The companies are manned by four platoons
of firefighters working 10-hour day shifts and 14-hour
night shifts for an average 42-hour work week. Each platoon
is staffed by a Deputy Chief (non-union), a Platoon Chief,
shift Lieutenant and twenty-one firefighters and four "jumpers". The Department
is headed by the Fire Chief, who reports to the City’s
Managing Director. The Fire Marshal heads the Fire Prevention
and Fire Code Enforcement Division, and two Lieutenant
Fire Prevention Officers are responsible for the annual
inspections of commercial properties. A Lieutenant Training
Officer is responsible for all of the Department’s
training and testing.
In January, 2001, the City took over Emergency Medical
Services (from a private provider), which is now under
the direction of the Fire Chief. The EMS Division consists
of one Deputy Chief/EMS Manager (non-union), 24 paramedics,
3 wheelchair van drivers and 1 transport clerk/coordinator.
All firefighters are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians,
and to supplement the ambulances, the engine companies
are equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AED)
and oxygen to provide first-responder capabilities in
their districts.
Memberships to the ambulance service are available for
all residents of the City of Reading. The annual cost
is $35/individual and $50/household. In order to join
the service, residents should mail a check (payable to
City of Reading EMS) to City of Reading EMS, 815 Washington
Street, Reading, PA 19601-3690. Membership relieves the
patient from financial responsibility for the balance
of the charge for service not covered by medical insurance.
EMS Category................................................Charge
Advanced Life Support
ALS Level 2 (base rate).....................................$900
ALS Level 1 (base rate).....................................$850
Basic Life Support
BLS Emergency (base rate)...............................$700
BLS Non-Emergency (base rate) .......................$700
Wheelchair Van Services
One-Way Transport (Non-Mbr)............................$50
Round Trip (Non-Mbr).........................................$70
One-Way Transport (Member)............................ $40
Round Trip (Member)..........................................$60
Oxygen.............................................................$60
Monitor.............................................................$90
Mileage $1 per mile after 10 miles
Following is a summary of activities for our Department for the year 2009:
Fire Service Statistics:
Fire Incidents........................................................3,530
First Responder.....................................................4,213
Emergency Ambulance Responses.........................14,262
Fire Loss............ ............ ....... ........... ....... ........$4,071,100
Fire-Fighter Injures.................. ..............................11
Civilian Deaths.......................................................2
Civilian Injuries......................................................30
Multiple Alarms.....................................................4
SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES!
For additional information, please contact:
Fire Chief William H. Rehr III
Department of Fire & Rescue Services
815 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601-3690
E-mail: william.rehr@readingpa.org
Telephone: (610) 655-6080
Fax: (610) 655-6395
