The North Shore Fire Department has 5 engines (E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4 and E-5) and 3 reserve engines (E-21, E-22 and E-25). Reserve engines are older and are used when a front line engine is in the shop for repairs. The engine carries water, hose, foam, nozzles and first responder EMS equipment. So what does that mean – first responder EMS equipment? All of our firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), so if an engine is the first rig to respond to an accident, the firefighters can begin emergency treatment before the paramedics arrive.

The term ‘company’ refers to the crew assigned to a piece of apparatus, such as engine company or ladder company. The three firefighters on that rig are considered a company.

We have 3 ladder trucks (L-1, L-2 and L-3) that carry ladders, ventilation, rescue and emergency medical equipment. When responding to a fire, the truck company has the responsibility for conducting the primary search and rescue, ventilation and forcible entry, if needed.

Our 2 tankers (T-1 and T-5) carry 3,000 gallons of water and are used in areas that don’t have fire hydrants. The tankers are located in Brown Deer and Bayside, the stations located closest to River Hills and Bayside, our two communities without municipal water.

The North Shore Fire Department has 2 paramedic units (M-81 and M-84) and 3 ambulances (A-2, A-3 and A-5). A paramedic unit is staffed with paramedics and equipped with supplies to perform advanced life support. An ambulance is staffed with EMTs to provide basic life support.

The on-duty Battalion Chief drives the command vehicle (C-3). The Fire Chief's car is C-1, the Deputy Chief's car is C-2 and the next in command, the Battalion Chief, is C-3. The BC coordinates fire suppression, emergency medical and specialized rescue.

We also have two apparatus that carry equipment: Rescue-5 and the special operations trailer. R-5 carries supplies and additional firefighting equipment; the special ops trailer carries supplies for hazmat and other special situations.