Overview

Area Served (square miles)47.3
Population574,283
 
Uniformed Personnel1,467
     Chief of Department1
     Chief of Operations2
     Deputy Fire Chiefs14
     District Fire Chiefs59
     Fire Captains84
     Fire Lieutenants225
     Fire Fighters1083
Fire Alarm Personnel68
Civilian Personnel76
Total FD Personnel1611
 
Fire Academy1
 
Fire Stations35
 
Fire Companies & Units70
     Engine Companies33
     Ladder Companies18
    Rescue Companies2
     Tower Company4
     Marine Unit1
     Fire Brigade1
     Tunnel/Confined Space Units2
     Brush Fire Units2
     Hazardous Material Unit1
     Trench/Structural Collapse Unit1
     Special Unit1
     Air Supply Unit1
     Rehabilitation Unit1
     Mobile Command Unit1
     Mobile Decon Unit1
     Hydrant Thawing Unit1

Fire Fighting Force

The officers of the fire fighting force have the following titles and are ranked in the following descending order:

Chief of Department
Chief of Operations
Deputy Fire Chief
District Fire Chief
Fire Captain
Fire Lieutenant

The fire fighting force is organized into divisions, districts, and companies.

There are 2 divisions and 11 districts (1 and 3 through 12). Each division is under the command of a Deputy Fire Chief and each district is under the command of a District Fire Chief. Division 1 is comprised of Districts 1, 3 (includes old district 2), 4, 6, and 11. Division 2 is comprised of Districts 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12.

The companies are classified as follows:

Engine Company
Ladder Company
Rescue Company
Tower Company
Marine Unit

All companies are under the command of a Fire Captain and are divided into four working groups (shifts). Three of the four working groups are under the supervision of a Fire Lieutenant. Minimum staffing on all companies except for the Rescue Companies, Tower Company, and Marine Unit is one officer and three fire fighters per shift. The Rescue Companies, Tower Company, and Marine Unit are staffed with a minimum of one officer and four fire fighters per shift.

The Boston Fire Department works a 42-hours a week schedule. The work schedule (tour of duty) is as follows:

Day Tour 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Night Tour 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.