The 2008-09 Fitchburg Massachusetts Fire Department is comprised of 3 fire stations which house:
1 Aerial, 3 Engines, 1 BLS Rescue, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Special Operations Unit (Dive/Haz-mat), 1 rescue/dive boat, 1 Fire S.A.F.E. trailer, a state HAZ-MAT response truck , a Region 2 EMS mass casualty trailer, 2 ALS Paramedic staffed Med Star ambulances, 3 reserve engines, 1 reserve aerial, several support vehicles and the Fire Alarm Division.
The Fire alarm Division, also is the District 8 primary radio control for the 32 member mutual aid response area. In 2008, budget cuts have again lowered the available manpower. The table of organization calls for 113 person deartment. The current department has 75 Full time permanent members.
Chief of Department, Kevin D. Roy
Contact us at: 978-345-9660
"In the Wake of the Fire Demon"
Information From the book:
Fitchburg Massachusetts Fire Department,
1852-1952
A History, by Ernest A. Stolba
The first records of an "organized" fire department in the "Town of Fitchburg" was in 1825. The first fire engine the town bought in 1825, was built by Bijah Hartwell of Fitchburg, for what some records indicate as an extravagant fee of $75.00
In 1828 the town built its first "fire reservoir" at the town common. This was used by bucket brigades of the time.
1835 showed growth when the town paid its new firemen $1.50 per year, the sum of the poll tax. In November of that year, the towns people voted to purchase a hand engine and provide funds for furniture to put in the fire station. This brought Hose 3, known as "Mazeppa No. 3".
1840 brought another hand tub, and the election of the First Fire Chief, Alpheus Kimball.
By 1851, there were 5 hand tub companies spaced through out the town. In May of that year, the town accepted a legislative act creating the Fire Department.
1855 the department consisted of 282 men receiving $6.50 per year. They were spread out over the 5 hand tub companies.
Conqueror No.1- 55 men, Washington No.2- 55 men,
Mazzapa No.3- 54 men, Alert No.4- 84 men, Veteran No.5- 34 men.
1856 brought the first Ladder company to Oliver St. station.
In 1864, Wachusett No.1 was commissioned and stationed at Oliver St. station. "Never Weary" was the motto on its stack.
In 1872, great strides were made. The first fire alarm service was installed, a Gamewell with 18 call boxes, and a fire alarm card was designed for a more orderly response. Ladder 2 came to town being stationed at Oliver St. The town also sold the last of the Hand tubs to Ashburnham and Weymouth.
The first Aerial ladder came to Oliver St. in1895, but it wasn't until 1909 that the first Motorized apparatus made its debut in the form of a Knox Touring car for the Chief of Department. In 1912 the first piece of motorized firefighting equipment, an American-Lafrance combination, made its way into a Fitchburg fire station.
Fitchburg Gas and Electric took over the fire alarm duties with its steam whistle in 1947. At this point the city was divided into 7 districts, and fire boxes were given corresponding call numbers to their districts. However, private boxes were given a number which began with the number 8, a practice still used today in 2007.
It was painted red, in the early 80's,and was recently decomissioned in 2007, and retired.
Fitchburg Ladder 1 - 1956 Peter Pirsch Tiller 85' Aerial. Retired in the late 1990's
