The Brookline Fire Department is continuing to undertaken a number of department improvements and overhauls of antiquated systems to better serve the town residents and public safety employees.
Currently the Brookline Fire Department houses, delivers and may operate the State’s District 13 (32 Communities inside Route 128) DECOM Trailer.
The Brookline Fire Department has conducted Emergency Management tabletop exercises and live drills in this town and in abutting communities such as the recent (June 29, 2003) Red Line T terrorist training exercise at Alewife T station in Cambridge.
Brookline Firefighters conduct In-service training and inspections of critical sites in the town to familiarize themselves with the property and existing conditions. Open communication with such organizations as the Brookline Chamber of Commerce, Association of two and threes and the Anti Defamation League (ADL) are critical to Brookline firefighters ability to provide first rate fire and rescue services.
The Brookline Fire Department keeps a watchful eye on secure national postings of events by reviewing all ATTF, FBI, and Homeland Security warnings and advisories issued.
The Brookline Fire Department is actively seeking federal, state and private grants and public safety awards to better train and equip Brookline Firefighters or protect the towns citizens in the event of a large scale incident or natural disaster.
In April 2003, the Brookline Fire Department submitted a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for computer equipment in its apparatus and stations, an air cascade system and firehouse diesel exhaust systems. This grant paralleled a similar grant submitted by the Boston Fire Department.
With the award of a Homeland Security Grant this July, The Brookline Fire Department hopes to raise the training level of its members to “HAZMAT Technician” and providing HAZMAT suits, air supplies, radios and metering devices to the team.
The Brookline Fire Department Training Division is working with Massachusetts National Guard to advance the relationship of METRO Boston Fire Departments with the Northeast Regional Center for Homeland Security Training at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod.
Brookline Fire Department personnel were the only METRO Fire Department personnel invited to participate in the first security meeting of the Democratic National Convention held in February 2003 at the Thomas P. O’Neil federal building.
The Brookline Fire Department is working with the State Fire Marshal to help improve communications and interoperability issues within the METRO Boston Fire Departments through intradepartmental communication with the Department of Fire Services and the abutting Boston, Newton and Cambridge Fire Departments.
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