Reading Fire Local 1640

Please join us in congratulating FFOP Jacob Digiovanni on his graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, career recruit program yesterday. FFOP Digiovanni was a member of class 337! We wish him a safe, healthy and successful career with the Reading Fire Department.

Please join us in congratulating Lieutenant Scott Dole on his promotion to Captain. Captain Dole has been assigned as the Group 4 Shift Commander. We wish him luck in his new position!

Yesterday all of our Company Officers and Command Staff met for an Officers meeting. These sessions are conducted every 4 months to discuss various topics. The meetings assure consistency across all 4 shifts and align our organizational objectives.

We’ve been busy! The Reading Fire Department is proud to announce we are the first Fire Based Advanced Life Support Service in New England to deploy the new Zoll Zenix Cardiac Monitor on all of our apparatus. A formal press release is attached!

Time to spring ahead! Last month we responded to a fire in a home with no working smoke detectors! The occupant was lucky and the outcome could’ve been tragic. When adjusting clocks for daylight savings, it is also a great time to check smoke detectors and change batteries.

Our February 2026 run statistics!

Congratulations to Assistant Chief Keough for his graduation from the Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program! Over 16 weeks, Chief Keough has received classroom instruction and out-of-class assignments to enhance skills in the administrative aspects of the fire service.

🚨 Dispatcher Training Opportunity! 🚨 📍 Hosted at: Reading Police Department – 15 Union Street, Reading MA 01867 🗓️ Date: February 25, 2026 💻 Register: DFS Learning Management System Site ⏳ Deadline to Register: Before February 25, 2026 Critical skills. Real scenarios.

Here is our January 2026 run data!

Now that you're done digging out, make sure all furnace, dryer, and water heater vents are clear of snow and ice. Blocked vents can cause carbon monoxide to back up into your home. ✔️ Check vents outside ✔️ Clear snow regularly ✔️ Make sure CO detectors are working

The worst part of the storm is over! Clean up will take awhile! While you’re digging out, please help us and adopt your nearest fire hydrant to clear it out. In the event of a fire, a buried hydrant will delay firefighters and take them away from the fight. Thanks for the help!

Just before noon, a 911 call reported a fire at 277 Woburn Street. A full response was dispatched, with additional support from Stoneham and Woburn. Crews found fire and smoke on the front porch and evacuated the residents. The fire was quickly controlled, with no injuries.

This is some of the coldest weather we've had in awhile and there is snow on the way. If you're using a space heater to supplement your heat, follow these safety tips. 1. Keep 3 feet away from flammable materials 2. Plug it directly into the wall 3. Unplug it when not in use

Hoarding conditions required an exterior attack. Cold weather and snow also complicated efforts, but the fire was controlled. One firefighter and the victim were hospitalized. The cause is under investigation.

At 5:41pm on January 21, 2026, a possible structure fire was reported on James Road. Crews found a 2-story home with heavy fire and a burn victim. Despite being initially shorthanded, crews began fire attack, searches, and medical care. The fire escalated to a 3rd alarm.

Crews are currently operating at a 2nd alarm house fire on James Rd. More information will be posted when available.

Open burning season runs from January 15th - May 1st but there are rules! The first step is applying for a permit. All rules are listed when obtaining the permit. Follow The Link Bellow to file for a 2026 Burning Permit: readingma.portal.opengov.com/categories/108…

Join us in congratulating FFOP Mason Parziale, who graduated from Massachusetts Fire Academy Career Recruit Training Program last Friday. We welcome FFOP Parziale to our organization and wish him a safe and successful career serving the Town of Reading. Photo: Mass DFS

Governor Maura Healey has proclaimed January 2026 to be Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month in Massachusetts, joining the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, International Association of Fire Fighters, and fire service agencies around the world. Photo Credit: Mass DFS

We've totaled the 2025 numbers. Reading Firefighters responded to 4303 requests for service. The responses included 860 fire related responses, 743 service calls and 2700 emergency medical responses.