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Provincetown
Fire Department

Department Profile

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The Provincetown Fire Department was established in 1836.....................Provincetown FD is the oldest organized fire department on Cape Cod....................Provincetown is an area of 8.35 square miles with a population of 3,743....................PTown FD operates from 3 fire stations.....................PTown is a volunteer Fire Department.......................There were 1546 incidents in 2002.........230 fire incidents and 1316 rescue calls...........................

21

Chief  Michael S. Trovato

Provincetown Fire Department Website
Provincetown Fire Dept
Fire Department Email
PTFire@Provincetown-ma.gov
 

Career Personnel: 0
(0) Fire Chief,
(0) Deputy Chief,
(0) Shift Captains,
(0) Lieutenants,
(0) Firefighters, 
(1) Admin Sec

Including:
(0) Paramedics,
(0) EMT-I,
(0) EMTs,
(0) First Responders
The Fire Department continues to be a Volunteer Fire Department .

IAFF: N/A. Provincetown is a call department.

Staffing:
Some summer station staffing
Lower Cape Ambulance staffing

Dispatch By:
Provincetown Police Dispatchers.
     
Call Personnel:77
(77) Call (Volunteer) personnel     
(1) Fire Chief, Michael S. Trovato  C191
(1) Deputy Chief, Warren Alexander C191A
(5) District Chief Engineers,
      1       Russell Zawaduk, C190A
      2       James Roderick Jr, C192A
      3&4  Gerard Menegas, C193A & C194A
      5       John Reis, C195A
      R      Ronnie White, C197A
(6) Call Capts,
(6) Call Lieuts,
(58) Fire/Rescue Members 

Including:
(9) Paramedics,
(1) EMT-I,
(20) EMTs,
(   ) First Responders

Updated 1/28/09

Lower Cape Ambulance Association; Non Profit corporation that operates transport ambulances for Provincetown and Truro.  Presently 3 ambulances and 15 personnel.  (3) crews of 5 personnel (3 medics and 2 emts).  

Provincetown Police Department

Provincetown Police Department
26 Shank Painter Road
Provincetown, MA  02657
Emergency 911   Emergency 508-487-1213
Business  508-487-1213    Fax  508-487-xxxx

Police Chief  Jeff Jaran (Able 1)

Provincetown Information

Provincetown Incorporated as a town 1727
Provincetown Fire Department established 1836
Oldest Department on Cape Cod

Town of Provincetown Website

Massachusetts Municipal Association

DHCD Community Profile

Added Jan 6, 2002
Updated Jan 16, 2002

Fire Department History

1775 - Ptown Population 205, about 20 homes
1800 - Ptown about 144 dwellings
1820 Mar 6 - voted to purchase 6 fire hooks
1820 - Ptown population 1252
1826 Mar 6 - voted to purchase 4 fire hooks
1826 Mar 6 - voted NOT to purchase a fire engine
1829 Mar 2 - Appointed 6 Fire Wards
1830 Apr 5 - Voted NOT to purchase fire engine
1831 May 11 - Voted NOT to purchase fire engine 'already in possession' of Jonathan Cook
1836 Mar 7 - Voted to buy Fire Engine 'Washington'
1836 Mar 7 - voted to purchase 30 2nd hand buckets and 100' hose
1837            - Fire House No.1 @ 351 Commercial Street (Center)
1839            - voted 10 additional buckets for engine company
1840              - PTown population 2122
1850 Feb 11 - Voted to buy fire engine 'Franklin'
1855             - PTown population 3096
1858            - Fire House No.2 @ 117 Commercial Street (West End)
1859 Feb 14 - Elected Fire Wardens - Did NOT approve 'formation' of a fire department
1859 May 19 - APPROVED formation of fire department
                        E.C. Loring first fire chief
1859             - Purchased Rescue Hook & Ladder No.1 built by B.A. Ellison, Wellfleet
1867             - voted NOT to purchase a steamer
1868             - Voted to purchase (2) used fire engines 'Mazeppa No.3' and 'Excelsior No.4'
1869             - voted to purchase fire engine 'Ulysses No.1' to replace Washington
1869             - Fire house 514 Commercial Street
1869             - Fire house 189 Commercial & Pearl
1870             - 370 firemen on roster, 4 engines with hose carts, 1 hook & ladder, 1 relief engine,
                        1 relief hose, 5 fire houses, 3650' hose, 26 reservoirs

