The Easton Fire Department.
Frequently asked questions.
The Easton Fire/rescue department is a full time or career fire department with a current operational staff of 34 full time firefighters, working 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. Tasked with protecting the lives and property of the 24,000 residents and 29.4 square miles of mixed residential and commercial properties.
How it works? Of the 34 firefighters they are divided into 4 groups, who in turn are divided over the town three stations. At full staff each group should have 8 or 9 people on duty.
A captain and 3 fire fighters (1 to dispatch) at Station #1
A lieutenant and 1 fire fighter at Station #2
2 Firefighter paramedics at Station # 3
It should be noted that is at full staff the department will drop to as low as 5 fire fighters on duty thus forcing Station 2 to be closed.
What does the F.D do? In 2007 the Fire Department responded to 3122 incidents. These range from fires to public assistance, The lion share of which being medicals, car accidents, investigations and business assistance.
What is mutual aid? Formally a tradition in the fire service that was used to support neighboring communities in time of need that in recent times has become more regulated by federal legislation in the wake of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina.
From Easton's perspective it means calling for an another towns ambulance when our is already on a call. Or in the case of fire incidents when the manpower or equipment needed is not available other towns will send theirs. These automatic responses are regulated by formal agreements are maintained and handled by the county control system.