In 2003 the
Provincetown Fire Department answered approximately 236 calls. Calls for fire
and rescue continue to increase every year. On November 17, 2003, District
Chief Adam J. Wolf went to Ferrara Fire Apparatus in Holden, Louisiana to do a
preliminary inspection of our new Engine Three fire truck. This will be the
third new fire engine that we have purchased since 1976. On December 17, 2003 we took delivery of the
new Engine Three. This Engine will be housed at the Shank Painter Road Main
Fire Station.
On July 1, 2003 we
took delivery of a new E450 Ford Life Line Advanced Life Support vehicle,
Rescue 197. This truck replaced a 1993 Ford E350 Emergency One Advanced Life
Support Unit. The old truck was well worn and would no longer pass the
Massachusetts State Department of Health Vehicle Inspection. We are finding
that the Rescue Trucks need to be replaced or re-chassis every eight years. We
just cannot get ten years out of them like we used to due to the amount of use
they get.
Our goal has
always been to operate as a volunteer department for as long as possible. This
not only saves the town a great deal of money, it also provides a large number
of personnel to any type of incident when needed. To date our system works well. Our members give a great deal of
their time for little or no compensation. This is a very dangerous
business. The proper equipment for
protection and fire fighting better serves the citizens of Provincetown. We are
thankful for everyone's support of this department.
We continue to plan for the
future and are always looking for better ways to serve the citizens of
Provincetown. I would like to thank
everyone for their generous donations to the Firemen's Association and the
Rescue Squad Association. Your donations make it possible for these
organizations to purchase much needed equipment for our department. In closing,
I would like to thank the dedicated Fire and Rescue members for always being
there, as well as Town Manager Keith A. Bergman, the Board of Selectman, Fire
Inspector Ed Schneiderhan and all other Town Departments and the citizens of
Provincetown for their continued cooperation and support. A special thanks to
Deputy Town Accountant Irene (Babe) Silva, and to my Secretary Joyce Mathews, I
just couldn't do this job without her.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Trovato
Fire Chief