1870              - Ptown about 794 dwellings
1871             - J.D.Hilliard fire chief
1873             - Organized Tiger No.5
1873              - Railroad came to Provincetown
1875               - Poulation 4357
1889              - Purchased Steam Engine J.D.Hilliard No.3
1889              - Purchased Chemical & hose Excelsior No.4
1890               - Population over 5,000
1902              - Firehouse moved from Commercial St to Johnson Street for No.3
1913              - Roster of 126 firemen, (1) Steamer, (1) hook & ladder, (2) hand engines,
                        (1) Chemical engine, (6) hose reels, (1) hose carriage.
1918              - voted purchase first motorized fire engine. Ford Model T Chemical No.4
1925              - voted purchase motorized engine - Ford Model T Chemical No.5
1925              - voted motorized ladder truck
1930              - voted purchase motorized engine - American LaFrance Eng No.1
1930              - voted purchase motorized engine - American LaFrance Eng No.2
1936              - voted purchase pumper - Engine 4
1940              - voted purchase pumper - Engine 3
1945              - voted to replace pumpers No.1 & 5
1950              - Willys jeep and pump trailer as Engine 6
1962              - Pumper for Engine 2
1968              - Pumper for Engine 3
1972              - Ambulance Van style
1971              - Pumper for Engine 1 - arrived in 1973
1975              - Ambulance Modular style
1976              - Voted to replace Eng 4 & 5
1993              - Shank Painter Road fire house opened - replaced No.1 117 Commercial,
                        No.2 189 Commercial and moved Eng 3 from Johnson Street.
1993               - used engine for Engine 3
1996               - first aerial ladder in history
2001               - Fire House No.5 514 Commercial Street renovated.
2008               - Aerial Ladder Truck 192 rolled over in MVC

 

Apparatus History
1836 - Washington No.1 - Hunneman handtub (#170) - served 40 yrs - still in possession Ptown
1850 - Franklin No.2 - Hunneman handtub (#389) - served to 1871 - became 'Relief No.2'
1859 - Rescue Hook & Ladder No.1 - Ellison hand drawn hook & ladder. Served to...
1868 - Mazeppa No.3 - 1854 Hunneman (#517) was Lowell 'Mazeppa No.10'
1868 - Excelsior No.4 - 1854 Hunneman (#518) was Lowell 'Torrent No.12'
1869 - Ulysses No.1 - 1869 Hunneman (#704) - replaced Washington - still in possession
1871 - Franklin No.2 - 1871 Hunneman (#716) - replaced 1850 Franklin
1873 - Tiger No.5 - 'Junior members' Using former 1850 Franklin
1889 - J.D.Hilliard No.3 - 1889 Amoskeag Steamer & hose company. Replaced 1854 eng.
1889 - Excelsior No.4 - 1889 Chemical & hose wagon. Replaced 1854 Hunneman.
1918 - Hose 4 - 1918 Ford Model T Chemical No.4
1925 - Hose 1 - 1925 Ford  Model T Chemical No.1
1925 - Hose 2 - 1925 Ford Model T chemical No.2
1925 - Hose 5 - 1925 Ford Model T Chemical No.5
1925 - Ladder 1 - 1925 Ford Model T Hook & ladder No.1
1930 - Engine 1 - 1930 American LaFrance Engine No.1 500 gpm
1930 - Engine 2 - 1930 American LaFrance Engine No.2 500 gpm
1936 - Engine 4 - 1936 American LaFrance Engine No.4 500 gpm
1940 - Engine 3 - 1940 Ford/Maxim 500 gpm pumper No.3
1945 - Engine 1 - 1945 American LaFrance series 600 200/500 Pumper No.1
1945 - Engine 5 - 1945 American LaFrance series 600 200/500 Pumper No.5
1950 - Engine 6 - 1950 Willys Jeep & 500 gpm Pump Trailer. Replaced 1930 Eng 2.
1962 - Engine 2 - 1962 Chevy / Maxim 750/500 pumper. 
1968 - Engine 3 - 1968 Chevy / Maxim 750/500 pumper - replaced 1940 Ford
1972 - Rescue - Ambulance Van Style
1973 - Engine 1 - 1973 Ford / Maxim 750 / 500 Pumper - replaced 1945 ALF Eng 1
1975 - Rescue - Ambulance Modular style
1976 - Engine 4 - 1976 International / Maxim 1000 gpm fm Pumper - replaced 1936 ALF
1976 - Engine 5 - 1976 International / Maxim 1000 gpm fm Pumper - replaced 1945 ALF
1993 - Engine 3 - used 1975 Young 1250/500 Pumper replaced 1968 Chevy Eng 3
1996 - Ladder 2 - 1996 Ford / Maxim / Middleborough 1000/300  75' Aerial ladder -
                             replaced 1962 Engine 2.  First aerial / quint in Provincetown.
1996 - Crash 198 - 1996 Hummer Crash Truck ARFF for airport emergencies.
1997 - Engine 4 - used 1980 Mack MB 1000/1000 Pumper - replaced 1976 International
2000 - Res 196 - 2000 Ford E450/Lifeline Type III Ambulance
2001 - Engine 5 - 2001 Freightliner/Ferrera 1250/500 Pumper - replaced 1976 International
2002 - Engine 1 - 2002 Freightliner/Ferrera 1250/500 Pumper - replaced 1973 Ford
2003 - Engine 3 - 2003 HME / Ferrera 1500/500 Pumper - replaced 1975 Young
2003 - Res 197 - 2003 Ford E450 / Lifeline Type III Ambulance - Replaced 1993 Amb
2006 - Engine 4 - 2006 HME / Ferrera 1500/500/30A/30B Pumper - replaced 1980 Mack
2007 - Amb 198 - 2007 Ford / Osage Type III Ambulance
2008 - L192 - 1996 Ford/Middleboro/Maxim Out of service in MVC
2009 - L192 - 1974 Maxim S 1000gpm 85' Aerial (formerly Orleans 176)


