Safety & Resources
Emergency? Call 911. This page is for planning ahead. It does not carry live emergency, weather, or burn-ban information. For current conditions, use the official sources linked below.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Working alarms give you the early warning you need to get out.
- Test alarms monthly using the test button.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for batteries and replacement.
- If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get to fresh air and call 911.
Home escape planning
Know two ways out of every room and where everyone will meet outside.
- Walk through your plan with everyone in the home, including children and guests.
- Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home.
- Once you're out, stay out, and call 911.
Can responders find your home?
City code requires address numbers on the structure that are plainly legible from the street, at least 4 inches tall, and contrasting with their background.
Cooking and heating safety
Cooking and home heating are leading causes of home fires. A few habits lower the risk.
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling.
- Keep anything that can burn away from stovetops and space heaters.
- Turn off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Severe-weather preparedness
North Texas sees tornadoes, flooding, extreme heat, and winter storms. Plan ahead and know where to get official warnings.
- Have more than one way to receive weather warnings.
- Build a basic emergency kit and family communication plan.
- Never drive through flooded roads.
Official resources
- Cockrell Hill Emergency Management: alerts, the warning siren, and sheltersCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- Forecasts and warnings for Dallas–Fort WorthNational Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas (external site)
- Tornado safetyNational Weather Service (external site)
- Flood safetyNational Weather Service (external site)
- Winter weather safetyNational Weather Service (external site)
- Build a kitReady.gov (external site)
- Make a planReady.gov (external site)
- Dallas County Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementDallas County (external site)
Seasonal safety
Summer heat, outdoor grilling, fireworks, and dry weather all raise the risk of fire or injury.
- Outdoor burning is not allowed in Cockrell Hill.
- Charge lithium-ion batteries on hard surfaces and stop using damaged batteries.
- Learn the signs of heat-related illness and check on neighbors during heat waves.
Official resources
Business and fire-prevention resources
Fire inspections, plan reviews, and operational permits are handled by the Cockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office.
- Keep exits, fire lanes, and fire protection equipment clear and accessible.
- Review the Fire Marshal's pre-inspection checklist before an inspection.
Official resources
- Fire Marshal's OfficeCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- Fire inspections and operational permitsCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- Operational permit guideCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- Pre-inspection checklistCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- KnoxBox ordering guideCockrell Hill Fire Marshal's Office
- Ready BusinessReady.gov (external site)
City permits and requests
Building permits and Certificate of Occupancy applications are submitted online through the city's permit portal.
- Inspection requests: call City Administration at 214-330-6333, option 1.
- Fire Marshal operational permit applications go to the Fire Marshal's Office.
Questions about fire safety?
Contact the department with questions about fire safety in Cockrell Hill. For fire inspections, operational permits, and fire-code questions, contact the Fire Marshal's Office.