The Harwich Fire Department provides emergency fire and medical services for the residents and visitors of Harwich, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We are a thirty-seven full-time permanent member group that works out of two fire stations. The department staffing consists of 4 groups with 7 firefighters, 2 EMT-Paramedic Day Positions, a Fire Inspector, a Deputy Chief and a Fire Chief. All of the firefighters are trained to the EMT level and many are trained to the EMT-Paramedic level. 
We operate three advanced life support ambulances, three pumper trucks, one 110 foot ladder truck, two rescue boats and a special hazards truck.
The Harwich Fire Department responds to over 4200 calls a year, a majority of which are requests for Emergency Medical Services. All three of the department ambulances are Advanced Life Support ambulances. These ambulances are equipped with over 40 medications, intubation equipment, 12 lead EKGs with capnography, pediatric/newborn support supplies, advanced first aid supplies and more.
The Harwich Fire Department serves as a Training Center for the members and many in the community. The Harwich Fire Department conducts a number of classes for the public, such as the Citizens Fire Academy and American Heart Association CPR classes.
The Harwich Fire Department has a Fire Prevention office that conducts residential and commercial resale inspections, oil burner inspections, annual hotel/motel and restaurant inspections, along with new construction and remodel plan review. The Fire Prevention Office works closely with both the Building and Health Inspectors to ensure a streamlined approach to inspectional services.
Open Burning regulations, Resale inspection applications and fee schedules are now available on our Fire Prevention page.
Harwich Fire Department Personnel
Norman Clarke Jr.
Chief of Department
Dave LeBlanc
Deputy Fire Chief
Captain Donald Parker
Lt. Justyne Walorz
OIC Eric Diamond
FF Glenn Hawthorne
FF Matt Eldredge
FF Brad Willis
Captain John Clarke
Lt. Scott Tyldesley
OIC Ryan Edwards
FF Josh Ford
FF Jay Boyne
FF Adam Laplante
FF Ryan Avery
Captain Joseph Mayo
Lt. Timothy Jaques
OIC Thomas Gould
FF Shawn Piche
FF Justin White
FF James Clarke
FF Kevin Duquette
Captain Craig Thornton
Lt. Leighanne Deering
OIC Paul Finn
FF Bruce Young
FF Joe Rego
FF Brad L’Etoile
FF Eric Elliott
Robert Sanders, NRP
EMS Officer
FF Jeff Erving
FF Christina Brown
PFF Dan Sangiovanni
PFF Bill Schneeweiss
The average ambulance call requires the response of three personnel, one being a paramedic. Once the ambulance is committed to transport, personnel are recalled to backfill the fire station to maintain a minimum of two personnel available to respond to the next incident. When operating a our shift minimum of six, an ambulance call in the Headquarters District requires one firefighter from Station 2 to respond as the third person to assist with the transport.
Engine responses usually require three personnel, we often respond with two because of other incidents that are ongoing. The National Standard for Engine staffing is four. While we often can accomplish the task at hand with two, it does not take much for the amount of work required to quickly overwhelm the personnel on hand. Often we are forced to respond with both stations, or recall personnel from off duty to meet the needs of a particular incident.
Serious Motor Accidents, building fires, large scale mutual aid incidents often require a recall of the entire department to assist. Some incidents require just the recall of a group, one off duty shift, to assist. Incidents requiring these types of recalls are less frequent and this is a system that has worked well because it allows the Department to scale the response based on personnel needed.
The Emergency Medical Services Officer is responsible for all training related to recertification of Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. He also is responsible for licensing and certification of ambulances, maintenance of equipment and ordering of supplies.
