* Fire
Department Organization
* Fire Chiefs
* Fire Station History
* Fire Apparatus History
* Major Fires & Incidents
History
* Run Stats History
FIRE DEPARTMENT
ORGANIZATION
The Yarmouth Fire Department was established in December
1930. A serious fire that destroyed Dr. Hart's house on Main Street (Route
6A) Yarmouthport across from the library on October 13, 1930 caused local
citizens to form the department. A December 13, 1930 town meeting
authorized $75,000 to develop a water supply for Yarmouthport and $17,000 for
two fire engines. The first engine arrived on January 13, 1931 and was
stationed in South Yarmouth at Ernie Baker's garage next to Standish Hall on Old
Main Street. A siren was placed on the roof of the garage. Gilbert
Studley was appointed chief engineman for Company No.1. A fire company of
18 men was organized by February 3rd. Shortly after Company 1 was
organized, the second pumper was delivered to the northside. Frederick
Stobbart was appointed chief engineman for Company 2. The engine was
housed in a garage at Hermon Rogers at the corner of Hallet Street (Route 6a)
and Old Church Street. A siren was also placed on the roof of that
garage.
In 1937, the Yarmouth FD boasted a department of 36 firemen.
It also claimed to be the only town of its size with a ladder truck (45 feet in
length)...equipped with a 50 foot truss ladder, 35 foot beam ladder, and various
roof ladders, as well as first aid equipment, inhalators, and gas masks.
By 1945 the water system had finally extended to South Yarmouth and into West
Yarmouth. The northside fire station No.2 was built in 1946. In
1947, Station 3 was built in West Yarmouth In 1950, Oliver Studley was
appointed the first Chief of Department for the entire town.
In 1952,
Chief Dana Whittemore took over the helm and served until 1975. Chief
Whittemore was one of the early proponents of a mutual aid system in Barnstable
County and the Yarmouth Fire Department served as the Mutual Aid Center for many
years. Yarmouth FD took over the ambulance from the Yarmouth Police
Department in April 1973. There were 927 EMS calls in the remainder of
1973 as well as 511 fire calls for a total of 1438 runs. Chief Wittenmore
retired in 1975. Chief John Clemence served from 1978 to 1983.
Chief David
Akin served from 1983 until 1995. In 1986 an addition was made on the
South Yarmouth Fire Station 1 providing apparatus room and living
quarters. In 1989, a major renovation and addition was made to Station 2
in Yarmouthport. In October 1989, Yarmouth
staffed Station 2 24 hours a day. In 1993 a Technical Rescue Team was
established in Yarmouth trained in collapse, trench, and confined space rescue.
In 1995, Dennis Brown became fire chief.
With the retirement of Chief Brown, Deputy C. Randall
Sherman was promoted to Fire Chief in 2004. Peter Raiskio then served as Deputy
Chief. Deputy Raiskio passed away in Feb 2007. Robert Kelleher became Deputy
Chief.
In January 2008, the new West Yarmouth Fire Station 3
opened on Buck Island Road. The three bay drive through station was a
significant improvement for the West Yarmouth area. Unfortunately, budget
challenges resulted in the station being closed within its first year.
Eventually the station reopened and continues to provide improved service to the
West end of town.
In 2009, Michael Walker became fire chief.
Deputy Chief Robert Kelleher retired in 2010, having
served as Acting Chief for a time after Chief Sherman's retirement. .
Phil Simonian was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2010.
(Info from Yarmouth FD records and other sources)
Fire Chief Michael Walker (2009) (Car 551) (2009-2013)
In 2013 Deputy Phillip Simonian became acting fire
chief. He was officially promoted to Fire Chief in 2014. Captain/Insp
Jon Sawyer was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2014.
