DEMOGRAPHICS: The city of Melrose is located seven miles north of Boston, has a population of over 28,000 people, and an area of 4.80 square miles. The city is primarily residential with a large square that contains a variety of shops and restaurants. A portion of the large Middlesex Fells Reservation area is located in Melrose as is Pine Banks Park which hosts a number of baseball fields. There are no major highways that run directly through the town, although Route 1, I93, and I95 are not far. The commuter rail of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has stops in the city. Melrose-Wakefield Hospital provides emergency department services for Melrose and the surrounding communities.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - THEN AND NOW: The Melrose Fire Department responds from three stations staffing two engines and one ladder. Severe budget problems saw the department run with companies out of service, at times reaching one engine and one ladder operating from one station. Luckily, the situation has improved and once again all three stations are open. Fire Alarm is operated by Firefighters out of the Headquarters station and the frequency of 159.405 has remained unchanged. In 1993, the apparatus roster consisted of mostly Mack apparatus. Today the department operates with mostly all Seagrave and a few E-Ones in reserve. The color scheme has changed from white/red to all red. There are no pieces of equipment still on the roster from 1993. Melrose responds to medical emergencies on a first responder basis with Action Ambulance providing patient transport.
| STATIONS | LOCATION |
| Headquarters | 576 Main Street |
| Station 2: Highland | 220 Tremont Street |
| Station 3: East Side | 376 East Foster |
| Engine 1 | 1987 Mack CF/KME 1250/500 |
| Engine 3 | 1970 Mack CF 1000/500 |
| Engine 4 | 1970 Mack CF/1989 Pierce 1000/500 |
| Ladder 1 | 1971 Pirsch 100' TDA |
| Engine 2 | 2007 Seagrave 1250/750/40F |
| Engine 3 | 1999 Seagrave 1250/750 (Ex E1) |
| Engine 4 | 1994 E-One 1250/750 (rsv)(ex E2) |
| Ladder 1 | 2007 Seagrave 100' TDA |
| Spare Ladder | 1996 E-One 110' RMA |
| APPARATUS PHOTOS PAST AND PRESENT |
   
   
   
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