Attleboro Fire Department Completes Decade-Long Restructuring to Boost Safety, Expand Services and Meet National Standards

ATTLEBORO — After nearly a decade of planning and implementation, the Attleboro Fire Department is proud to announce the successful completion of a full organizational restructuring designed to improve firefighter safety, expand community outreach, enhance inspection capabilities, and increase operational accountability.

The final step in this long-range plan was completed this month with the promotion of Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Perkins.

“This restructuring is about more than titles, it’s about readiness, responsibility, and results,” said Fire Chief Scott Lachance. “We’re meeting the demands of a growing city with a smarter, safer, and more responsive department.”

The changes bring Attleboro Fire more closely in line with key National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, including NFPA 1500 (Fire Department Occupational Safety), NFPA 1710 (Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations), and NFPA 1730 (Fire Prevention Organization and Deployment), ensuring nationally recognized best practices are built into the department’s foundation.

Then vs. Now: 2015 to 2025

Leadership and Administration

• 2015: A single Fire Chief handled administrative and operational duties.
• 2025: Now led by a Fire Chief and an Assistant Fire Chief (Deputy). The Chief focuses on department-wide administration, personnel, and budgeting, while the Assistant Chief manages operations and day-to-day logistics, creating greater efficiency, oversight, and decision-making in alignment with NFPA 1710 recommendations.

EMS and Fire Prevention

• The EMS Director role was elevated from Captain to District Chief, ensuring stronger leadership in a division that now handles the majority of emergency calls.
• The Fire Prevention Division was also upgraded to be led by a District Chief, with a Firefighter Inspector added to support inspections, investigations, and fire safety education. These changes reflect compliance with NFPA 1730, promoting stronger community risk reduction and fire code enforcement.

Communications and Dispatch

• The department moved from an internal dispatch system, staffed by firefighters, to a dedicated dispatch center at South Station run by civilian-trained dispatchers, resulting in faster and more accurate call handling.
• The Fire Alarm Superintendent was promoted from firefighter to Lieutenant and now oversees dispatch operations and communications infrastructure in line with NFPA 1225 standards for emergency communication systems.

Station Operations

Headquarters (HQ):

• 2015: A Deputy and Captain oversaw seven firefighters, including one assigned to dispatch.
• 2025: Now led by a District Chief (Shift Commander), with a Captain and Lieutenant providing clear, layered supervision for safer operations and better compliance with NFPA 1500’s span-of-control guidelines. HQ houses a Ladder, Engine, Rescue, and Command Vehicle.

South Station:

• Remains staffed by a Captain overseeing four firefighters, assigned to an Engine and Rescue, with the addition of the department’s civilian dispatch center.

Briggs Corner:

• 2015: Two firefighters worked without direct on-site supervision.
• 2025: Now staffed with a Lieutenant and two firefighters and serves as a launch point for both an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Engine and ALS Rescue. This enhances medical response times and care for the district and better supports NFPA 1710 EMS staffing standards.

Twin Village:

• Staffing remains an Engine with two firefighters, now supervised by a Lieutenant instead of a Captain, aligning rank structure across the department and maintaining operational coverage.

Community Impact

Over the last decade, the department has experienced significant increases in service demand:

• Calls for service have increased from approximately 6,500 in 2015 to nearly 10,000 in 2024.
• Annual fire inspections increased from 1,000 to 1,400, a result of both population growth and expanded fire prevention efforts.

The restructuring directly supports the department’s ability to manage this increased workload while maintaining public safety and operational integrity.

By aligning with NFPA standards and restructuring command across all divisions, the department has improved:

• Firefighter safety, through better supervision and manageable spans of control
• Emergency response, with improved dispatch coordination and more ALS coverage
• Fire prevention and education, with additional staff and leadership in the Fire Prevention Division
• Community engagement, through proactive outreach and inspection services

A Vision Fulfilled

“This restructuring has been almost 10 years in the making,” said Assistant Chief Dennis Perkins. “It’s about making sure our firefighters go home safe and our residents get the best possible service. We’ve built a department that reflects the needs of today and anticipates the challenges of tomorrow.”

With the restructuring complete, Attleboro Fire is positioned for long-term success, providing high-quality, nationally aligned fire and EMS services to a city that continues to grow and thrive.

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