BOSTON
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DEMOGRAPHICS: The city of Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in the state. It has a population of over 600,000 people, which easily swells to over a million at any given time with all the commuters that work and seek entertainment in the city. The city's residential population is very diverse ranging from poverty stricken areas, to low income housing, to upscale apartment buildings, to mansions. Many office buildings and high rises occupy the city with a number of banks and other corporations making their headquarters in the city. Many colleges and universities are located here, including Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern University. Entertainment is a abundant with every day offering the tourist and local alike many things to do. Three out of the four major sports teams for New England make their home here, including the Bruins for hockey, Celtics for Basketball, and Red Sox for baseball. The city has a host of museums, historic attractions, and tours. One might take in a whale watch or visit the aquarium or follow the Freedom Trail. Boston's historic significance and landmarks can keep the tourist busy for their entire trip. Shoppers will find plenty to do in the many mercantile sections and the nightlife is always bustling with clubs, restaurants, and bars. If you like plays and live entertainment, the theater district always has something going on. Traffic can be messy at peak times with commuters coming into and exiting the city via Interstate 93. Many opt to use public transportation, which includes three subway lines, a trolley line, commuter rail service, and a myriad of bus lines. There are a good number of hospitals that offer emergency department services, including some of the finest medical facilities in the country. Massachusetts General, The Shriners Burn Institue, The Dana Farber Cancer Research Center, Boston Childrens Hospital, Beth Isreal Hospital, and the B.U. Medical Center are just a few.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - THEN AND NOW: The Boston Fire Department responds from thirty-three stations staffing thirty-three engines, twenty-one ladders, two heavy rescues, two division chiefs, eleven district chiefs, a safety chief, and a variety of specialized unites. Fire Alarm is operated by union fire alarm operators at the Fire Alarm Office located at 59 Fenway. The main channel frequency of 483.1625 has remained unchanged. In 1993, the apparatus roster consisted of mostly E-One, which has remained the manufacturer of choice with the exception of a period of time in recent history when the department ordered a number of trucks from Pierce. The city has since resumed the practice of purchasing apparatus from E-One with the latest additions. The color scheme of all red has not changed with the exception of Rescue 1 which has a white/red cab. Due to the large amount of apparatus in Boston, I have broken down the city into each fire district and placed them on separate pages to compare the apparatus roster of 1993 and 2008 along with accompanying photographs. Boston responds to medical emergencies on a first responder basis with Boston EMS providing transport services.
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| STATIONS | LOCATION |
| Headquarters | 115 Southampton Street |
| Fire Alarm | 59 Fenway |
| Training Academy | Moon Island |
| W 12 | 1979 Ford/Resco Air Supply Unit |
| Comm Unit | 1984 Ford/Wheeled Coach communications unit |
| TCU | 2004 Ford Excursion first response command post |
| Comm Unit | 1997 Chevy/LDV communications/command |
| W 12 | 1998 Ford/E-One Air Supply Unit |
| APPARATUS PHOTOS PAST AND PRESENT |
   
  
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