FIRE CHIEFS
2023-Present
- Enrique Arrascue
2022-2023
- Acting Chief Jon Sawyer
2014-2022
- Philip Simonian
2013-2014
- Philip Simonian (acting chief)
2009-2013
- Michael Walker (Jan 2009)
2008-2009
- Robert Kelleher (acting chief 11-10-08)
2004-2008
- Randel Sherman
1995-2004
- Dennis Brown
1983-1995
- David Akin
1975-1983
- John Clemence
1952-1975
- Dana Whittemore
1950-1952
- Oliver Studley (first Chief)
Deputy Chiefs
2023-Present -
Deputy Jon Sawyer
2022-2023
- Acting Deputy Kevin Huck
2013-Present
- Jon Sawyer
2010-2013
- Philip Simonian
2007-2010
- Robert Kelleher (retired Nov 2010)
2007-
- Allen Bent
(acting deputy)
-
- Peter Raiskio
FIRE STATIONS
HISTORY
FIRE APPARATUS HISTORY
1995 Apparatus Roster
Station 1 - South Yarmouth
41 Ladder 41
- 1974 ('85) Seagrave rm 100' Aerial Ladder (former FDNY L49)
43 Engine 43
- 1985 Pierce Arrow 1000/500 Pumper (Jaws)
45 Engine 45
- 1975 Maxim F/'86 Ranger 1000/500 Pumper
49 Squad 49
- 1969 ('95) Ford/Hackney Rollup Special Rescue Support unit
50 Squad 50
- 1973 Ford F350/Prov Body Type I Dive Truck
51 C-1
- 1993 Ford LTD Fire Chief David Akin
52 C-2
- 1993 GMC Suburban Deputy William Green
53 Rescue 53
- 1995 Chevy/National Type I Ambulance (EMS 341)
54 Rescue 54
- 1992 International/Road Rescue Type I Ambulance (EMS 342)
55 Rescue 55
- 1988 Ford E350/Frontline Type III Ambulance (EMS 343)
56 Car 56
- Yarmouth Water Department Unit
57 Car 57
- 1988 Ford F150 Pickup Truck
Boat
- Boston Whaler 13' / Johnson 25hp
Boat
Ice
- Zodiac 8' Inflatable Ice Boat
Trench
- 1993 Pace Arrow Special Hazards Trench Trailer
Haz
- 1992 Wells Cargo Pollution Control Trailer
Station 2 - Yarmouth Port
42 Engine 42
- 1990 KME 1250/500 Pumper (Jaws)
44 Engine 44
- 1987 Ford F8000/American Eagle 1250/500 Pumper
46 Forestry 46
- 1994 Ford F350/Fire Resources 250/175 Forestry
58 Car 58
- 1988 GMC Suburban Fire Prevention Vehicle
Station 3 - West Yarmouth (old station Lewis
Road)
47 Engine 47
- 1966 Maxim F 1000/750 Pumper (lime)
48 Engine 48
- 1978 Ford F8000/E-One 1000/500 Pumper (lime)
--------------------------------------------------
1992 Apparatus Roster
Station 1 - South Yarmouth
41 Ladder 41
- 1974 ('85) Seagrave rm 100' Aerial Ladder (former FDNY L49)
43 Engine 43
- 1985 Pierce Arrow 1000/500 Pumper (Jaws)
45 Engine 45
- 1975 Maxim F/'86 Ranger 1000/500 Pumper
49 Engine 49
- 1959 Ford F800/Farrar fm 500/800 Forestry Pumper
50 Squad 50
- 1973 Ford F350/Prov Body Type I Dive Truck
51 C-1
- 1985 Ford LTD Fire Chief David Akin
52 C-2
- 1988 GMC Suburban Deputy William Green
53 Rescue 53
- 1988 Ford E350/Frontline Type III Ambulance (EMS 341)
54 Rescue 54
- 1992 International/Road Rescue Type I Ambulance (EMS 342)
56 Car 56
- Yarmouth Water Department Unit
57 Car 57
- 1988 Ford F150 Pickup Truck
Boat
- Boston Whaler 13' / Johnson 25hp
Boat
Ice
- Zodiac 8' Inflatable Ice Boat
Station 2 - Yarmouth Port
42 Engine 42
- 1990 KME 1250/500 Pumper (Jaws)
44 Engine 44
- 1987 Ford F8000/American Eagle 1250/500 Pumper
46 Forestry 46
