About Us
The Cambridge Fire Department was established by an act of the state legislature on March 17, 1832 with a suppression force of 6 engines and 1 ladder truck. Today the Department is a 21st Century “All Hazards Department” which provides not only fire protection, fire prevention and education, emergency medical advanced life support, heavy rescue service, and protection to the environment - but all technical rescue skills as well, including hazardous materials, high-angle, collapse, trench, and confined space rescue, and water/ice rescue, both surface and underwater.
The Cambridge Fire Department is staffed by 270 sworn members and 6 civilian members under command of Acting Chief Thomas F. Cahill, Jr. The Department is a member of Boston UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) and MetroFire, the Boston area mutual aid network. Thirty-four cities and towns, including Massport, participate in MetroFire.
The Department consists of 2 Fire Suppression Divisions and 4 Staff Divisions. Suppression companies operate from 8 fire houses strategically located throughout the city. The Fire Investigations Unit investigates undetermined, suspicious, and incendiary fires.
The sworn members of the department maintain membership in Local 30, International Association of Firefighters, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, AFL/CIO/CLC. Celebrating more than 100 years, Local 30 is the oldest local in the Commonwealth.
Headquarters: 23 Bay State Road, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Acting Chief: Thomas F. Cahill, Jr.
- Chief of Administration: John J. Cotter
- Chief of Operations: Brian J. Gover
- Administration: 4
- EPAC : 2
- Fire Prevention: 7
- Technical Management: 6
- Training: 3
- Emergency Medical Services: 2
- Special Operations & Safety: 2
- Fire Suppression: 270