Reading Fire Department

Not to be confused with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

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Reading Fire DepartmentOperational area

Country|  United States
State|  Pennsylvania
City| Reading
Agency overview[1][2][3]
Established| March 17, 1773 (1773-03-17)
Annual calls| 30,660 (2019)
Employees| 137 (2019)
Annual budget| $19,600,000 (2019)
Staffing| Career
Fire chief| James Stoudt Jr.
IAFF| 1803
Facilities and equipment[4]
Battalions| 1
Stations| 7
Engines| 5
Tillers| 2
Platforms| 1
Rescues| 1
Ambulances| 4
Wildland| 1
Rescue boats| 1
Website
Official website

The Reading Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.[5] The department is responsible for approximately 10 square miles (26 km2) with a population of just under 100,000 as of the 2020 United States Census Bureau estimate[update].[6]

## History

[edit]

The Reading Fire Department was formed on March 17, 1773, as a volunteer fire department known as the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company.[7] By 1914 the department had grown to include 14 separate volunteer companies. Today, the department operates out of 7 fire stations, including 1 EMS Station.

Beginning in April 2011 Engines 13 and 14 were disbanded due to budget cuts.[8] Starting June 30, 2015 the city will also be disbanding its non-emergency transport division which had been available to assist in transporting those confined to a wheeled chair.[9]

As of January 1, 2016, the department is now a fully career department.[citation needed]

As of February 12, 2020 the volunteer SCUBA team has been disbanded.

## Stations and apparatus

[edit]

As of October 2019[update], below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus. Staffing is only two (2) firefighters per apparatus.[4]

Engine Company  | Ladder Company  | Special Unit  | Spare/ Reserve Unit  | Chief Unit  | Neighborhood

|
|
|
|
|

Engine 1 |  |  | Engine 6 |  | Center City
Engine 3 | Ladder 1(Tiller) | Brush 1 | Engine 4 | 1st Deputy Chief | Central West
Engine 5 |  |  | Engine 8, Ladder 2(Tiller) |  | 18th Ward
Engine 9 | Ladder 3(Tiller) |  |  |  | Northeast
Engine 7 |  | Foam Trailer, MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) Trailer, Rescue Boat(Zodiac) | Engine 10 |  | Northwest
| Tower Ladder 1 | Rescue 1 | Engine 2 | 2nd Deputy Chief | South Central
|  | Medic 1, Medic 2, Medic 3, Medic 4 | Medic 5, Medic 6, Medic 7, Medic 8 |  | Center City

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Call Statistics". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
2. ^ "2015 City Budget Position Listing". City of Reading PA. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
3. ^ "2015 City Budget Expenditures". City of Reading PA. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
4. ^ a b "Stations & Apparatus". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
5. ^ "About Us". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
6. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
7. ^ "History". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
8. ^ "2 Engine Companies Disbanded". Reading PA Fire. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
9. ^ Spatz, Don (April 21, 2015). "Reading to end nonemergency transportation service for people in wheelchairs". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2015.

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Pennsylvania Fire Departments

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* Allentown
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* Butler
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* DuBois
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* Hazleton
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Townships,
Boroughs & CDPs|

* Croydon
* Kimberton
* Millcreek (West Lake)
* Shanksville
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* Montgomery Township
* Upper Darby

Other|

* Union Fire Company

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* Pennsylvania Task Force 1

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