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Pittsfield Fire Department
MISSION
The mission of the Pittsfield Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, while providing them a high quality of emergency and life safety services. It also provides medical services in cooperation with the private ambulance service within the city on a 24-hour a day basis.
In addition, the department provides inspection and code enforcement, public safety, fire prevention and they perform remedial actions at hazardous incidents, as well as provide mutual aid to surrounding communities, on an as needed basis.
DEPARTMENT CONFIGURATION:
Today, the Pittsfield Fire Department consists of the Chief, four (4) Deputy Chiefs, nine (9) Captains, thirteen (13) Lieutenants, fifty-six (56) Fire Fighters, four (4) Inspectors, and five (5) Civilian personnel. The Pittsfield Fire Department has in place a well-planned and successful system of five strategically placed fire stations. It has always been, and will always remain the mission of the PFD to protect lives and property while averting tragedy. The Pittsfield Fire Department is a highly trained, highly skilled multifaceted emergency response group that is always prepared to face any challenge.
The PFD is here to serve the people of Pittsfield. Not only does the Pittsfield Fire Department fight fires, but it plays an active role in preventing fires, responds timely to prevent crisis situations, and saving lives. Whenever someone calls for help for any reason, the department is prepared, able, and willing to help.
ICE SAFETY
Here in New England ice and cold water safety is an important issue each winter when too many residents are injured from exposure to cold water. Skaters and ice fishermen fall through the ice; boaters and canoeists overturn their crafts. Unleashed pets run onto the ice and people chase after them.
How can you tell if ice is safe?
There are no guarantees -- always consider ice potentially dangerous. Assess ice safety by using an ice chisel to chop a hole in the ice to determine its thickness and condition. Make sure you continue to do this as you go further out on to the ice, because the thickness of the ice will not be uniform all over the pond or lake. Be aware that ice tends to be thinner on lakes and ponds where there are spring holes, inlets or outlets. Don't venture on to ice bound rivers or streams as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable.
Ice Thickness and Strength
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2" or less |
STAY OFF! |
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4" |
Ice fishing or other activities on foot |
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5" |
Snowmobile or ATV |
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8" - 12" |
Car or small pickup truck |
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12" - 15" |
Medium truck |
Ice Safety Tips From the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:
- Never go onto the ice alone. A friend may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through the ice.
- Always keep your pets on a leash. If a pet falls through the ice do not attempt to rescue your pet, go for help.
- New ice is usually stronger than old ice. As the ice ages, the bond between the crystals decays, making it weaker, even if melting has not occurred.
- Beware of ice covered with snow. Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong, but can also insulate it to keep it from freezing. Snow can also hide cracks, weaken and open ice.
- Slush is a danger sign, indicating that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom and can be weak or deteriorating.
- Ice formed over flowing water (rivers or lakes containing a large number of springs) is generally 15% weaker.
- Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. It can be one foot thick in one spot and be only one inch thick 10 feet away.
What To Do If Someone Falls Through Ice
- Reach-Throw-Go. If a companion falls through the ice and you are unable to reach that person from shore, throw them something (rope, jumper cables, tree branch, etc.). If this does not work, go for help before you also become a victim. Get medical assistance for the victim immediately.
- If you fall in, try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from. Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, working forward by kicking your feet. Once out, remain lying on the ice (do not stand) and roll away from the hole. Crawl back to your tracks, keeping your weight distributed until you return to solid ice
For more information, including printable pamphlets, visit our Ice and Cold Water Safety Page.
OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS
Open burning season in Massachusetts runs from January 15th through April 30th. Burning permits can be obtained from any fire station in the city. If the Engine Co. is in the station, the on-duty firefighters will assist you in obtaining a permit and advise you of the regulations. If you are unable to reach a firefighter at an outlying station, stop at Fire Department Headquarters to obtain the permit. Please use care when using grills and having open campfires, fires can spread rapidly during the summer and fall months.
Permits must be applied for on the day of the burning. No permits will be issued after 2pm. Burning can not start befor 10am and must be completely out by 4pm. Fire must be 75 feet from any structure. If you do not have this distance, do not apply for a permit!
HOME HEATING SAFETY
As the temperature continues to drop, Acting Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan are urging residents to use caution while heating their homes in a new public education campaign, “Keep Warm, Keep Safe.”
“These days it is more important than ever to practice safety first when it comes to heating your home,” said Acting Chief Czerwinski. “With the cost of heating fuel on the rise, residents may turn to space heaters, pellet stoves, or their fireplace more often. For the most part, these alternative heating devices can be safe. However, there are simple steps you can take to safeguard you and your family this winter.”
Heating is the second leading cause of fires in the home in Massachusetts. One in 10 space heater fires cause a death. Last year, there were 19 fires, three civilian deaths, two civilian injuries and seven fire service injuries attributed to space heater fires statewide.
“The winter months are the leading months for home fires and we need to take extra care to protect our families and loved ones,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. “It is important to prepare now to keep warm and keep safe this winter.”
The Keep Warm, Keep Safe campaign will include television, radio, transit and web-based public service announcements, printed materials in several languages, and a grassroots outreach effort led by local fire departments. Many retailers have pledged to display educational flyers near space heaters, carbon monoxide alarms and pellet stoves. The Department of Fire Services also convened the state’s first Winter Heating Fire Safety Task Force that includes utility companies, the Attorney General's office, fire departments, the Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Oilheat Council, the property insurance industry, Community Action programs, local councils on aging, the Salvation Army, the Shriners, and retailers.
Space heaters can cause fires if they are placed too close to combustible materials such as drapes, furniture or bedding. Keep anything that can burn three feet away from the space heater and use only heavy-duty extension cords. Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each floor of your home. Test the alarms once a month and change batteries twice a year. Make sure to check on elderly neighbors regularly in the cold months.
If you heat your home by burning solid fuels (coal, firewood, pellets), be careful before, during and after using these kinds of fuels. Have the chimney annually cleaned by a certified professional. Dispose of the ashes in a metal container, with a lid, away from the house – not in the garage or under the porch.
Natural gas and fuel oil are both safe and efficient. Make sure to have a professional clean and tune-up your furnace and hot water heater every year. Gas leaks can be poisonous so the gas company adds something to make it smell like rotten eggs. If you suspect a leak move outdoors and immediately contact the local fire department.
For more information on winter heating and fire safety, visit www.mass.gov/keepwarmkeepsafe or contact your the Pittsfield fire department.
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