The Acushnet Fire / EMS Department consist of one department with two divisions.  The Fire / Rescue Division is a combination department with one fulltime Chief, four fulltime firefighters and 35 call firefighters.  We provide fire protection, fire prevention, hazardous materials mitigation and rescue services to the residents of Acushnet, MA.
 

Our main fire station is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.  The fulltime firefighters work two day shifts (10 hours per shift) followed by two night shifts (14 hours per shift).  By utilizing this system, we ensure that the station is manned around the clock.  The fulltime firefighters perform the day-to-day operations of the department as well as the initial leadership at emergency incidents.

The Chief of the department is in quarters Monday-Friday.  All regular business activities--from inspections to plan reviews--are conducted during this period.

Our call firefighters respond to incidents based upon the nature of the call.  Each member is provided structural firefighting gear and a pager for responses to an incident directly from their home or place of employment.  Call firefighters also cover either day or night shifts not worked by our fulltime members.

Call officers are given the responsibilities of the overall performance of their assigned companies (Lieutenants) or stations (Captains).  The Deputy Chief plays a key role in outcome of the incidents to which we respond often acting as Incident Commander.

Given the structure of our department all members may be required to perform a variety of firefighting tasks and fire ground responsibilities.  Based on this requirement, training is a very important component of our operations.  A monthly department drill is conducted on the last Monday of each month.  In addition a smaller, company level drill, is conducted by company officers each month.

The Emergency Medical Services Division is an Advanced Life Support service comprised of four fulltime Paramedics and 15 part-time EMT-Paramedics and EMT Basics.  One ambulance (Rescue #1) is staffed 24 hours each day, seven days each week with a minimum of one Paramedic and Basic level EMT.  Given the involvement of our part-time staff and Firefighter/Paramedics, the department often staffs multiple shifts each week with two Paramedic per shift.  A second ambulance (Rescue #2) is staffed and equipped at the ALS level and responds to concurrent calls with off-duty personnel.  In 2009 the department transported 807 patients to area hospitals, an increase of 22% over the previous year.