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Fire - General Information

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1. What is the City of Brookfield's Burning Ordinance and Guidance?

BURNING REGULATED

NO burning of

• Garbage
• Toxic materials or substances
• Flammable liquids
• Open areas of grass, woods, brush or similar materials
• Any material required to be recycled by law
• Plastics, rubber, leather, oil or petroleum-based materials
• Chemically treated, painted or stained wood
• Asphalt or asphalt containing materials

OPEN BURNING CONDITIONS for YARD WASTE

Open burning of yard waste shall ONLY occur

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 
• In the months of April, May, October and November 
• Between the hours of 12 pm (noon) and 6 pm
• If burning piles are no larger than 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet high
• Pile must be located 25 feet from the front lot line and 15 feet from the side and 10 feet from the rear lot line
• If the person conducting the burning is 18 years of age or older and must be in attendance of the fire at all times 
• With adequate fire extinguishing equipment present – garden hose or fire extinguisher available and ready to use

Open burning of yard waste shall NOT occur

• In ditches or roadways
• When the wind velocity exceeds 10 mph
• On the City of Brookfield’s official Trick or Treat day
• On days when the fire danger, as determined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is HIGH, VERY HIGH or EXTREME.
• Days where the air quality index in Waukesha County is 100 or greater
• Days when an air quality notice for Waukesha County has been issued
• In a burn barrel

RECREATIONAL FIRES

Recreational Fires shall ONLY occur

• During the hours of 12 pm (noon) and 11 pm
• In an outdoor fire pit or fire pit constructed of metal or masonry that is installed and used to the manufacturer’s recommendations OR in an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed natural gas or propane fireplace with a maximum size shall be no more than 36 inches in diameter or 7 feet square.  Above ground fire pits shall have a non-tipping base, screen enclosure and covered top
• If the fire pit or fireplace is:
  A minimum of 10 feet from any building, structure or combustible landscaping.
  A minimum of 20 feet away from property lines, wood fencing, utility poles, overhead wires or pile of combustible materials.
       A minimum of 50 feet away from any flammable or combustible liquid container.
• Using dry, clean wood or manufactured fire log materials
• If the person conducting the burning is 18 years of age or older and must be in attendance of the fire at all times
• With adequate fire extinguishing equipment present – garden hose or fire extinguisher available and ready to us

Recreational Fires shall NOT occur

• On days when the fire danger, as determined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is HIGH, VERY HIGH or EXTREME.

USE OF COOKING GRILLS IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING

The State of Wisconsin has adopted the NFPA 1 (2012) Fire Prevention Code, which restricts the use of cooking grills for residential multi-family buildings (those with three or more units).

Here are a few key highlights from that code for cooking equipment:

• Grills CANNOT be used OR stored with fuel attached on balconies.
• Fuel tanks cannot be stored inside residential multi-family buildings, which includes basements, garages or shared common areas.
• Grills cannot be used inside a garage, under any overhang portion of a building or within ten (10) feet of any structure when on the ground floors.
• Electric grills may be used ONLY if they are UL listed and do not have an exposed heating element.

For more code information and safety tips.

NUISANCE FIRE DISCLAIMER

If a Fire Department or Police Department official determines that any open burning or recreational fire creates or causes a health or safety hazard or otherwise unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of other properties within the City, the official may order the fire immediately extinguished and may extinguish the fire if the person refuses to do so after the extinguishment order.

For a more detailed information on Open Burning and Recreational Fires, please visit the following City of Brookfield Municipal Ordinance website page - Read Ordinance

Observing any violations?  Please call the Police Department non-emergency phone number at (262) 787-3700.

2. How do I request an EMS Care Report from the City of Brookfield Fire Department?

Please submit the EMS Records Request Form to the City of Brookfield Fire Department, via mail (2100 N Calhoun Rd Brookfield, WI 53005) or email (cbfd@ci.brookfield.wi.us).

3. How do I pay an ambulance bill?

For all ambulance billing payments and questions please contact: 

LifeQuest Services
N2930 State Road 22
Wautoma, WI 54982-5267

Customer Care/Billing Support:   1.800.786.4911
Legal Desk/Records Request:     1.866.987.4911
Fax:                                              1.855.642.7228

4. How do I dispose of a Fire Extinguisher?

Never place a fire extinguisher in your recycling. Below are three companies that accept old and/or empty fire extinguishers:

Secure Fire & Safety
11905 W Ripley Ave
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
414-257-4222

Action Fire & Alarm
1516 S West Ave
Waukesha, WI 53189
262-521-3340

Great Lakes Fire Protection
21850 Watertown Rd
Waukesha, WI 53186
262-798-0443

5. Does the City of Brookfield Fire Department provide smoke or carbon monoxide detectors?

The City of Brookfield Fire Department will come to your home and install Smoke and CO Detectors for you for free if you meet the following qualifications:
• Non-renter Resident of the City of Brookfield
• Low income or unable to obtain an alarm
• Physically challenged
• Senior with a fixed income

If you qualify, then call the City of Brookfield Fire Department at (262) 782-8932 and schedule your installation today!

