The mission of the Bristol Fire Department is to serve and protect the public from the loss of life, destruction of property, and mitigate hazards as efficiently as possible. To accomplish the mission, personnel work hard to ensure a well-trained, well equipped, and educated firefighting and EMS force are available that will provide the Town, and its neighbors when called upon, with the best emergency services possible. The Bristol Fire Department will continue to provide for the fire protection and public safety needs of our diversified and growing community by maintaining high levels of performance and standards of excellence into the twenty-first century.
Fire Companies
Learn more about Hydraulion Engine & Hose Company, Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Company, Defiance Hose Company, and the Ever-Ready Engine & Hose Company.
Emergency Medical Services
Learn more about Bristol’s Emergency Medical Services including its Emergency Medical Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Advanced-Cardiac Technicians, and Paramedics.
Ladies Auxiliary
Learn more about this all-woman organization.
Community Outreach
Learn more about the Fire Department, Division of EMS and Ladies Auxiliary’s work in the community.
Department Services
Learn more about the services offered by the Bristol Fire Department.
Fire Detail Requests
The Bristol Fire Department provides personnel and apparatus for on-site event details when requested or required by fire code. The entity requesting the detail is required to contact the department and submit a detail request form a minimum of 2 weeks prior to any event. There is a minimum 4-hour charge per firefighter/EMT on any detail. Entities requesting a detail shall contact the department for current charges for personnel and apparatus.
Please Note: Detail fire personnel do not replace the need for a required crowd manager at any venue.
Please complete and submit request form here:
Public Records Requests for Fire Reports
Please Note: The Bristol Fire Department maintains only records for Fire & Emergency Medical Services.
*** Medical Records are exempt from Access to Public Records due to privacy concerns of protected health information.
Signed Medical Release Forms may be submitted via Fax to (401) 253-6610 or mailed to:
Bristol Fire Department
Attention Medical Records
PO BOX 775
Bristol RI 02809
Medical requests pertaining to billing shall be directed to Coronis Health (401) 572-3120.
The Bristol Fire Department has instituted the following procedure to help you obtain public records:
- The Public Records Unit is located at the Administration Office, please call 401-253-6912.
- The regular business hours of the Administration office are as follows:
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- The Administration Office is closed on weekends and on all State and Federal holidays.
- There are times during the course of the day that the office may be vacant due to employees responding to emergent calls for service.
- If you come in during regular business hours, please ask for a Request for Records form at the service counter in the lobby, once completed it will be provided to and Administrative Office Employee for processing.
- In order to ensure that you are provided with the public records you seek in an expeditious manner; we ask that you complete the Request for Records Form in person located at the main lobby window or on this website, the form can be found at the bottom of this page.
- The department may ask you the reason for your request, as its regular course of business. However, you are not required to provide identification or reasons why you seek the information. Your right to access public records will not be denied for failing to provide identification or reasons.
- There are times when the public records you seek are not available at the time of your request. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act gives a public body 10 business days to respond, which can be extended an additional 20 days for “good cause.” We appreciate your understanding and patience.
Cost
Subject to the provisions of section 38-2-3, the cost per copied page of documents shall not exceed fifteen cents ($ .15) per page for documents copyable on common business or legal-sized paper. Voluminous requests will be assessed a fee of $15.00 per hour, however, there is no cost for the first hour of a search and retrieval. Payment is accepted in the form of cash, check, or banker’s check. Coins must be rolled; providing that the amount paid is larger than a rolled unit of the coin.
Complaints
If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to appeal to Chief Michael A. DeMello.
If you are still not satisfied, you may file a suit in Superior Court or file a complaint with the Department of the Attorney General:
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
Information on Access to Public Records is available online.
The Bristol Fire Department is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.
Please complete and submit request form here:
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Inspections
The Bristol Fire Department offers alarm inspections to single-family, two-family, and three-family residences. Inspections are conducted on Thursdays between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Smoke alarms are required to be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms are required to be changed every 7 years. If the device is a combination unit, the device should be replaced every 7 years, batteries should be replaced annually.
The Inspection Fee of $30.00 is payable to the Bristol Fire Department. In the event an inspection fails, a $60.00 fee for a retest will be required. A certificate is presented at the completion of the passed test and inspection and is valid for 120 days.
It is the responsibility of the property owner to assure that all devices are compliant with the fire code upon sale of the property. All smoke and carbon monoxide alarms must be listed for the purposes for which they are intended by an organization such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) for example. Unlisted equipment is not acceptable.
In order to provide the most current information to ensure compliance with the fire code, property owners are encouraged to contact the Fire Marshal if thee have any questions.
To schedule an inspection or ask any questions please contact (401) 253-6912.
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms Certified by Underwriters Laboratory
With the prevalence of consumers purchasing items online out of convenience, there has been an influx of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms being sold on a vast Internet based platform with certain retailers who have affixed counterfeit UL (Underwriters Laboratory) labels to some of their products.
At the time of manufacture, the UL label is affixed to certified electronics that have been tested by UL and meet strict industry standards.
Consumers seeing both the UL and CE (Underwriters Laboratory and Conformitè Europëenne Mark) should treat the devices as a possible counterfeit. Devices containing the CE mark should not be used in the United States as their testing may not meet the exacting UL standards. Prior to purchasing a device online, you should check the device model number with UL via their database
Devices that are not UL approved are not approved for use.
For product verification via UL’s Product iQ database, please visit: https://www.ul.com/services/product-sourcing-and-certifications-database
For information on the CE devices, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/ce-marking_en
Residents having questions, can contact the Fire Department’s Administrative Office at (401) 253-6912.
Volunteer
Looking for a way to give back to the community? Consider becoming a volunteer firefighter or EMS member! To learn more about volunteering, please contact the department or stop by a local station.
Please fill out this required background check form and upload during the application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bristol Fire Department a paid fire department?
The department is considered a combination department. There are 5 full-time career positions. The remaining personnel are volunteers.
How often should home smoke alarms be changed?
Smoke alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years and should be replaced at that time. Batteries, however, should be changed every year. A good practice to adopt is changing batteries when clocks are adjusted for Daylight Savings and Standard Time.
When should home carbon monoxide alarms be replaced?
Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced if they are 7 years old or older.
Contact Us
Fire Headquarters Address: 4 Annawamscutt Drive, Bristol, RI 02809
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Michael Demello
Chief of Department
Phone: (401)-253-6912
Deputy Chief – Training and Safety
Phone: (401)-253-6912
Robert Ferguson
Fire Marshal
Phone: (401)-253-6912 ext. 3101
Richard Giannini
Administrative Lieutenant
Phone: (401)-253-6912 ext. 3102
Michael Hummel
EMS Coordinator
Phone: (401)-253-6912 ext. 3110
General Inquiries
Phone: (401)-253-6912
Fax: (401)-253-6610