Pittsfield Fire Department

The Pittsfield Fire Department serves as the primary fire and emergency medical services provider for the City of Pittsfield in the Berkshires, operating under Fire Chief Thomas Sammons. The department states its objective is to protect the lives and property of city residents through a high quality of emergency and life-safety services, combining fire suppression, round-the-clock medical response, fire prevention, and code enforcement with mutual aid to neighboring communities.

The department is organized across five strategically positioned fire stations and is staffed by a chief, four deputy chiefs, nine captains, thirteen lieutenants, sixty-five firefighters, three fire prevention inspectors, and four civilian support staff who handle administration and records.

Beyond routine suppression and EMS calls, Pittsfield firefighters support two multi-agency specialty teams: the District 5 Hazardous Materials Response Team and the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team (WMTRT), giving the department a regional role in hazmat and technical rescue response beyond city limits.

Pittsfield hires firefighters through the Massachusetts Civil Service system. Entry-level candidates sit for a statewide firefighter aptitude exam administered roughly every two years, are ranked on a civil service eligibility list, and must clear a physical abilities test, background investigation, psychological screening, and medical evaluation before appointment.