By Jim Regan
Thecity of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was originally incorporated as a town in 1847. Its 6.75-square-mile area was carved out of the towns of Methuen and Andover. Lawrence was a planned ideal industrial community and was the idea of several industrialists from Boston. The goal was to build a city around textile mills that would harness the waterpower of the Merrimack River, which runs through the center of the city. The Great Stone Dam was begun in 1845 and completed in 1848 using primarily Irish immigrant labor. The dam funneled water down two canals that provided waterpower to the numerous mills.
The Lawrence (MA) Fire Department (LFD) was established as avolunteerorganization in 1847.
该部门随着城市的发展而发展。1900年代初期的人口接近80,000。LFD在1922 - 1923年全面机动。税基主要取决于纺织厂，其中包括美国最大的纺织厂Wood Mill的American Woolen Company。随着纺织品在40年代和50年代的下降，城市和LFD的命运也是如此。
At its height, the LFD employed slightly more than 200 members manning eight抽水机, threeladders, one light rescue, two ambulances, and a deputy chief and chief with aides. Beginning in the 1970s and carrying through the ‘90s, four engines, one ladder, the ambulances, and aides were eliminated at different times. Four stations were closed.
Apparatuspurchases稀疏，但酋长理查德·谢弗（Richard Shafer）成功地取代了设备并购买了Quint在90年代。
The Merrimack Valley Gas Crisis: ‘The Day That Wouldn’t End’
巧合的是，劳伦斯被一种流行病所吸引arsonfires at this time that garnered national attention. In addition, staffing was dramatically reduced by 35 percent during 1992-1993. This included demotions that destroyedfirefighters’士气。本世纪之交后，购买的最后一辆设备是2005年的泡沫和重型救援。值得庆幸的是，由于包括劳伦斯警察，LFD，联邦ATF和马萨诸塞州警察在内的纵火工作队的干预，纵火大火下降了。
The population had dropped into the 60,000 range and a large influx of immigrants was underway.
下游哈弗希尔消防局的副局长布莱恩·莫里亚蒂（Brian Moriarty）于2015年3月22日被任命为酋长，继承了一个拥有旧设备，低士气和黯淡未来的部门。莫里亚蒂（Moriarty）于1980年在美国空军开始了他的消防职业生涯，成为一名护理人员。他于1987年4月12日在Haverhill开始，同时开始了劳伦斯的护理人员职业。这给了他与大多数局外人不同的LFD观点。他个人认识，并在接下来的29年中照顾许多部门成员。
在当时的市长丹尼尔·里维拉（Daniel Rivera）的协助下，莫里亚蒂（Moriarty）于2015年11月30日在南劳伦斯东部（South Lawrence East）重新开放了9号引擎的宿舍。100英尺的中标tower ladderin 2017; a rescue pumper and a 1,500-gpm pumper in 2020; and finally another 1,500-gpm pumper delivered for Engine Company 6 this year. Basically, this replaced the entire fleet. Additional major accomplishments include:
- 重启发动机压缩空气ny 8 on Tower Hill, which had been closed for years. This was accomplished by moving Engine 5 to Tower Hill and renaming it as Engine 8. A new Engine/Squad was opened at the Central Fire Station with a new piece of apparatus. This rig included many of the necessary rescue tools formerly carried on the rescue company. Rescue 1’s staffing was transferred to the new “Squad 1” replacing Engine 5. This reduced response time dramatically to Tower Hill, one of several major hills in Lawrence. The firehouse was rehabbed top to bottom.
- Increased staffing from 117 to 124 firefighters. This was accomplished by retaining the seven firefighters who were hired with a SAFER grant. Chief Moriarty explained to the mayor that retaining these seven members would dramatically reduce overtime and the mayor supported the plan.
- Changed the 10-alarm citywide running card to provide for greater response on multiple alarms. The card now calls for three engines and one ladder on each alarm. The prior card called for only a single piece of apparatus on every alarm. This provided for increased resources and had mutual aid moving earlier into the city. Response time was reduced and relationships with neighboring communities improved.
- Replaced the entire inventory of self-contained breathing apparatus.
- 在中央消防局获得了一个新的空气压缩机，该消防局现已安置了1号小队，塔梯子5和值班副局长。
- Provided an emergency generator in each station.
- 在每个站点获得了齿轮提取器。
- Obtained new extrication devices on two ladders and the squad.
- 在小队1上获得了新的千斤顶和安全气囊。
- Obtained lightweight portable attack nozzles on all pumpers, fed by new 3-inch hose.
- 用5英寸软管代替了所有4英寸软管，还为所有泵送器提供了消防栓辅助阀。
- 为所有发动机公司增加了光滑的喷嘴，以便在Fireground上为官员和消防员提供更多选择
- 为所有成员提供了Narcan，以便使用关闭和下班的能力。阿片类药物危机非常艰难地袭击了劳伦斯。
- Has a fire captain in charge of inspectional services, thereby increasing inspection and cooperation between inspectional services and the fire prevention bureau.
- 从3级到第2类，改进了城市的ISO等级。
- The fire department has worked very closely with the city water department and has all hydrants flow tested. Hydrant caps and bonnets have been painted to comply with NFPA recommendations.
- Many of the firehouses were neglected for years and in need of major repairs. The biggest issue was at the Central Fire Station, which was built in 1967 and also houses headquarters. The apparatus floor over a basement had deteriorated and was condemned and equipment had to be moved. The floor was supported with staging and the top four inches removed and repoured and coated. This project resulted in a basically new, aesthetically pleasing floor at a cost of more than one million dollars.
Many of these improvements were in place duringthe 2018 natural gas over pressurization event in South Lawrence and neighboring suburbs。这导致了劳伦斯，安多弗和北安多佛的许多同时大火。一所房子爆炸，导致一个人死亡。这项活动导致购买了其他设备，包括CGI，两个带有打滑负载，收音机和通信车辆的UTV。灾难的结果是，将新的天然气分销商带入了城市，并且就1级气体泄漏和其他天然气维修进行了更好的沟通。
所有四个前线发动机，小队和塔梯子5均为五岁或更新。未来的项目是取代2012年ladder truck in South Lawrence west with a quint. This is the only fire station that does not have water and pumping capability.
The department is also investigating new software forNFIRS报告写作，该写作将通过一个系统跟踪部门运营的各个方面；这项技术将做到这一切，节省资金并简化记录保存。
Improving the city’sISO等级to Class 1 is the department’s goal. With the many improvements in apparatus, training, documentation, and water supply, it is hoped that this goal will be achieved during the next evaluation.
近年来，劳伦斯被认为是马萨诸塞州最贫穷的城市。人口的增长量增长，估计在2019年接近82,000。该人口均与174年前该镇建立时相同的6.75平方英里。荣誉归功于LFD的官员和莫里亚蒂首席成员，因为他们在很短的时间内都在许多方面取得了如此多的成就。
Jim Regan长大后，劳伦斯（Lawrence）在职业生涯50年后退休，担任消防工程师和保险高管。他是劳伦斯消防局的非正式历史学家，是西泉（IL）消防局的20年成员。劳伦斯将永远是家。
