QUESTION:
How does the local fire dept. assists in the launch activities.

ANSWER from  Bill Gary on October 15, 1997:
The KSC fire department assists in launch activities by providing a
stand by crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment for space
shuttle launches and landings. Special equipped trucks and other
firefighting vehicles are parked near the shuttle landing facility when
the shuttle returns from orbit to quickly get the astronauts to safety
should there be a problem while the shuttle is landing. At the launch
pad there is a "Firex" water deluge system that is capable of around
200,000 thousand gallons of water a minute to help extinguish any fire
that might develop, along with a crew of firefighters in specially
designed heat-resistant suits and firefighting equipment. These suits
have a self-contained breathing devices to allow the firefighters to
operate in toxic environments.

ANSWER from Jenny Lyons on October 15, 1997:
Because Kennedy Space Center is so huge (140,000 acres), we actually
have our own full-time Fire Department to protect the Center year-round.
The KSC Fire Department has 4 stations scattered across the Space
Center and provides all of the fire services you asssociate with a local
Department.  We also have our own ambulance and paramedic services, as
well as 2 medical clinics (or mini-hospitals) to handle some
emergencies.  These services support the  ~15, 000 employees that work
here everyday.  

Of course there are some special needs at KSC because of the hazards
involved with Shuttle and Payload processing.  This is particularly true
for  Shuttle launches.  Since we deal with numerous toxic and explosive
commodities around here, we have special hazardous materials teams (as
I'm sure you have, also) to protect the people as well as the
environment (especially since we're located on a National Wildlife
Refuge).  We also have specialized rescue teams trained to respond to
any accident at the launch pad or on the runway.  These men and women
can perform search and rescue actions (with helicopter support from
nearby Patrick Air Force Base) to retrieve the astronauts, whether the
acident happens in the water, on land, or out in the marshes (which we
have more square footage of than anything!).  On launch day, the entire
department is standing by to respond, however they might be needed.
Hopefully, the most they are asked to do is assist a launch spectator
who is suffering from heat exhaustion!