Reading Fire Department
The Reading Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. The department is responsible for approximately with a population of 94,000.
History
The Reading Fire Department was formed on March 17, 1773, as a volunteer fire department known as the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company. 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. Starting June 30, 2015 the city will also be disbanding its non-emergency transport division for wheelchair users.
As of January 1, 2016, the department is now a fully career department.
As of February 12, 2020 the volunteer SCUBA team has been disbanded.
Stations and apparatus
, below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus. Staffing is only two firefighters per apparatus.| Engine Company | Ladder Company | Special Unit | Spare/ Reserve Unit | Chief Unit | Neighborhood |
| Engine 1 | Medic 1 | ATV 1, spare ambulance | Center City | ||
| Engine 3 | Ladder 1 | Medic 3, Squad 600, Brush 1, Marine 1 | EMS Supervisor | Central West | |
| Engine 5 | Engine 4, Tower 2 | Deputy Chief EMS | 18th Ward | ||
| Engine 9 | Ladder 3 | Medic 9 | Engine 10 | 1st Deputy Chief | Northeast |
| Engine 7 | Medic 7, Brush 2 | Engine 6, Ladder 2, spare ambulance | Northwest | ||
| Tower 1 | Rescue 1 | Rescue 2 | 2nd Deputy Chief | South Central |