Carver FD
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As one of the largest "call" departments in Massachusetts, the Carver Fire Department utilizes a nationally recognized paid-on-call response model. Providing Fire and Rescue protection to a 39.5 square mile response area, three career chief officers and 85 call members operate from three stations answering an annual average of 400 alarms. Carver proudly boasts an average daytime call force response time of just 5.2 minutes with 19 firefighters as a typical turn-out. They maintain this exceptional level of service while remaining one of the lowest funded (yet incredibly well equipped) departments in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at a rate which accounts for just 1.9% of the Town of Carver budget!
Station 1
One of three firehouses, Station 1 serves as headquarters housing the administration, dispatch center and training facility. The dispatch center is staffed from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM seven days a week by full/part time career staff after which time communications are transferred to the Public Safety Dispatch Center at the Carver Police Department. The entire communications system was upgraded in 2011 through an AFG grant to include a touch screen IP based system (the first of its' kind in Plymouth County) featuring Enhanced 911
mapping/caller screens, a 36" LCD screen with apparatus tracking and I-Am-Responding® software. Station 1 houses an engine, two brush breakers, tanker, heavy rescue, dive team response vehicle towing a hovercraft, a reserve/antique brush breaker, lighting trailer and
fire prevention safety house.
Carver Fire Department Training Facility
This fire training center which consists of a burn building, various simulator props (car fire, propane tank, etc.) is one of only several throughout all of Massachusetts. While all the others are located in major cities served by career departments, this is the only one operated by a call department. The training facility is made available to other depts. (career, combination and call) in the region as well as the Plymouth County Fire/Rescue Training Association.
The previous training facility consisted of several dilapidated buildings donated by the Town of Carver in 2002 which were rehabbed by department members. They were torn down in 2015 to make way for the current Station 1 and Fire Training Facility. Dedicated in 2017, this Fire Facilities “Deputy Fire Chief” model was custom designed by the Training Facility Committee led by Deputy Chief Germaine. Measuring 72’ x 22’, this three story facility also features a special annex with a custom SCBA maze room. It is complete with a smoke generator system, two burn rooms, a chimney fire burn prop and an attic fire prop as well as a two story stand pipe system, small sprinkler system, two roof ventilation/cutting props and a chimney fire roof prop. The interior lighting system and custom props were donated with all installation work done by Carver's own firefighters. An outdoor classroom complete with overhead pavilion for weather protection is provided for outdoor training sessions.
There are numerous training props on the site including a car fire prop (on casters for added mobility), dumpster fire (donated by a department Lt.) and confined space rescue props as well as a one acre vehicle extrication training pad. Additional buildings on the facility grounds include an SCBA maze with individual movable compartmentalized walls with both fire alarm and smoke generating systems for added realism during search training. Another custom maze building includes props for confined space, self rescue and rapid intervention training while yet another features both roof and chimney props as well as a stairway for multi-level rapid intervention training evolutions. A hydrant system installed by department members features two hydrants located 300' apart separated by a stockade fence to shield crews from view to promote communication.
Breaker 27 - 2012 International/V-Tec 250 gpm/750 gal.
One of four serving Carver, this rig is among the next generation of the proven Cape Cod "brush breaker". Refurbished in 2018 including a rear quick dump valve, it can serve double duty as a tanker supporting water supply operations at structure fires.
Breaker 23 (Retired) - 1967 International/Farrar 250 gpm/650 gal.
A true workhorse, this rig was refurbished in 2010. Later retired and maintained as a parade piece, it was pressed back into active service in 2017 when all of Carver's four frontline brush breakers were committed to large scale mutual aid incidents.
Tanker 1 - 1989 Ford LTS-8000/Maxim 500 gpm/2300 gal.
Shown here lettered as Tanker 1, this rig has since been reassigned as Tanker 2 responding out of Station 2 following the arrival of a new 2021 Kenworth T880/Pierce 1000/3000 tanker. Refurbished in 2013, this rig is reported to be the last Maxim apparatus off the production line. Outfitted with three hydraulic operated dump chutes (complete with in-cab controls), it can off load its' entire 2,300 gallon tank load in less than 2 minutes.
Hovercraft - 2012 SCAT
Featuring a 1,000 pound payload capacity, this 12' hovercraft provides support for the dive team in conjunction with a 19' rigid inflatable boat. Capable of operating on land/water/ice, it rides on a 10" cushion of air, can float on water and will not sink even if full of water. It is towed to incidents by Rescue 2, a former Carver EMS ambulance that was converted in-house by the dive team's members. Organized in 1988, the team presently operates with 13 divers and 7 surface support personnel certified to PADI standards for their respective positions. The team's equipment complement include public safety dry suits, Interspiro® full face masks, a wireless underwater communications systems, handheld underwater sonar and night vision binoculars.
