DEMOGRAPHICS: The town of Reading is located thirteen miles north of Boston, has a population of over 23,000 people, and an area of 9.85 square miles. The town is primarily a residential community, with numerous stores located along Route 28. The downtown area is also filled with a variety of commercial business, including a variety of unique places to eat and shop. Both Interstate 93 and 95 run through the town and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has a stop here on their commuter rail line. Reading does not have emergency department services within the town, but patients may opt to be transported to hospitals in nearby Burlington or Melrose.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - THEN AND NOW: The Reading Fire Department has modernized their equipment over the last fifteen years with several more pieces of apparatus on order. Apparatus responds from two stations with fire alarm being operated by civilian 9-1-1 dispatchers out of the police station. The frequency of 46.340 has changed to 483.4125. The department staffs two engines, one ladder, one heavy rescue, and one ambulance. A second ambulance is cross staffed by other headquarters firefighters when needed. In 1993, the apparatus roster consisted of a variety of manufacturers including E-One, Pirsch, Hahn, and Maxim. Today the department still operates with a variety of manufacturers, but most recent additions have been from Seagrave and American LaFrance. The color scheme has changed from white/red to black/red. Still remaining on the roster from 1993 is Ladder 1's 1991 E-One which is due to be replaced shortly with a new aerial that is on order. A Seagrave pumper is also on order. Reading responds to medical emergencies with an ALS ambulance operated by Firefighter/Paramedics.
| STATIONS | LOCATION |
| Headquarters | 757 Main Street |
| Station 2: West Side | 267 Woburn Street |
| FIRE STATION PHOTOS |
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| Engine 1 | 1973 Ford/Maxim 1000/500 |
| Engine 2 | 1979 Maxim 1000/500/50 Foam |
| Engine 3 | 1987 Hahn Pirsch 1000/500 |
| Engine 4 | 1982 Maxim 1000/500 |
| Ladder 1 | 1991 E-One 110' RMA |
| Rescue 1 | 1987 Ford/Frontline ambulance |
| Rescue 2 | 1991 Ford/Frontline ambulance |
| Engine 1 | 1986 Mack CF/Pirsch 1250/500 (RSV ex Wakefield) |
| Engine 2 | 2007 Seagrave 1250/1000 |
| Engine 3 | 1995 Freightliner/3D 1250/750/50 foam (RSV ex E2) |
| Engine 4 | 2001 American LaFrance Metropolitan 1250/960/40 |
| Ladder 1 | 1991 E-One 110' RMA |
| Rescue 1 | 2006 GMC/Horton ALS ambulance |
| Rescue 2 | 2000 Ford/Horton ALS ambulance |
| APPARATUS PHOTOS PAST AND PRESENT |
   
   
   
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