The Operations Division provides service to a growing popluation of over 100,000 residents from 12 strategically located fire stations. Each fire station is staffed with full time, career personnel that are prepared to respond to a wide variety of emergency incidents. There are several different types of apparatus that are also strategically located at different Fire Stations throughout the City. Currently we have 11 Engines, 3 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 2 ARFF units, 1 Safety Officer, 3 Battalion Chiefs, and 1 Division Chief. The daily minimum staffing is 62 personnel.
The city is host to a variety of occupancies ranging from commercial / industrial complexes, food processing companies, various motor sports entities, high tech facilities, and shopping centers. Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (the fourth busiest airport in North Carolina), Concord Mills Mall (the number one tourist destination in North Carolina), and Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital and associated facilities are all within the city. Additionally, several major petroleum and natural gas transmission lines traverse the city. Interstate 85, US Highway 29, and NC Highways 3, 49, & 73 bisect the city. Norfolk-Southern rail lines transverse the city, utilized for passenger as well as freight service, which creates the potential for a large-scale hazardous material accident and possible evacuation. The city also is host to several residential care facilities as well as nursing homes.
Through automatic aid agreements, Concord apparatus and personnel routinely provide and receive additional resources to/from the City of Charlotte, City of Kannapolis, Town of Harrisburg, as well as various Cabarrus County rural fire districts.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications for the department is handled through the City of Concord 911 Center utilizing the Regional P25 network .
ENGINE COMPANIES
Currently there are 11 Engine companies within the Department. Each Engine carries between 750 – 1000 gallons of water, various sizes of fire hose and nozzles, and is equipped with a pump capable of delivering between 1500 – 2000 gpm of water. On an incident scene, the engine company is responsible for the application of water upon a fire and ensuring that a sufficient water supply is established for the operation. Engine companies in Concord, as well as most cities, also respond to medical assist calls in their district. Engine companies are perfectly suited for this assignment as they are strategically located to respond within their first-due response territory generally within a target of four minutes. The four-minute target is critical for both fire and medical incidents.
LADDER COMPANIES
Currently the department operates 3 Ladder Companies, which are located at Fire Station No. 1, Fire Station No. 7, and Fire Station No. 11. The department’s redeployment plan calls for additional ladder companies in the future.
Each Ladder Company consists of a small capacity water tank, fire pump, hose, ground ladders, extrication equipment and an aerial ladder device. On an incident scene, the Ladder Company is responsible for search and rescue of occupants, ventilation of the structure, salvage work, overhaul work, controlling utilities and high flow of water. The Ladder Company in Concord, like most other cities, is available for medical response in the event there is not an Engine Company available for rapid response to an emergency. Additionally, our Ladder Companies are also responsible for extrication services within the city. The Ladder Companies, unlike the engine companies, are responsible for a larger response territory covering the entire city.
RESCUE COMPANY
Currently, there is one Rescue Company assigned to Fire Station 3. A Rescue Company is a unit that carries specialized rescue equipment to extricate injured or trapped persons from vehicles or machinery; firefighting equipment for forcible entry, search and rescue, and ventilation; and rope rescue equipment for high and low angle rescue.
SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS
- Aircraft Rescue Firefighting
- Hazardous Materials Response Team
- Urban Search and Rescue (Structural Collapse, Confined Space, Trench, High Angle)
- Water Rescue
WORK SCHEDULE
Firefighters work a 24-hour shift on-duty and 48 hours off-duty rotation. Each firefighter reports to work at 8:00a.m. and remains on duty until the following morning at 8:00a.m.