Fire Department · Combination
Bristol Fire Department
Bristol, RI · Bristol County
Combination department: 5 full-time career staff plus a large volunteer force spread across four fire companies.
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Department careers page ↗Bristol Fire Department protects the town of Bristol, Rhode Island — home to "America's Oldest 4th of July Celebration" — covering roughly 22,493 residents across the town's 10 square miles. Coverage comes from four historic fire companies: Hydraulion Engine & Hose Co. No. 1 (organized 1836), Defiance Hose Co. No. 1 (1905), Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. No. 1 (1869), and Ever-Ready Engine & Hose Co. No. 2 (1924), together with the town's Division of Emergency Medical Services.
The department operates as a combination force: five full-time career staff, led by Fire Chief Michael A. DeMello, are supplemented by a large corps of volunteer firefighters and EMS providers. Station apparatus includes a ladder truck, a heavy rescue truck, and marine rescue units, and the department carries an ISO Public Protection Classification of 4.
Bristol's EMS division traces back to the 1947 Bristol Rescue Squad and now answers roughly 3,600 calls a year, staffing Emergency Medical Responders, EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics who deliver both basic and advanced life support — making it one of the busiest volunteer EMS operations in Rhode Island. The department also runs a Junior Firefighter Program for Bristol residents ages 15-18, feeding the town's long tradition of volunteer fire service into the next generation.
MissionServe and protect the public from the loss of life and destruction of property, and mitigate hazards as efficiently as possible.
Bristol Fire Department is largely a volunteer organization, and it accepts applications year-round for volunteer firefighters (Engine Company or Ladder Company) and EMS providers (First Responder, EMT, or Paramedic) through an online application. EMS onboarding is run in cohorts each January, April, and September, and applicants with a current Rhode Island EMT license receive preference. Bristol residents ages 15-18 can also join the Junior Firefighter Program.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- Pass a background investigation; disqualifying criminal convictions are disclosed and reviewed
- No disability that would limit performance of firefighting or EMS duties
- Current Rhode Island EMT license preferred for EMS applicants
Hiring process
- Complete the four-step online volunteer application (General Information, Qualifications, References, Review)
- Provide three references, unrelated to the applicant and known for at least 3 years
- Submit photo ID and authorize a background investigation
- Upload credentials such as CPR card, EMT license, or firefighting training certificates
- EMS applicants are onboarded in cohorts each January, April, and September
How do I become a volunteer firefighter or EMT with Bristol Fire Department?
Complete the four-step online volunteer application (general information, qualifications, references, and review), submit photo ID, and authorize a background investigation. You'll also need three references who have known you for at least three years.
What are the requirements to join Bristol Fire Department?
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, pass a background investigation (disqualifying convictions are reviewed), and have no disability that would limit performance of firefighting or EMS duties. EMS applicants with a current Rhode Island EMT license are given preference.
Does Bristol Fire Department hire EMTs or paramedics?
Yes. The Division of Emergency Medical Services staffs Emergency Medical Responders, EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics providing both BLS and ALS care, and onboards new EMS volunteers each January, April, and September.
Can teenagers join Bristol Fire Department?
Yes, Bristol residents ages 15 to 18 can join through the department's Junior Firefighter Program.
How many fire stations does Bristol, RI have?
Four fire companies cover the town: Hydraulion Engine & Hose Co. No. 1, Defiance Hose Co. No. 1, Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. No. 1, and Ever-Ready Engine & Hose Co. No. 2, along with the town's Division of Emergency Medical Services.