ABOUT OUR FIRE COMPANY

The Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. #1 proudly protects over 22,000 people living in an area of 10 square miles. We operate out of 1 station that protects a primarily residential area. Our department is a public department whose members are on a volunteer status. We have an ISO rating of 4 (as a department).

The Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. #1 is one of 4 fire stations/companies (the other 3 are engine companies) and 1 rescue station proudly protecting the Town of Bristol. Our apparatus includes Ladder 1, Special Hazards and Marine 1. Our station is also the Fire Department Headquarters, Board of Engineers and Administration Offices, as well as the location for the Engine 4 Fog Squad (made up of members from the 4 fire companies, including ours). We are the busiest of the 4 fire companies, with at least one of our 3 units (not including E-4) responding to most fire call dispatches.

In addition to protecting the approximately 22,000 citizens of Bristol, we also protect about 15 miles of coastline (over 10.5 square miles of water), as well as over 4,000 students (about 80% living on campus) at Roger Williams University. Bristol is also home to many industrial companies, particularly boat building. Besides RWU, we protect 7 secondary schools in the Town, as well as 3 nursing homes and several assisted living and group homes. We respond to all structure fires, smoke conditions & building alarms, motor vehicle accidents, hazmat incidents, water rescues and other emergencies.

We will be adding a map of the Town to the site eventually to the site as well, illustrating our coverage, and will give more in depth descriptions of the unique buildings, events and entities we protect, such as the many museums, sites and, of course, the Bristol 4th of July parade.

The Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. #1 is led into action by Assistant Chief Anthony Merryman, who has served the department since 1992 and promoted to Assistant Chief January 2005. Our Company has approximately 75 volunteer professionals, including active, life and social (as does each of the other 3 fire companies & rescue squad).

Our 2008 Company Officers include Captain Tom Prezioso, 1st Lieutenant Jesse Ferreira and 2nd Lieutenant A.J. Medeiros.

Other administrative and duty offices & positions for 2007 include:
First Driver Ladder 1 - Justin Texeira; First Driver Special Hazards - Mike Cayton; First Driver Marine 1 - Telly Gatos; Secretary/Company Clerk - David Woodbury; Treasurer - Lisa Braga; Custodian - Dicky O'Connell; Orderly - John Motta; Chaplain - Jim Wilson.

Also:
Check out a personal insight into our Company's history, as written by our 1st Lieutenant, Tom Prezioso, once to a young visitor of the station. (I am planning on adding more about our Company, its history and its members, as time allows - webmaster.)