 
 
 

 

Major Fires & Emergencies
1858 summer - 3 large buildings across from the old Massonic Hall / Union House on south side of Commercial street totally destroyed by fire.  Massonic Hall barely saved.
1874 March 4 - Large 2 story Adams Hall destroyed by fire during blizzard - engines pulled through 2-4 foot snow drifts. Saved exposures on all sides.
1877 Feb 16 - Town Hall Fire  8:25 pm - Located on hill where Pilgrim Monument is today.
Town hall destroyed.
1908 March 14 - Centenary Church spire 165' high struck by lightning at 1:55 am. Fire spread through building and at about 3:00 am the steeple fell nearly killing a dozen firemen. Buildings on both sides were spared by the firefighting efforts.
1935 - Gov. Bradford School Fire - 2:00 am, 44 Bradford Street - total loss
1949 June 9 - Arnold Inc., Furniture store on Commercial Street, destroyed by major fire 2:30 pm, estimated 1 million gallons pumped.
1956 April 30 - The Castle Fire, opposite the Provincetown Inn, Commercial Street. A large Spanish style mansion, destroyed by 4:40 am multi-alarm fire.
1973 Dec 8 - Macara's Wharf hit by 11:26 am fire. 100 foot long 2 story building on wharf destroyed by fire.
1977 - Royal Coachman Motel, east end of Commercial street havily damaged by fire
1977 March 25 - Fire destroys Provincetown Playhouse on wharf near Crown & Anchor.
1978 Jan 1 - Fire spreads from apartment house to Pied Piper Lounge at 199 Commercial st next to the No.2 Engine house.  High winds whipped the fire.
1978 May 31 - Plane crash and fire in dunes near Race Point lighthouse kills 1.   
1978 Nov 8 - Historic Atlantic House off Commercial street damaged by fire.
1980 June 15 - Plane crashes in ocean after takeoff from Ptown. 4 killed.
1990 Oct 29 - Pilgrim House, 3 story hotel fully involved on arrival at 11:41 pm.  Mutual aid from across the Cape in 4 alarm fire. 7 buildings damaged or destroyed with 14 civilian and firefighters injured.
1991 April 17 - Fire damages Atlantic House again - see 1978.
1993 Aug 4 - Plance crashed into campground, off Bradford Street killing 2.
1996 Nov 14 -One woman killed and dozens evacuated  from Maushope elderly housing complex off Harry Kemp Way at 2:30 am 3 alarm fire.
1998 Feb 10 - 6:45 pm - Whaler's Wharf Fire.  5 Alarms with many special calls and extensive mutual aid is one of largest fires in Cape history.  39 departments activated from 2 counties.  Large Whalers Wharf complex, Crown & Anchor Inn, Handcrafters,  and Marine Specialties buildings destroyed. 
1998 Oct 19 - Fire at Post Office Cafe & Caberet, 303 Commercial street 2:45 pm 2 alarms
2002 March 14 - 3 alarm fire at 280 Commercial street destroys house over commercial occupancy at midnight. 
2002 June 8 - Rogue wave struck whale watcher vessel Dolphin VII injuring 22 passengers.

