STATISTICS
Statistics fluctuate, can be based on per capita and be influenced by many factors......Here we will attempt to give as fair assessment as possible of the statistical composition of the City of Paterson and it's Fire Department. Combine the statistics presented here with an overview of the entire site, to fully grasp the activity level of the Paterson NJ Fire Dept.
We used averages here. so the low may have been lower and the high higher, this will have to suffice until we research more information.
We used averages here. so the low may have been lower and the high higher, this will have to suffice until we research more information.
THE CITY
THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
POPULATION APPROXIMATELY 150,000
8.5 SQUARE MILES
AMONG THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED CITIES IN THE US
HEAVY URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION WITH A DOWNTOWN AREA,
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL.
POPULATION APPROXIMATELY 150,000
8.5 SQUARE MILES
AMONG THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED CITIES IN THE US
HEAVY URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION WITH A DOWNTOWN AREA,
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL.
THE DEPARTMENT
350 to 380 MEMBERS
4 Tour system 24/72
7 ENGINE COMPANIES
3 LADDER COMPANIES
RESCUE SQUAD 1
RESCUE SQUAD 2
SUPPORT SERVICES - UNIT 57 ( Manned )
ARSON / FIRE INVESTIGATION - UNIT 68
3 BATTALIONS per tour
1 TOUR COMMANDER per tour ( Deputy 1-2-3-4 )
7 EMS UNITS ( Manned by 2 Firefighters on a rotational basis )
FIELD COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
FLOOD RESCUE UNIT
MARINE TRANSPORTATION UNIT
VARIOUS LIGHT MARINE BOATS
CANTEEN UNIT
4 Tour system 24/72
7 ENGINE COMPANIES
3 LADDER COMPANIES
RESCUE SQUAD 1
RESCUE SQUAD 2
SUPPORT SERVICES - UNIT 57 ( Manned )
ARSON / FIRE INVESTIGATION - UNIT 68
3 BATTALIONS per tour
1 TOUR COMMANDER per tour ( Deputy 1-2-3-4 )
7 EMS UNITS ( Manned by 2 Firefighters on a rotational basis )
FIELD COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
FLOOD RESCUE UNIT
MARINE TRANSPORTATION UNIT
VARIOUS LIGHT MARINE BOATS
CANTEEN UNIT
RESPONSE PROCEDURE
In early 2000, department operations went through a major overhaul, the response procedure was revamped at that time. The theory was to hit hard and fast, as the the department lacked overall depth.
Company strength is usually a Captain and 3- 4 men. ( Working )
Reported Structure Fire
1st Alarm 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, Rescue, 1 Battalion Chief
2nd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Ladder
3rd Alarm 1 Engine
Reported Alarm activation
1st Alarm 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
Reported Car / Truck fire 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, Battalion Chief
Working fires - Tour Commander ( Deputy Chief ), Safety Battalion,
Support Services Unit, EMS Unit
Multiple alarm - Field Com
Company strength is usually a Captain and 3- 4 men. ( Working )
Reported Structure Fire
1st Alarm 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, Rescue, 1 Battalion Chief
2nd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Ladder
3rd Alarm 1 Engine
Reported Alarm activation
1st Alarm 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
Reported Car / Truck fire 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, Battalion Chief
Working fires - Tour Commander ( Deputy Chief ), Safety Battalion,
Support Services Unit, EMS Unit
Multiple alarm - Field Com
OLD RESPONSE PROCEDURE
Prior to the EVRS system, when the department had 16 companies, the response was as follows
Reported Structure fire
1st Alarm 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, Squad 1, Battalion Chief / Deputy if a worker
2nd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, Snorkel 1, Battalion Chief
3rd Alarm 2 Engines ( Ladder Special Call )
4th Alarm 2 Engines
5th Alarm 2 Engines
Reported Structure fire
1st Alarm 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, Squad 1, Battalion Chief / Deputy if a worker
2nd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, Snorkel 1, Battalion Chief
3rd Alarm 2 Engines ( Ladder Special Call )
4th Alarm 2 Engines
5th Alarm 2 Engines
OVERALL RESPONSES
The Communications Division dispatches FIRE and EMS 40,000 to 50,000 times per year
of that total, FIRE averages between 6500 and 7500 calls.
