Fire & EMS Operations Divisions

Responsibilities

The Operations Division oversees the actual responses to emergency services provided by the Salem Fire Department. These include fire suppression, rescue services, emergency medical responses, and any other disaster responses.

Emergency Medical Services

Currently, approximately 67% of the Salem Fire Department's responses are requests for medical services. We envision that number to grow as our population continues to grow and the services our paramedics and EMTs will be able to offer. All firefighters in the Town of Salem are certified to the level of either Paramedic, Advanced EMT, or EMT. As of 2016, any newly hired firefighter will be required to be certified as an Advanced EMT by the end of their probationary period. This level of service exceeds national standards and makes our department exceptional.

Our providers continuously train to keep up with the latest trends and technologies in the field of pre-hospital medicine. We work closely with our three primary hospitals (Holy Family, Lawrence General, and Parkland Hospital) while also training in the services offered in the Boston metropolitan hospitals with the teams of Boston Medflight and DHART aero-medical services.

Fire Suppression

The Salem Fire Department responds to and mitigates everything from residential and commercial structure fires to brush fires. 

Speciality Services

The Salem Fire Department is equipped and trained to respond to technical rescue calls such as trench collapse, rope rescue, hazardous materials, and other specialty emergencies.

Staff

The Salem Fire Department is a career department operating 17 lines (firefighters) members a shift, 24 hours a day. We operate out of 3 stations with the following staffing:

• Central Fire Headquarters (152 Main St) - Salem Fire operates a Heavy Rescue (Squad 1) but it is cross-staffed by one of the crews from either Rescue 1 or Rescue 4:
  • 1 Battalion Chief
  • 1 Officer and 2 Firefighters on Engine 1
  • 1 Paramedic/Firefighter on Medic 1
  • 2 Firefighters on Rescue 1
  • 2 Firefighters on Rescue 4
• Station 2 (279 North Main St)
  • 1 Officer and 2 Firefighters who cross-staff Engine 2, Rescue 2, or Forestry 2
• Station 3 (170 Lawrence Rd)
  • 1 Officer and 2 Firefighters on Tower Ladder 1
  • 2 Firefighters on Rescue 3

All Salem Firefighters are trained to a minimum of Firefighter Level II and EMT. Salem Fire requires all new hires to be Advanced EMT by the end of their probationary year.

We also employ Firefighter/Paramedics and the majority of our firefighters are trained to the Firefighter Level III discipline. These qualifications make your Salem firefighters dedicated, exceptionally skilled members who are always at the ready to assist.