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Emergency Services
CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED
The North Kingstown Fire Department responds to a broad range of emergency incidents as well as provides a number of specialized services — e.g., fire prevention, emergency preparedness — for the North Kingstown community. Services that the Fire Department provides to the North Kingstown community are outlined below.
Fire suppression personnel provide emergency response to a range of fire suppression-related incidents involving structures, wildland areas, vehicles, and dumpsters/trash. The Department staffs five engine companies, two Advanced Life Support rescue units, a fire alarm operator, and a Deputy Chief Command vehicle to protect the Town. The Ladder Truck, Special Hazards, Marine units, Truck 4 and the DECON Trailer, and Brush Trucks are unstaffed apparatus. These apparatus are manned by the engine companies when they are available. A three-platoon/shift configuration with 17 personnel assigned to each shift is utilized in order to provide the community with around-the-clock service.
The Department provides first responder medical care and transportation services at the basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) service levels. All uniformed staff of the Department is certified Emergency Medical Technicians – Cardiac (EMT-C), and approximately 6% percent are certified, Paramedics. Currently, the Department staffs two ALS rescues with a total of four Firefighter/EMT-C/ Paramedics. The department is a regional Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Team designed to distribute, and dispense medical countermeasures and supplies from the SNS during a public health emergency, bioterrorism, chemical nerve agent, or points of dispensing immunizations for Tdap and flu vaccine, water distribution during hurricanes, to rapidly dispense medication to the towns’ entire population within 48 hours.
The Department responds to a variety of hazardous materials issues. Some common issues are reports of hazardous materials dumping, carbon monoxide incidents and gas leaks. The department is one of four regional Decontamination Teams for the state supporting five regional Hazardous Materials Response Teams and RIEMA. Please visit our HAZMAT Decon page for more information.
The Department provides vehicle accident response, natural disaster response, confined space rescue, low and high angle rope rescue, and structural collapse rescue. All firefighters are trained in technical rescue response skills.
Coverage and Response Structure
The Town is divided into five fire districts and two rescue/emergency medical services (EMS) districts. There are five fire stations and our maintenance facility, North Kingstown Fire Department Headquarters which houses Public Safety Communications, Fire Administration, and Fire Prevention. The Department utilizes a three-shift schedule, staffing each shift for a 24- hour period, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. A minimum on-duty staffing level of 19 personnel has been established for around-the-clock delivery of emergency services. During business hours, administrative personnel is available to the public for fire prevention services.
The primary emergency response unit for the North Kingstown Fire Department is the engine company. There is one engine company at each of the five stations. Engine companies are staffed with a minimum of two personnel: a supervising officer, and a firefighter. All fire personnel are required to be certified at the emergency medical technician (EMT-C) Cardiac level. However, approximately 6 percent of all personnel maintain a paramedic ALS certification. The role of the engine company is vital to our emergency medical service delivery, engine companies arrive first in many cases and provide additional staffing to support the rescue’s mission.
The primary purpose of an engine company is to provide personnel with equipment and water to sustain an initial attack on a structure, wildland or other fire. Each engine company is also equipped with a variety of emergency equipment such as: basic life support medical equipment, emergency scene lighting, basic tools for defensive hazardous materials mitigation, basic water rescue equipment and supplies for firefighter rehabilitation (Rehab).Each engine company is also equipped with 50 feet of ground ladders, specialized wildland firefighting equipment, forcible entry tools, and auto extrication equipment.
Two stations are equipped with ALS rescues—Station 1 and 3. Each rescue is staffed with a minimum of two firefighter/EMTC/Paramedics, each having Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification. The rescues carry both Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) equipment and provide a high level of emergency medical care. Some of the items carried on the rescues are: advanced airway and ventilation equipment, vascular therapy supplies, and portable battery-operated monitor/defibrillator's. Firefighter/EMTC/Paramedics are able to supply immediate life savingmeasures and transport patients to the appropriate facilities.
From routine medical problems to the most critically ill or injured patient, rescues fill a significant role in North Kingstown—considering the high frequency of EMS service demands in the area. Though their primary role is EMS, these units are staffed by firefighters equipped with structural firefighting protective equipment, extrication equipment, and self- contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Rescue personnel are also part of the Effective Response Force (ERF).
The North Kingstown Fire Department has one ladder company located at Station 6. The ladder company is staffed with a minimum of two personnel: a supervising officer, and a firefighter. The ladder is a 105-foot rear mounted aerial ladder, which is able to reach above normal ground ladders. This allows firefighters to access or egress abuilding from a significant height and also to attack a fire from above. The aerial ladder is capable of allowing firefighters to direct an elevated master water stream from the tip of the ladder. In addition to the aerial ladder, the truck is also equipped with over 200 feet of ground ladders, heavy rescue and auto extrication equipment and many other types of rescue equipment to handle a variety of calls throughout the town.
This Heavy Rescue is single specialty piece of apparatus located at Station 1 in the center of the town. The Special Hazards is unstaffed. The apparatus is cross-staffed by personnel from an available Engine Company. Equipment such as air bags, hydraulic jacks, shears, or air quality monitors will be deployed as needed. Special Hazards responds to a wide array of calls such as rope rescue (use of ropes and harnesses to remove patients from elevated or below grade positions),extrications, hazardous materials incidents, confined space incidents, trench rescue, and industrial accidents.
One Deputy Chief is responsible for overall field operations from a command vehicle. The command vehicle, located at Station 1, is equipped with advanced communication equipment, a mobile data computer, and a pull out command desk. From this command vehicle, a Deputy Chief is able to direct emergency scene operations and command all firefighting, lifesaving, and fire prevention operations. Some additional equipment carried in the command vehicle includes: SCBA and suppression equipment, command worksheets and reference materials.
The North Kingstown Fire Department utilizes other specialty vehicles. Information coming soon.