- 1956 Dodge PW 4x4/Farrar 100/300 Forestry
58 Car 58
- 1984 Chevy Suburban Fire Prevention Vehicle
Station 3 - West Yarmouth (old station Lewis
Road)
47 Engine 47
- 1966 Maxim F 1000/750 Pumper (lime)
48 Engine 48
- 1978 Ford F8000/E-One 1000/500 Pumper (lime)
--------------------------------------------------
1979 Apparatus Roster
Station 1
Main Street, South Yarmouth
40 C-2
Deputy William Greene
41 C-1
Fire Chief Jack Clements
43 Engine 3 1975 Maxim F
1000/750 Pumper. Deckgun
47 Engine 1 1950 Maxim S
750/500 Pumper
48 Engine 5 1972 Maxim F
1000/750 Pumper
50 Rescue 3 1974
Ford/Providence Body Modulance. Jaws
52 Truck 1
1950s Dodge 500 gallon brush breaker
53 Rescue 1 1978 Dodge
van/Horton Class I Modulance. Lifepak 4. EMS 341
54 Rescue 2 1975 Dodge
van/Horton Class II Modulance. Lifepak 4. EMS 342
Engine 9
1950s Ford/American LaFrance 500/500 Pumper - Reserve
Station 2
Yarmouthport
42 Engine 4
1967 GMC/Maxim 750/500 Pumper. Deckgun
45 Engine 2
1953 American LaFrance 750/500 Pumper
49 Engine 6
1956 Dodge PW 100/300 Brush Truck
Station 3
West Yarmouth
44 Engine 7
1966 Maxim F 1000/750 Pumper. Lime
46 Engine 8
1979 Ford/Emergency One tm1000/500 Pumper. Lime.
Apparatus Roster in 1975
Engine 1
Engine 2
Engine 3
Engine 4
Engine 5
Engine 6
Engine 7
Engine 8
Engine 9
MAJOR FIRES &
INCIDENTS HISTORY
Major Fires and Emergencies
1930 - Oct 13 - A major fire destroyed the home of Dr. Hart on Main Street in
Yarmouthport across from the library. Since Yarmouth did not have any fire
equipment, apparatus came from as far away as Hyannis, Centerville, Brewster,
Harwich, and Falmouth. The Centerville pumper pumped 2 hours.
1985 - Feb 9 - The 130 year old 2 1/2 story Lukes Market at Main Street &
Route 28 was destroyed by a 4 alarm fire at 0530 hours. A bitter cold
morning hampered efforts of 50 firefighters from several departments.
1988 - Jan 30 - A 3 alarm fire at Huntington Ave damaged a 210 foot long space
metal building effecting 5 businesses.
1989 - June 17 - A military helicopter crashed in foggy conditions when it ran
out of fuel trying to find Barnstable Airport. It crashed in a wooded area
off Tall Pines Drive in Yarmouthport at 0003 hours killing all 6 onboard.
1991 - June 10 - A 10 inch high pressure gas main leak and explosion injured 4
workers on Whites Path.
1995 - Feb 16 - A fast moving fire took the life of an 8 year old boy at 14
Sullivan Road, West Yarmouth at 2337 hours.
INCIDENT HISTORY -
RUN STATS
Incident History
Year
Fire
EMS Total
1950
1960
1970
1975
1980
2,553
1985
1990
1992
1,543
2,531 4,074
1993
1,688
2,655 4,343
1994
1,831
2,820 4,651
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
4,947
2001
5,306
2002
918
4,378 5,296
2003
5,375
2004
5,566
2005
5,917
2006
5,900
2007
6,135
2008
6,450
2009
6,271
2010
6,694
2011
6,795
2012
6,478
2013
6,709
2014
6,347
2015
7,096
2016
7,265
2017
7,211
2018
7,303
2019
7,413
2020
7,040
2021
7,567
2022
7,822
2023
8,493
Updated January 13, 2024
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