prizes
- Smokey the Bear, Sparky the Fire Dog, and Pete the Paramedic Panda
- Other fire safety events
Firefighter Trading Card Program
In response to the tragic death of a four year old boy who did not know how to escape his home in an August of 1999 house fire, our Trading Card program was born! The program has been a huge success with the kids and the firefighters. The cards have a picture of the firefighter on the front, firefighter’s biography, and a life safety message on the back. Children can collect eight different cards each year while learning safe practices from their local heroes. 2,000 copies of each card are ordered and distributed at local schools, our Annual Open House and other special events throughout the year. Each card is sponsored by a local business so there is no cost to the Fire Department. Each sponsor gets their name, address, phone number, and business logo on the back of the card.
Smoke Detector Program
Working smoke detectors save lives! The Town of Fuquay-Varina Fire Department provides a smoke detector program to assist homeowners of Fuquay-Varina and the Furina Fire District who do not have a working smoke detector. If you do not have a working smoke detector firefighters from the department will inspect it and replace a battery if needed or install a new working smoke detector at no charge to the owner. To request a smoke detector inspection, call 919-552-0422.