6. How do I request records for a fire or environmental assessment for a property in the City of Brookfield?

Please submit the Records Request Form to the City of Brookfield Fire Department, via mail (2100 N Calhoun Rd Brookfield, WI 53005) or email (cbfd@ci.brookfield.wi.us). The City of Brookfield Fire Department does not have information regarding petroleum storage tanks. We recommend you access the information from the State of Wisconsin website at

Petroleum/Hazardous Liquids Storage Tanks.

7. When can I bring my class to the Survive Alive House?

Survive Alive field trips are arranged by our Community Risk Reduction Officer.  Currently, field trips are coordinated together with Elmbrook public and parochial school teachers of 3rd and 5th grade students.  Usually contacts are made via email at the beginning of each school year.  If you haven’t been contacted, please call our Community Risk Reduction Officer at (262) 787-3643 or email.

8. I’d like to invite Firefighters to talk to my class about Fire Safety. How do I schedule this?

Our Community Risk Reduction Officer can schedule this for you.  Call (262) 787-3643 or email.  Keep in mind that October dates book up very quickly. We will try to accommodate your schedule, but there are a few things we need to consider as well. Please have a couple of dates/times in mind when calling.

In addition, we never can anticipate an emergency the day of your tour, so have a Plan B in case we are unable to facilitate a talk during your scheduled time.

9. How do I schedule a tour of the Fire Department?

Call our Community Risk Reduction Officer at (262) 787-3643 of email. We will try to accommodate your schedule, but there are a few things we need to consider as well. Please have a couple of dates/times in mind when calling.  Weekday tours typically work best.  In addition, we never can anticipate an emergency the day of your tour, so have a Plan B in case we are unable to facilitate a tour during your scheduled time.

10. Can I donate to the City of Brookfield Fire Department?

Yes, you can support the City of Brookfield Fire Department by becoming a Friend of the Fire Department by making a donation to our Survive Alive House or Fire Special Education Fund.

As public employees we cannot, however, accept any goods or services (to include, gratuities, gifts, discounts, rewards, loans, or fees). Public employees must be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; therefore, firefighters cannot use their position for gain that would not also be available to any private citizen. While we gratefully appreciate the gesture of discounts and home-baked goods, we will have to respectfully decline due to our role as agents of public purpose and the conflict of interest that goods and services present.

11. Does the City of Brookfield Fire Department check car seats?

No, the City of Brookfield Fire Department does not check car seats, however, you can call SafeKids Wisconsin at (414) 231-4894 or visit safekidswi.org for upcoming booster and car seat installation and safety check events in your area.

12. How do I dispose of medical sharps?

The Brookfield Fire Department does NOT dispose of medical sharps.  Please refer to: Waukesha County or State.

13. Does the City of Brookfield Fire Department offer CPR classes?

No, the City of Brookfield Fire Department does not offer CPR classes, but you can contact the Red Cross at (800) 236-8680 for more information regarding CPR classes or

WCTC School of Protective and Human Services

14. Does the fire department accept any food donations?

As much as we greatly appreciate the gesture, we are unable to accept any food donations at the City of Brookfield Fire Department.  This includes candies, cookies, cupcakes, pizza, subs, coffee, soda, gift cards, discounts, etc.  Even though we are unable to accept these donations, we would still like to thank you for thinking of our firefighters and paramedics. Please do not interpret this message as ungrateful, for we are humbled beyond words at the outpouring of encouragement and support during this pandemic.

Instead, please offer any discounts, gift cards, food or beverages to the families who are struggling to feed their children, the older generation, the self-employed, or to anyone else who is suffering financially from COVID-19 measures.

Thank for your continued support.

15. Do you host birthday parties at the Fire Department?

We do not have the proper facilities to have birthday parties at any Brookfield Fire Station. However, we offer the option of scheduling a station tour. To schedule a department tour contact the Community Risk Reduction Officer at 262-787-3643 or email.  Station tours last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. We will try to accommodate your schedule, but there are a few things we need to consider as well. Please have a couple of dates/times in mind when calling. In addition, we never can anticipate an emergency, so have a Plan B in case we are unable to facilitate a tour during your scheduled time.

16. Does the City of Brookfield Fire Department provide patches to collectors?

The City of Brookfield Fire Department does not provide uniform patches to those who request, for any reason, due to security protocols. 

17. Does the City of Brookfield Fire Department collect old or unused prescription or over-the-county medicine?

No, the City of Brookfield Fire Department does not collect old or unused medications.  Please refer to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department website for Waukesha County’s Prescription/Over-the-Counter Medicine Collection Program.