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The District employs 33
firefighters who work on three different shifts and staff three
stations located throughout the district. A Captain and
Lieutenant oversee each shift, named A, B, and C. The
shifts are 24 hours long and are based off a modified Berkeley
shift schedule of working every other day for five days and then
having four days off.
RESPONSE
The type and nature of call
warrants the apparatus and personnel response required. On
a typical EMS call, both an ambulance and engine will respond.
This allows for extra help on scene to care of, load, and
transport patients to the hospital.
Fire responses vary as
well. A fire alarm response is typically handled by two
engines. A structure fire will see multiple engines,
ambulances, and officer responding while a simple weed or car
fire would only merit one engine. This tiered response
system uses resources efficiently and ensures that apparatus are
available for multiple calls.
In addition to the
engine and ambulance, additional department apparatus such as
Rescue 11, Truck 11, Attack 11, and a Zodiac inflatable are used
for various emergencies.
Mutual aid and automatic
aid agreements are established among neighboring fire
departments. Mutual aid allows us to call other
departments as needed for additional assistance whereas
automatic aid sets up planned responses for certain types of
calls.
STATIONS & STAFFING
There are three fully staffed
stations: 11, 12, and 14.
All ambulances are
staffed by a Paramedic and EMT. Engines are typically
staffed with three to four firefighters, including an officer.
All firefighters are trained as EMTs and have HazMat Ops
certification.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
With origins as a
volunteer fire department, reserve firefighters still play an
important part of firefighter operations within the department.
SWAC continues their tradition of volunteerism and these
firefighters supplement crews at both Stations 11 and 14.
For more information, click
here.
DISPATCH
SWAC Fire is dispatched through
Adams County Communications (ADCOM). This center
dispatches multiple fire and police departments throughout Adams
County but is not a free service. Fees are shared among
the various entities that contract with ADCOM for dispatching
services.
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Welcome
to the Southwest Adams County Fire Rescue’s webpage. Over the past several
years, the district has made many changes to improve the services to the
taxpayers of the district. In 1999 we hired our first ever paid firefighters to
improve response times and supplement our reserve program. In 2003, we started
our ambulance transport services to expedite medical services to those in need.
Today the district has 39 employees and many reserves complement our program. We
are committed to providing the best possible services to our citizens at the
least amount of expenses.