Frequently Asked Questions

The regulations vary depending on the type of outdoor burning. Recreational fires do not require a permit. Fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, BBQ grills and BBQ pits are examples of recreational fires. Bonfires and open burning (leaves, for example) do require a permit. View complete guidelines for outdoor burning in Open Burning & Outdoor Cooking (PDF).

Each spring and fall, the Fire Department flushes water lines through the City’s fire hydrants. Hydrant flushing is an important preventive maintenance activity that maintains the integrity of the water system and enables the Fire Department to ensure hydrants are in working order.

The Fire Department flushes hydrants by district. Signs will also be posted in your neighborhood ahead of flushing. Please drive with caution when Fire Department crews are in the streets flushing hydrants.

• Hydrant District Street (PDF)
• Hydrant District Map (PDF)

Discolored Tap Water

If tap water is used during flushing, it may contain sediment and some discoloration. If the water is discolored, simply shut the water off and wait a few minutes. Then run cold water for a few minutes to allow new water to enter your pipes. If the water is still discolored, wait a few more minutes and run the water again. In some cases, discoloration will occur for a few hours. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water – it does not affect the taste or quality. Avoid washing laundry during scheduled flushing times, as the flushed sediment could discolor white clothing. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first.

During winter months when the snow and ice piles high, Shaker’s 1,500 fire hydrants often are buried. If you are able, please clear snow from around hydrants and avoid shoveling snow on top of them so that fire crews can quickly gain access during an emergency.

However, if fire hydrants are buried in snow and you are unable to dig them out, don’t worry! The Shaker Heights Fire Department has detailed maps indicating the specific locations of all hydrants. In the event of a fire where a hydrant is not immediately accessible, each truck is equipped with 700 gallons of water, enough to fight a fire for approximately 10 minutes, while crews simultaneously dig out the closest hydrant.

Email Public Works. Please include the address of the house/building nearest the leaking or damaged hydrant. Public Works will report the issue to Cleveland Water, which is responsible for repairing and replacing the City’s fire hydrants.

The Fire Department is in the process of painting the City’s 1,500-plus fire hydrants green. This work is done only during the summer and only when staff are available. Rest assured, all the hydrants will eventually be painted. Please note: New hydrants are installed by Cleveland Water and are orange. These new hydrants must be given time to “settle” before being painted by our staff.

Photoelectric smoke detectors/smoke alarms are required in Shaker Heights. This type of detector/alarm is more reliable (earlier detection) for the kinds of fires that can occur in the City’s homes and buildings. Photoelectric smoke detectors/smoke alarms also have a lower rate of false (nuisance) alarms.  You will know it is a photoelectric smoke detector/smoke alarm if you see a [P] inside a square on the packaging (see photo below).  We recommend residents use interconnected smoke alarms/CO detectors. That way when one goes off, they all will go off.

At a minimum, there should be one smoke detector/smoke alarm on every level of your home. Smoke detectors/smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling, which is where heat and smoke go first during a fire.

 Place detectors/alarms as follows:

• First Floor: Place on the ceiling in a main area, near but not in the kitchen.
• Second & Third Floor: Place on the ceiling in hallway between bedrooms.
• Basement: Place on the ceiling in an open area.

Other location notes:

• Consider placing detectors/alarms at least 20 feet from areas of combustion (stove, furnace, water heater, space heaters).
• Consider placing detectors/alarms at least 10 feet from damp, humid or steamy areas (showers, saunas, dishwashers) or directly near bathrooms with showers.
• Avoid where temperatures are regularly below 40F or above 100F.
• Avoid near fresh air vents, ceiling fans or very drafty areas (drafts can blow the smoke away from the detector/alarm).
• Avoid installing closer than 4 inches from the wall or corners.
• Avoid installing closer than 12 inches from fluorescent lights.

It’s recommended that you also install a detector/alarm on the ceiling of each bedroom (near the door).  

Yes, we highly recommend installing at least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your home. Detectors with digital read-outs are preferred, so you can monitor and report CO levels in the event of an alarm. We also recommend interconnected CO detectors or CO/photoelectric smoke alarm combos. That way when one goes off, they all will go off.

The carbon monoxide (CO) detector should be placed in the hallway between bedrooms, so that in the event of a carbon monoxide leak while you’re sleeping, you and your family members will hear the alarm. A second CO detector can be placed in the basement. If you have an attached garage, avoid placing CO detectors near garage entrance.

Yes. The Fire Department offers free installation and safety checks on car and booster seats required by the state, by appointment only. Call 216-491-1215 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm) for details and to make an appointment.

Residents may dispose of fire extinguishers at the Household Hazardous Waste Roundup, held each spring and fall at the Service Center. It’s time to replace an extinguisher when the gauge is no longer in the green zone; very old extinguishers should also be replaced, regardless of whether the gauge is in the green zone.

Smoke detectors can be placed in your regular garbage for disposal. Remove the battery, so they don’t beep. Smoke detectors have a 10-year life span and should be replaced after 10 years.

Please use the City’s public records request form to request a fire report. Be sure to include your first and last name and the date and address where the incident occurred. Select Fire as the department receiving the request.

Please use the public records request form to request an EMS report. Be sure to include your first and last name and the date and address where the incident occurred. Additionally please include the patient(s). Select Fire as the department receiving the request.  

IMPORTANT: EMS reports containing medical information will not be released without a completed and signed HIPAA Authorization Form (available at the Fire Station at 17000 Chagrin Blvd.). Please bring a current state identification when presenting your documents in person at the Fire Department.  If you are requesting an EMS report containing medical information for an individual other than yourself, you will also be required to submit Power of Attorney documentation.

The Fire Department does provide station tours for small groups.  To get more information or to schedule a tour, please call 216-491-1215 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm).

If the tent is more 400 square feet, you will need a tent permit. The Fire Dept will inspect the tent prior to the event for safety. To obtain a permit, visit our permits page. The fee is $25.

In extreme weather events, especially when accompanied by power outages, the Shaker Heights Fire Department provides the following assistance.

Emergency Cooling Center

In periods of extreme heat, residents experiencing power outage or who live without air conditioning and are a risk of health consequences should call 911. The Fire Department will accommodate residents in a cooling center.

Emergency Warming Center

In periods of extreme cold, residents who are without heat should call 911. The Fire Department will accommodate residents in a warming center.

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