Fire
Fire protection, permits, and safety education.
- Phone
- (208) 436-9600
- Address
- 701 F Street
- Hours
- Call for hours
- Staff
- Roger Davis — Fire Chief / Fire Marshal
The members of Rupert City Fire and Rescue provide for the safety and welfare of the public through the preservation of life, property, and the environment in a safe and timely manner.
Established in 1916 by William E. Gelling, the Rupert City Fire Department has served the citizens of Rupert and the surrounding area with pride and dedication for over a century. The department offers fire-prevention education through school visits, a firehouse safe-house trailer, and station tours for all ages throughout the year. The Rupert Firefighter Foundation, created in April 2011, supports community charitable causes and provides volunteer assistance to those in need in southern Idaho.
Permits & Inspections
Permit and inspection fees:
- Business inspection — $25.00
- Daycare inspection — $20.00
- Safe & Sane firework permit — $25.00
- Firework stand inspection — $25.00
- Burn permit — $10.00
Burn permit rules — open burning must follow all of these requirements:
- Must not pose a health risk or be offensive to your neighbors
- An adult must be in attendance at all times
- Burn only during daylight hours
- Cannot burn within 50 feet of any building
- Keep a garden hose with water handy at all times, and a shovel near at all times
- No burning on days with air inversions, heavy cloud cover, or high humidity
- Only vegetation-type materials — leaves, grass, weeds, and tree trimmings — may be burned
- Open burning of rubbish containing paper products, plastics, or other household garbage is prohibited
The City of Rupert holds bi-annual clean-up periods in the spring and fall, announced thirty days in advance with notification sent out with city electric bills. During clean-up, the Sanitation Department will pick up tree and grass clippings for those who prefer not to burn them — bundles of not more than 5 feet in length and weighing not more than 50 pounds.
Family Fire Safety
The Fire Department provides family fire-safety resources, including help building a home fire-escape plan — download the plan worksheet below. Practice your escape plan with everyone in your household, know two ways out of every room, and pick an outside meeting place.
The department offers community fire-prevention education throughout the year: Fire Prevention Week school visits, the Firehouse Safe House trailer, station tours for all ages, and assistance with Boy Scout programs. Contact the department for safety materials or to schedule a station tour.
Holiday Safety Tips
Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year, usually from electrical shorts or open flame. Keep a fresh tree well-watered, place it away from any heat source, and don't display it longer than two weeks; take dried trees to the landfill or set them out for city pickup. Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove, and never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace.
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires and bare spots, don't link more than three strands unless the directions allow, and don't leave lights unattended. Choose nonflammable decorations where possible; consider flameless candles — if you use real candles, keep them 12 inches from anything flammable, use stable holders, and never leave them burning unattended. Keep exits clear of decorations.