About the Worcester, MA Fire Department

Updated: Saturday, December 4, 1999 - 7:15 AM

From the Worcester Fire Department Official Web Site

Worcester Firefighing Tragedy Coverage • Worcester Main Page • Search Becomes Frustrating • One Firefighter Found • Memorial Service Information • The Victims - Full Profiles • "Mayday ... We're running out of air." • Support Pours in for Fallen Heroes • Post/View Condolences Online • NECN Video News Reports • 'Slide Show' of Scene Photos • Related News and Information Online (inc. Pictures & Video links) • No Greater Building Fire Tragedy in 27 Years • Internet Messages Salute Firefighters • Fund Set Up for Victims' Families • Firefighters Adapt to New Roles • List: All Known Fires Since 1960 With More Five or More Firefighter Fatalities • NFPA: Worst U.S. Firefighting Tragedies • Overall U.S. Fire Deaths Since 1977; Firefighting Deaths on the Decline • About the Worcester, MA Fire Department • Initial Incident Story

The Worcester Fire Department provides fire protection and life safety services to an area encompassing 39 square miles and a population of 163,000. The diversity in scope of protection in this area ranges from densely populated multi-family dwellings to office high rise buildings and a mixture of manufacturing and industrial complexes along with a major biotechnical park and many hospitals and colleges. Also, a major state highway (I-290) passes directly through the heart of the city producing potential hazards of undetermined proportions, due to the nature of the chemicals and other products traveling along the highway.

The Worcester Fire Department has an authorized strength of 485 firefighters. These men are divided into four shifts manning line companies; plus Fire Prevention, and the Training Division. All of them except the Chief of the Department, Fire Prevention, and the Training Division work the same schedule, a 42 hour workweek consist of 2 days on, 1 off, 2 nights on, 3 off. Approximately 105 officers and firefighters are assigned to each of the shifts. A Deputy Chief and two District Chiefs command each shift.

The Worcester Fire Department consists of twelve stations throughout the city housing 29 pieces of first line equipment. The W.F.D. consists of 15 engines, 7 ladder companies(2-75' Aerial scopes, 4-100' Tiller Aerials, 1-rear mount 110' aerial), one heavy Rescue Co., A Hazmat truck, Scuba rescue truck, and four Chief's cars. The Department has 3 spare engines and 1 spare scope. Other vehicles are used for Fire Prevention, Maintenance, and Training Divisions.

The workload of the W.F.D. has also increased over the years so that we now respond to over 28,000 emergency calls a year and it is increasing annually. The W.F.D. fought 459 structure fires last year. EMS service has also increased dramatically accounting for over 40% of the Department's emergency runs..