 

Incident History
Year            Fire         EMS           Total
1950
1960
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990          87             798            885                  
1992        188             849          1037       
1993        229             881          1110      
1994        220           1029          1249    
!995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000                                             1291     
2001                                             1433
2002            230       1316            1546
2003            227       1105            1332               
2004            212       1120            1332
2005                                             1305
2006                                             1290
2007                                             1274
2008           172       1158             1330
2009                                             1289
2010                                             xxxx
 

1975 Apparatus Roster
Eng 1 - 1973 Ford co / Maxim 750/500 Pumper
Eng 2 - 1962 Chevy co / Maxim 750/500 Pumper
Eng 3 - 1968 Chevy co / Maxim 750/500 Pumper
Eng 4 - 1936 American LaFrance 500 gpm Pumper
Eng 5 - 1945 American LaFrance S600 200/500 Pumper
Eng 6 - 1950 Willys Jeep & 500 gpm Trailer
Rescue - 1972 Van
Rescue - 1975 Ford Modular ambulance

The Radio

The Police Radio Call Sign..............KCA 371..............County Callsign
The Police Dispatch ID...................KCA 371.............."Provincetown Police"
The Police Frequency.....................Trunking.................Trunked 800
The Police Old Freq.......................155.700 Mhz.........Old Ch.2
The Police County Freq..................155.565 Mhz........ Old Ch.1
The Police 800 Trunk Group...........38416...................Primary Police
The Police 800 County Group.........36496...................County Talkgroup
The Police Unit IDs........................."A" Cars............... Able

The Water District.......................... 

Provincetown Station Apparatus Assignments

Station 5 .......Provincetown - Commercial Street
Engine 195.....2001 Ford FC80 / Ferrera 1250 / 500 Pumper

Car 195A.......pov - Dist Chief 5 John Reis

Airport .......Provincetown Airport - Race Point Road
Crash 199.... 1996 AM Hummer / Fire Attacker 300 /200 ARFF Crash Truck

LCA ..............Provincetown - Lower Cape Ambulance
Ambulance 598.....2009 Chevy 4500 / Osage Type I Ambulance  (EMS 378)
Ambulance 599.....2010 Chevy 4500 / Osage Type I Ambulance  (EMS 379)

05/15/11

The Sample Run Cards
(As listed at BCC 1-16-2002)

NOTES   
After the 4th Alarm
    1.    Verify the availability of apparatus for the 5th Alarm and a Cape Task Force
    2.    Notify Plymouth County Control to have a Task Force stage at Sagamore if Cape apparatus is lacking.
    3.    Check on the availability of the Boston Fire Boat
    4.    Check on availability of Boston Medflight.
    5.    Arrange for fuel and food for Provincetown.

After the 5th Alarm
    1.    Form a Cape Task Force to stage in Wellfleet.
    2.    Request (2) Structural Task Forces from Plymouth County to stage.
    3.    Plymouth Task Force may be used for local coverage if needed.
    4.    Send the Cape Task Force if needed after the 5th.
    5.    Bring the 1st Plymouth Task Force to Wellfleet.
    6.    Request State Police Helo to Provincetown for observation.
    7.    County Plane if available for observation.
    8.    Move the 2nd Plymouth Task Force into staging vacated by 1st Task Force.
    9.    Request a 3rd Plymouth Task Force to stage.
    10.  Request the Boston Fire Boat to Provincetown

 After the 6th Alarm
    1.    Cape Task Force to the scene.
    2.    Additional moves to scene and coverage as deemed necesary.