For the first time since 1989, the City of Quincy will be covered by four fire department ladder companies thanks to manpower increases over the last several years sponsored by Mayor Thomas P. Koch.
The City announced today that a ladder company will be activated at the Houghs Neck firehouse starting on July 1, resulting every corner of the City being within 2.5 miles of a ladder company. Few departments around the Commonwealth are actively increasing service, and the new ladder is a result of years of work, collaboration and financial improvements.
“Our residents deserve nothing less than the very best fire department in the Commonwealth, and I think we already have it,” Koch said. “This measure will increase the protection of our residents – and importantly – increase the safety of our firefighters.”
The Mayor’s long-term plan is to place one of the ladder companies at the West Quincy firehouse, which will mean that all corners of the City are flanked by full engine and ladder companies. Under this scenario, the department’s Rescue One vehicle, which responds to every major incident across the City, will be located at the Wollaston firehouse – which is the geographical center of the City. The ladder company currently at Wollaston would move to West Quincy.
Major renovations to the West Quincy firehouse will be needed to accommodate a ladder engine, and those plans are in the preliminary stages, officials said.