Sandusky Fire Department places an emphasis on community services and education as a means of fire and emergency prevention. The following services and programs are offered to the community:
Sandusky Fire Department will work with the Building Department for plan reviews on new commercial construction or remodels. For more information about the plan review process, please contact the Building Department at 419.627.5940.
The Sandusky Fire Department has an annual program for fire safety inspections for local business owners. For more information about the program or to schedule an inspection for a new business, call 419.627.5823.
The Sandusky Fire Department works in conjunction with local law enforcement and state agencies for fire/arson investigations. If you have information about a fire, contact the Sandusky Fire Department at 419.627.5822 or the Sandusky Police Department at 419.627.5902
Click here to learn more about the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee
The Sandusky Fire Department is tasked with providing portable food vendors information to assure a safe working atmosphere. The City of Sandusky has requirements for portable commercial cooking equipment operated in the City of Sandusky. This is specific for portable food vendors using food preparation equipment that utilizes animal fat, vegetable shortening or such oily matter that produces grease laden vapors and using LP gas.
Portable Food Vendor Requirements
Ohio Fire Code Section 320
For questions, contact the Sandusky Fire Department at 419.627.5823.
Seconds count in a life-threatening medical emergency or a fire. Yet many times, firefighters responding to an emergency find access blocked by locked entrance doors or gates. To help reduce delays in providing emergency assistance, the Sandusky Fire Department promotes property owner use of the KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System.
The KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System is a secure emergency access program developed for property owners and fire departments. When a fire breaks out or if there is a medical emergency, Knox® products allow immediate entry into buildings and property without forced entry damage or delay. Property owners store entrance keys, access cards and floor plans in high-security Knox-Boxes mounted near building entrances. Each KNOX-BOX® purchased by a property owner is keyed to a single master key controlled by the fire department.
All Knox Box products are Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) 1037 listed against physical attack as required by the 2015 International Fire Code and National Fire Protection Association 1.
With their new eApproval process, you can order a KNOX-BOX® online.
Free Knox Box Installation
Sandusky residents may qualify for a free Knox Box and installation through the Sandusky Fire Department’s Residential Knox Box Program (quantities limited). To apply for a free residential Knox Box, complete the application and mail to:
Sandusky Fire Department
ATTN: Residential Knox Box Program
600 W. Market Street
Sandusky, OH 44870
To be eligible for this program, an applicant must:
- Reside in Sandusky Fire Department's jurisdictional area
- Live in a one or two-family residential building
- Be age 55 or older or have a medical disability
For questions about the Knox Box program, call 419.627.5823.
The Sandusky Fire Department has made efforts to catalog and visually identify vacant and abandoned buildings. These are buildings that provide the highest safety/life risk to the general public. The building markings also help to identify the level of risk to safety service personnel who may have to enter the building in the case of an emergency.
Per city ordinance, owners of vacant commercial and industrial buildings are required to register their building(s) with the Sandusky Fire Department.
Commercial/Industrial Vacant Registration Form and Building Plan
General Information:
- Permit fee is due at the time of registration
- Vacant building inspections shall be scheduled through Sandusky Fire Prevention Bureau by calling 419.627.5823
- Applications and fees must be received in person or via certified mail. No emails or faxes will be accepted.
The Sandusky Fire Department provides numerous public safety programs with the goal of reducing accidents and injuries. The content of the program can be tailored to your group or organization. Recommendations can be offered based on specific challenges. Some of the programs available include:
- Presentation on life and fire safety to civic groups, churches, and other organizations
- Fire/evacuation drill evaluations for schools, residential facilities or businesses
- Child safety talks for elementary schools, day cares and camps on fire and life safety
- Middle/high school presentations on public service and the fire service as a career
For more information, or to schedule a program, call 419.627.5822.
- The Sandusky Fire Department provides fire extinguisher training to businesses on an as needed basis. For more information call 419.627.5823.
- Children set fires for many reasons. If a child plays with fire, that does not mean they are a problem child. When children have repeated and intentional firestarting behaviors, fascination becomes a problem.
Though education, and in some cases counseling, affected children and their families can be given the skills to change this dangerous behavior.
Studies show that fires started by children playing with matches and lighters are the leading cause of fire deaths for pre-school children and account for more than 1/3 of their fire deaths. The United States Fire Administration offers more detailed information about what you can do to help prevent problems with Juvenile Firesetters.
Your local contact for Juvenile Firesetting help can be reached at 419.627.5823.
- Working in partnership with the Sandusky Fire Department (SFD) and the City of Sandusky Water Department, the Adopt-A-Hydrant program encourages neighborhoods and civic organizations to participate in the preservation of fire hydrants in neighborhoods or other areas throughout the city. There are about 1,000 fire hydrants scattered throughout the city and some are in need of upkeep and maintenance such as painting.
Program Terms
- SFD and the interested group will jointly identify hydrants that will be adopted and develop a locator of selected hydrants.
- SFD will provide necessary training to clean, paint and clear hydrants for improved visibility.
- The Sandusky Water Department will provide the necessary paint, tools and materials to be used on the fire hydrant.
- Fire Hydrants will be painted no more than once every five years or as approved on an exception basis.
- The Sandusky Water Department will inspect and refurbished all fire hydrants. Maintenance Steps
- Clear vegetation and lose objects from around fire hydrant so it is visible from the street. There should be at least a three-foot cleared area around the fire hydrant.
- Remove loose material and debris from the hydrant, i.e., paint, weeds, dirt.
- Clean hydrant with wire brushes and rags to remove dirt and excessive or peeling paint. All loose paint must be removed prior to painting. Be sure to lay plastic sheeting or cardboard around base, so all paint chips can be collected. This will also keep paint off areas having grass or plants.
- Remove fire hydrant caps, and clean threads on hydrant body and caps with wire brush.
- Paint caps and bonnet (top) with white paint and let dry while you paint main body.
- The bonnet trim will be painted a specified color appropriate to the gallons per minute the hydrant provides.
- Tape steamer cap threads, so no paint will get on them, and then paint main body of hydrant with red paint.
- Remove tape as soon as you are through painting the body with red paint.
- Once body of fire hydrant is dry, lightly lubricate steamer cap threads with appropriate oil (white mineral oil, which is food grade).
- Check gaskets and reinstall steamer caps to fire hydrant body and hand tighten. Assure cap is properly secured but without over tightening. This step will be demonstrated during your training session.
Fire Hydrant Regulations
2017 Ohio Fire Code section (d) 508.5.4 - Obstruction:
Unobstructed access to fire hydrants shall be maintained at all times. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to fire protection equipment for fire hydrants.
(e) 507.5.5 Clear Space Around Hydrants
A 3-foot (914 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except as otherwise required or approved.
To participate in the Adopt-A-Hydrant program, call 419.627.5823.
