Community | St. Tammany Fire District 13

Fire safety at home

Habits that prevent most house fires, and what to do if one starts.

Smoke alarms

Put one on every level of your home and in every bedroom.
Test each alarm monthly with the test button.
Change batteries at least once a year, such as when the clocks change.
Replace the whole alarm every 10 years.
Never disable an alarm because of nuisance alerts.

Escape plan

Know two ways out of every room.
Practice with your family at least twice a year.
Pick a meeting spot outside, like the mailbox or a neighbor's driveway.
Once you're out, stay out. Never go back into a burning building.
In smoke, get low and go: crawl under it to safety.

Outdoor burning

Check the burn ban status before you burn.
Keep fires at least 25 feet from buildings and brush.
Never leave a fire unattended.
Keep water or an extinguisher within reach.
Don't burn on windy days or when it's dry.

Kitchen

Never leave cooking unattended. It's the leading cause of house fires.
Keep towels, paper, and curtains away from the stove.
For a grease fire, cover the pan with a lid. Never use water.
Keep an extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.
Turn pot handles inward.

Space heaters

Keep heaters 3 feet from anything that can burn.
Plug directly into the wall. Never use an extension cord.
Turn heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Choose models with automatic shut-off.
Never heat your home with an oven or stovetop.

When to call 911

Any fire, however small. Get out first, then call.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, or someone who won't respond.
The smell of gas, or a hazardous material spill.
A crash with injuries or someone trapped.
When in doubt, call. We would rather come and not be needed.

Free smoke alarms

Through Operation Save-A-Life, a statewide Louisiana program, District 13 installs smoke alarms at no cost for residents who need them. If you or someone you know needs one, contact the district.

Request a smoke alarm

St. Tammany emergency alerts

Sign up for STAT, the parish's alert system, for boil water advisories, road closures, hurricane updates, and other urgent notices by phone, text, or email.

Sign up for STAT

Join our team

District 13 hires full-time and part-time firefighters. Applications are accepted until positions are filled.

Full-time firefighter

Firefighter I and II certifications
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification
Driver/Operator certification preferred

Part-time firefighter operator

The certifications and qualifications to serve as a firefighter
Currently employed by, or experienced with, another fire department

Part-time operators, as posted October 2026

$15.23 an hour: One 24-hour shift every six days, with extra shifts available to pick up.
Holiday pay: 18 hours of holiday pay for working any of the district's 10 recognized holidays.
Uniform allowance and a YMCA membership: The district pays for the membership.
Retirement savings: FICA Alternative Plan: you contribute 3.75% and the district matches 3.75%.