With the institution of the EVRS ( Emergency Voice Reporting System ) which replaced the bell system in 1977, and the eventual elimination of street boxes. Total FIRE runs dropped significantly, false alarms decreased to around 2000 per year, this also includes alarm activations, not resulting in fires.
of that total, FIRE averages between 6500 and 7500 calls.
With the institution of the EVRS ( Emergency Voice Reporting System ) which replaced the bell system in 1977, and the eventual elimination of street boxes. Total FIRE runs dropped significantly, false alarms decreased to around 2000 per year, this also includes alarm activations, not resulting in fires.
COMPANY RESPONSES
In the days of the pull box system there were many more fire responses, As an example, during that period the Squad ran in the vicinity of 4000 runs, Now company runs are much less affected by false calls, which use to raise run statistics. Presently Engines and Ladders run fire calls, while the EMS takes care of medical calls. Fire apparatus will respond to medical calls, only if all EMS units are working. So the FIRE COMPANY run statistics presented below are a solid representation of true fire related calls.
Currently the City's busiest Engine Companies, which are consistently Engines 1-4 & 5, average around 2300 to 2800 runs.
The 3 Ladder companies average around 1600 to 2200 runs
Rescue 1- Average 1700 -2000 runs ( Runs fire calls and all types of heavy rescue runs )
Lighter calls like stuck elevators, CO calls, car accidents without entrapment are handled by Ladder companies. The objective is to keep the Rescue as free as possible.
The busiest EMS units run as high as 7500 runs
Currently the City's busiest Engine Companies, which are consistently Engines 1-4 & 5, average around 2300 to 2800 runs.
The 3 Ladder companies average around 1600 to 2200 runs
Rescue 1- Average 1700 -2000 runs ( Runs fire calls and all types of heavy rescue runs )
Lighter calls like stuck elevators, CO calls, car accidents without entrapment are handled by Ladder companies. The objective is to keep the Rescue as free as possible.
The busiest EMS units run as high as 7500 runs
WORKING FIRES - ALL HANDS AND ABOVE
This is a category that can be confusing, as various departments classify structure fires differently. We are working on this, as we want to present an accurate assessment of working structure fires that involve a minimum of all hands.
Here are a few stats we confirmed ( Researched up to 1985 so far )
1979 Busiest 3 Alarm and above 18 (3rd Alarm at that time 7 E - 3 L - Snorkel 1 - Squad 1)
February 1979 - Busiest month to that date, 47 all hands and above
From a recent yearly report:
Last year the Communications Division dispatched apparatus over 45,223 times ( Includes EMS Division responses ). The Fire Division responded to 330 major structure fires, 217 vehicle fires and 346 fires comprising of trash, vegetation, explosions or other burning material. Additionally, the Division has responded to 1817 false or malfunctioning alarms, 536 gas or electric incidents, 1205 smoke investigation/non-fires and 858 rescue or assist calls.
Here are a few stats we confirmed ( Researched up to 1985 so far )
1979 Busiest 3 Alarm and above 18 (3rd Alarm at that time 7 E - 3 L - Snorkel 1 - Squad 1)
February 1979 - Busiest month to that date, 47 all hands and above
From a recent yearly report:
Last year the Communications Division dispatched apparatus over 45,223 times ( Includes EMS Division responses ). The Fire Division responded to 330 major structure fires, 217 vehicle fires and 346 fires comprising of trash, vegetation, explosions or other burning material. Additionally, the Division has responded to 1817 false or malfunctioning alarms, 536 gas or electric incidents, 1205 smoke investigation/non-fires and 858 rescue or assist calls.
