Paid Fire Department Details

When do you need a Paid Fire Detail?

• It is a required condition of the permit.
• There is a life safety condition in a building such as a disabled fire alarm or sprinkler system.  The District Fire Chief requires you to have a fire detail as a condition of the building remaining occupied throughout the duration of inoperability of the fire protection systems. This is to ensure the continuous protection of life and property.
• See the Boston Fire Prevention Code (BFPC) 1.05.

Services provided by a Paid Fire Detail:

• Preventing fires
• Extinguishing incipient fires
• Summoning additional help in the event of an emergency
• Preventing overcrowding and ensuring exit areas are clear
• Assisting with orderly and timely evacuations
• Provide first responder level emergency service

Requesting a Fire Detail:

Only an authorized agent of the contractor whose name is on the permit may schedule, change or cancel a paid detail. Request a paid fire detail by filling out and submitting the online form provided.

All requests for a fire detail must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. the day prior to the requested detail date. For Saturday, Sunday or Monday requests, the deadline is 1:00pm on Friday. If you need to cancel, change information on, or have any questions about a fire detail, you can contact the Boston Fire Department Detail Office at 617-343-2836 or 617-343-2838.  The detail office is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

There is a 24-hour notice requirement for the cancellation of paid details.  There is a four-hour minimum for all details.  Details cancelled without 24-hour notice will be billed for four hours.

In the event the detail office is closed (weekends, nights or holidays) you can contact the Boston Fire Alarm Office at 617-343-2880 and they will connect you to the appropriate district chief to answer your questions.

Fees

Hourly detail rates vary. Equipment, like Fire Pumps and Ladder Trucks, costs $50 for each hour. There is an additional 10 percent administrative fee for all equipment and services.

Additionally:

• It is the contractor‎’‎s responsibility to obtain current rates and charges.‎‎ There is a four-‎hour minimum requirement on all details.‎
• Any details running over the four-hour minimum will be bill for eight hours (this includes the one-hour waiting period after burning or welding has stopped). All details will be billed at time and a half after eight hours.‎
• Double Time will be billed for details performed on all Fire Department contractual holidays.
• If you have a waiver but then a firefighter calls the Detail Office, the waiver becomes null and void.
• All details must be paid for within 30 days of invoicing or existing permits will be subject to revocation or future permits will not be issued.