Reading Fire Department
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Reading Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.[5] The department is responsible for approximately 10 square miles (26 km2) with a population of 94,000 as of the 2024 United States Census Bureau estimate[update].[6]
| Operational area | |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| City | Reading |
| Agency overview[1][2][3] | |
| Established | March 17, 1773 |
| Annual calls | 30,660 (2019) |
| Employees | 138 (2025) |
| Annual budget | $26,300,000 (2025) |
| Staffing | Career |
| Fire chief | James Stoudt Jr. |
| IAFF | 1803 |
| Facilities and equipment[4] | |
| Battalions | 1 |
| Stations | 6 |
| Engines | 5 |
| Tillers | 2 |
| Platforms | 1 |
| Rescues | 1 |
| Ambulances | 4 |
| Wildland | 3 |
| Rescue boats | 1 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
The Reading Fire Department was formed on March 17, 1773, as a volunteer fire department known as the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company.[7] By 1914 the department had grown to include 14 separate volunteer companies. Today, the department operates out of 7 fire stations, including 1 EMS Station.
Beginning in April 2011 Engines 13 and 14 were disbanded due to budget cuts.[8] Starting June 30, 2015 the city will also be disbanding its non-emergency transport division for wheelchair users.[9]
As of January 1, 2016, the department is now a fully career department.[citation needed]
As of February 12, 2020 the volunteer SCUBA team has been disbanded.
Stations and apparatus
As of July 2025[update], below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus. Staffing is only two (2) firefighters per apparatus.[4]
| Engine Company | Ladder Company | Special Unit | Spare/ Reserve Unit | Chief Unit | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 1 | Medic 1 | ATV 1, spare ambulance | Center City | ||
| Engine 3 | Ladder 1(Tiller) | Medic 3, Squad 600, Brush 1, Marine 1 | EMS Supervisor | Central West | |
| Engine 5 | Engine 4, Tower 2 (reserve) | Deputy Chief EMS | 18th Ward | ||
| Engine 9 | Ladder 3(Tiller) | Medic 9 | Engine 10 (reserve) | 1st Deputy Chief | Northeast |
| Engine 7 | Medic 7, Brush 2 | Engine 6, Ladder 2 (reserve), spare ambulance | Northwest | ||
| Tower 1 | Rescue 1 | Rescue 2 (reserve) | 2nd Deputy Chief | South Central |