Reading Fire Department

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 85,000 as of the 2013 United States Census Bureau estimate.[6]

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

Reading Fire Department

Operational 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	William 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

History

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.

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

Stations and apparatus

As of October 2019 below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus.[4]

Engine Company	Ladder Company	Special Unit	Spare/ Reserve Unit	Chief	Neighborhood
Engine 1			Engine 6		Center City
Engine 3	Ladder 1(Tiller)	Brush Fire Unit 1	Engine 8	Deputy Chief 1	Central West
Engine 5			Engine 4, 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	Battalion Chief 1	South Central
		Medic 1, Medic 2, Medic 3, Medic 4	Medic 5, Ambulance 6, Medic 7, Medic 8		Center City

References

1. "Call Statistics". Reading PA Fire. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
2. "2015 City Budget Position Listing". City of Reading PA. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
3. "2015 City Budget Expenditures". City of Reading PA. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
4. "Stations & Apparatus". Reading PA Fire. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
5. "About Us". Reading PA Fire. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
6. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
7. "History". Reading PA Fire. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
8. "2 Engine Companies Disbanded". Reading PA Fire. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
9. Spatz, Don (21 April 2015). "Reading to end nonemergency transportation service for people in wheelchairs". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 9 June 2015.