The shoulder patch currently being worn by Westfield NJ Firefighters

          The paid department currently operates with four, nine man platoons.  each platoon consists of a captain, two lieutenants and six firefighters.  These members works a 42 hour work week on a six week cycle.  The shift's consist of 24 hours on duty followed by 72 hours off duty.  This is the predominant work schedule for this area, with locales such as Elizabeth, Hillside, Roselle and Union all working this schedule.  In addition to the four platoons, the paid division also has a Chief, 2 Deputy Chiefs and one Fire Inspector holding the rank of Lieutenant. The Chief and Deputy Chiefs work Monday through Friday, eight hours a day.  The Fire Inspector works Monday through Thursday, ten hours a day.

          Westfield has what Is known as a combination department.  What this means is that in addition to the 40 paid personnel, the department also has volunteer firefighters.  At this time there are currently 13 volunteer firefighters on the department's roster.  Unlike the paid firefighters who have an assigned shift and cannot leave their station while on duty, the volunteer firefighters have no assigned shift and do not have to spend any time at the station.  All volunteer firefighters have a voice pager and they keep their firefighting gear in their personal vehicle.  When they are needed, the paid platoon on duty will have them paged via their voice pagers.  Whatever volunteers that are available will respond directly to the scene of the emergency in their personal vehicle.

          Fire department personnel operate out of two stations.  Fire Headquarters is located at 405 North Avenue, West and consists of the following: engine three Is A 2001 Emergency One 2000 GPM pumper painted red white. This engine is kept in reserve status and is utilized when another engine is out of service due to mechanical problems.  It is also utilized when there is an emergency requiring off duty firefighters to report back to work.  The off duty firefighters will then staff the engine and use it to respond to that emergency or any other that may occur while the on duty platoon is unavailable at the first emergency.  Engine four is a 1991 Emergency One 1500 GPM pumper with a four door cab.  It is painted yellow with a white stripe.  It is utilized on a daily basis by the on duty platoon and is staffed with one officer and two firefighters.  Truck one is A 1991 Emergency One 110 foot rear mounted aerial ladder with a four door cab.  It is painted yellow with a white stripe.  It is utilized on a daily basis by the on duty platoon and is staffed with one officer and two firefighters.  Utility 7 is a 2004 Ford F-350 with four wheel drive and has a plow and is painted red with a white stripe.

      Fire Station Two is located at 1029 Central Ave and consists of the following: Engine Two Is a 2000 Emergency One 2000 GPM Pumper and is red and white this engine is kept in reserve status and is utilized under the same circumstances as engine three. Engine Five  IS A 1995 Emergency One 1500 GPM pumper with a four door cab, it is painted Red and white. It is utilized on a daily basis and is staffed with one officer and two firefighters. Utility eight is a 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck with a four door cab, four wheel drive and is equipped with a plow. This vehicle is utilized at the discretion of the platoon commander on duty. Car nine is a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with four wheel drive and is painted red with a white stripe. This is the Incident command vehicle and it utilized as the fire inspectors car.