The Rowley Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue and emergency medical services for the residents of Rowley, Massachusetts.
The RFD employs a full-time chief, two full-time firefighters, and 25 paid-on-call firefighters and officers. We operate three engines, an aerial ladder, two brush trucks, a rescue/command vehicle, and a utility unit from one station located on Hammond Street in the east end of town.
Contact Information:
Chief James C. Broderick
7 Hammond Street
PO Box 281
Rowley, MA 01969
The annual burning season is here again. With the dry conditions and lack of snow this year, it is especially important to think SAFETY.
All fires require a permit and are subject to the rules printed on the back of the permit. Permits may be obtained from the RFD Communications Center located at the Police Station at 477 Haverhill Street. Burning may only be conducted between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on designated days.
All fires must be located at least 75 feet from any structure. Be especially aware of the hazards to sheds and other outbuildings. Keep your fire small. Adding material to a small fire is safer than lighting one large fire. Keep a water source handy. A hose is best as it has an unlimited supply of water.
Regardless of the weather report, if the wind picks up please extinguish your fire. Conditions can change, and a small fire can become a big problem very quickly.
NEVER leave a fire unattended. It WILL spread if you do; you can count on it.
Finally, keep a phone handy. If you have any doubts please call us at 911 or 978.948.3311. Any fire can grow out of control; every year it happens to someone. If you follow these simple guidelines you can reduce the chances of it happening to you.
The Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, in conjunction with local emergency management agencies, will conduct the annual demonstration of their emergency notification sirens on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 12:30 PM.
Rowley is not located within the evacuation zone and does not have any sirens, but sirens in neighboring Newbury and Byfield may be audible in some areas of town.
The test should last for 3-5 minutes, and no action by residents is necessary. In the event of an emergency, please tune to local media outlets for further information.
The town of Rowley will conduct its annual Household Hazardous Waste collection on Saturday November 12, 2011. Gather up those old fluorescent light bulbs and quarts of used motor oil because now is your chance to dispose of them properly for free.
Full details including lists of what to bring and what will not be accepted are available @TownofRowley.net
On Wednesday, November 9, at approximately 2 PM EST, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct the country’s first nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. The test will last approximately three minutes. EAS announcements will be carried on all local and national media outlets.
This is an excellent time to test your family’s own emergency preparedness. Have a fire drill. Does everyone know what to do when the alarm sounds? Pick a meeting place outside, away from the home but near where you can greet the arriving fire engines. Think about how you would get out if your regular exit was blocked. Always use the closest available exit, no matter which door you commonly use.
If there is a fire and someone is trapped, DON’T GO BACK IN! Stay outside at your meeting place and tell the firefighters when they arrive. We have the training and equipment to go in and get them safely.
Does everyone know where to find the fire extinguisher, flashlight and first aid kit? Have you checked them lately to make sure they are in working order and fully stocked?
Does everyone know how to summon help if needed? Do your children know how to dial 911? Do they know WHEN to dial 911? Do they know your address?
A little preparation and practice now could make all the difference in an emergency.
Daylight Savings Time ends for 2011 at 0200 hours this Sunday. Don’t forget to set your clocks back by one hour before going to sleep Saturday night.
If you haven’t changed the batteries in your smoke detectors recently, now would be a good time. Did you know that most manufacturers recommend replacing smoke detectors after ten years? How old are yours?
Don’t forget those carbon monoxide (CO) alarms either. The heating season is here, and the danger from a build-up of CO is increasing. It’s colorless, odorless, and deadly. Now is the time to check your CO alarms and change their batteries. You DO have CO alarms, don’t you?
Finally, even if you have hard wired alarms, check them for batteries. Many people are unaware that most hard wired alarms also have a 9v backup which needs to be replaced.
The Northern Essex Regional Emergency Planning Committee is seeking volunteers for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT members are trained to assist local police and fire in times of natural or man made disasters. Can you help out your local community in its time of need? Do you know what to do in an earthquake, hurricane, or flood?
Want to? Training sessions are forming now. Click the links below for more information and an application.
The Rowley Fire Department currently operates from one station located on Hammond Street. It was a good location in 1936 when it opened, but over time the town’s population has shifted westward. As a long, narrow town we have some neighborhoods over 4 miles from the firehouse. Take a ride along with Engine 3 to see how far away that really is:
The selectmen have appointed a Fire Station Committee to study the issue and recommend a solution. To find out more about the issue or how you can help, contact Fire Chief James Broderick or the Board of Selectmen.
It has come to the attention of the RFD that a group is conducting fundraising phone calls in our area and stating that the funds will benefit “local fire departments.” The Rowley Fire Department and the Rowley Volunteer Fire Protection Association do not conduct telephone fundraising and have not authorized anyone to fundraise on our behalf.
We have never seen a dime of money from any of these people.
If you have any questions about a phone call you may have received, please feel free to contact Chief Broderick at 978.948.3812 during normal business hours. The MA Attorney General’s office has a number of very good resources for evaluating charities on their website.
