FIRE DEPARTMENT

Brookings Fire Department
Darrell Hartmann, Fire Chief
607 20th Avenue
Brookings, SD 57006
605-692-6323 Phone
605-697-8353 Fax
dhartmann@cityofbrookings.org
General Questions
brookingsfd@cityofbrookings.org

Totfinders

Totfinders are stickers that many fire departments have available for residents to place on windows of their children's bedrooms. Totfinders can be useful if used properly but too many times they are not used correctly. People do frequently call the fire department requesting Totfinder stickers, which we will provide, but we would encourage our citizens to spend more time planning escape routes with their children and taking other precautions.

The Brookings Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines calls for a search of every room in the home if entrapment status is unknown. If your home is involved in a fire, call 911 and get out if you can. If you cannot get out gather your family and move to a room where you can escape onto a roof. Remember to always stay low, and stay together.

Escape Plans
Creating an escape plan is something you should do with your children at as early an age as possible. We cannot provide diagrams or plans here online as every home may have specific features and dangers to avoid.

The important things to keep in mind are to teach your children to always stay low in a fire, and to not be afraid of the firemen. In many situations a young child will be afraid of a fireman wearing gear and SCBA and will hide from the firefighter and not cry out for help. It is important to make sure your children are not afraid of firefighters. If you feel like they are contact your local department to setup a meeting to bring them down and go over the equipment and learn that we are there to help them.