Reading Fire Department

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Reading Fire Department

Operational area
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
City	Reading
Agency overview[1][2][3]
Established	March 17, 1773 (1773-03-17)
Annual calls	30,660 (2019)
Employees	138 (2025)
Annual budget	$26,300,000 (2025)
Staffing	Career
Fire chief	James Stoudt Jr.
IAFF	1803
Facilities and equipment[4]
Battalions	1
Stations	7
Engines	5
Tillers	2
Platforms	1
Rescues	1
Ambulances	4
Wildland	3
Rescue boats	1
Website
Official website

The Reading Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.^[5] The department is responsible for approximately 10 square miles (26 km²) with a population of 94,000 as of the 2024 United States Census Bureau estimate^[update].^[6]

The Reading Fire Department was formed on March 17, 1773, as a volunteer fire department known as the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company.^[7] By 1914 the department had grown to include 14 separate volunteer companies. Today, the department operates out of 7 fire stations, including 1 EMS Station.

Beginning in April 2011 Engines 13 and 14 were disbanded due to budget cuts.^[8] Starting June 30, 2015 the city will also be disbanding its non-emergency transport division which had been available to assist in transporting those confined to a wheeled chair.^[9]

As of January 1, 2016, the department is now a fully career department.^{[citation needed]}

As of February 12, 2020 the volunteer SCUBA team has been disbanded.

As of July 2025^[update], below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus. Staffing is only two (2) firefighters per apparatus.^[4]