New Bedford Firefighters’ Public Service Announcement

“In an attempt to provide public awareness, since there has not been any formal notice, announcement or signage, regarding the following changes to response and station access.

To residents and businesses of downtown & the far west end of New Bedford:

This district extends from the New Bedford harbor/waterfront west to the Dartmouth town line and from approximately Allen Street northerly to the Parker Street area.

Response times to this area WILL BE affected over the next 4 months.

Due to repairs being conducted at Fire Headquarters (Station 2) at 868 Pleasant Street in the city’s downtown, the following operation changes were decided by the department:

LADDER COMPANY 1: Our busiest ladder company, has been relocated to Fire Station 5 in the far north end (Sassaquin). Ladder Company 1 will remain OUT OF SERVICE as a Blacked Out company. THIS COMPANY WILL ONLY BE OPEN IF MANPOWER IS AVAILABLE. Otherwise, Ladder 3 in the south end (Station 6 – Potomska & Purchase Sts) and Ladder 4 in the north end (Station 8 – Davis and Acushnet Ave) will now double their responsibility by covering the downtown area and far west end in the absence of Ladder 1.

ENGINE COMPANY 1: Our busiest engine company, will operate from Fire Headquarters (Station 2) in downtown from the hours of 8:00am until 10:00pm. At 10:00pm, Engine 1 will then transfer to Station 7 (Durfee & Cottage Sts) until 8:00am the following morning, at which time they will report back to Headquarters.

!!!PLEASE TAKE NOTICE!!!!

From 10:00pm until 8:00am, THERE WILL BE NO FIRE PERSONNEL OR APPARATUS LOCATED AT HEADQUARTERS (868 Pleasant St), leaving the downtown area and far west end to be covered by outlying fire stations further to the south and north (Stations 6, 7 & 8).

Where alternative suggestions were made by this Union Leadership to maintain a 24 hour station operation and regular response it was the decision of the city to do otherwise.”