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1. How do I dispose of a fire extinguisher?

The Westford Fire Department does not inspect, recharge, or accept fire extinguishers for recycling.

Some fire extinguishers can be inspected and recharged by a certified fire equipment dealer. We have no affiliation or recommendations for any local fire equipment dealers or services. You can find one by doing a web search for "fire extinguisher recharging" or "fire extinguisher recharging near me".

Some lower cost fire extinguishers made of plastic or aluminum cannot be serviced or recharged.

Some fire extinguisher makers will have information on their website or within the product manual on proper disposal. Other companies will refer you to your local fire department for more information.

If you're a Westford Resident, we ask that you go to the Westford Recycling Commission and check out their guide to "How to Recycle Most Everything".

Questions? Give us a call. 978-399-2345

2. Why do you send a fire engine to a medical call?

The answer to this question is simple; better service. A fire engine comes along with an ambulance for safety and manpower. We plan for the worst and hope for the best when responding to a call. Why all this?

3. Why do fire engines respond to car accidents, even when they didn’t look serious?

The Fire Department responds to all accidents where there is suspected injury to occupants of the vehicle. When a call is received at dispatch, quite often the caller does not know if any injuries have occurred as a result of the accident. Even minor accidents cause “whiplash” or other injuries. Sometimes, the reason for the accident is a medical condition that caused the operator to lose control of their vehicle. To that end, all accidents are considered serious and require a response of a fire engine and ambulance.

The Fire Department also has a stake in the protection of the environment. The department supervises the clean-up of fuels, oils and coolants that may affect our natural resources. Please call 978-692-5542 for more information.

4. Why do so many fire engines respond even if the fire is small?

There is a standard response required to a residential structure fire. That response includes 3 engine companies, 1 tower truck, 1 ambulance and 1 Incident Commander. If these units are not needed, they are released upon arrival or en route. The primary goal of the Fire Department is to protect lives and property and this level of response is necessary to accomplish this goal. Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by 911 operators.

The Fire Department thinks over cautiously when responding to a citizen in need of help. In other words, the firefighters are prepared to deal with the worst that could happen. Discovering that we need more units once we arrive is often too late. We have learned from experience that it's better to have too much help than not enough. Please call 978-692-5542 for more information.

5. Why does the Fire Department bring the fire engine just for a simple inspection?

2 reasons:
-1st, these inspections are conducted by on-duty engine companies that must be ready to respond to an emergency call from the field.
-2nd, an important part of the value of the public safety inspection is to familiarize your local firefighters with the buildings and businesses. While they check for hazards and consult with business owners on how best to eliminate or minimize the likelihood of a fire, they also familiarize themselves with access points and the layout of the facility.

Please call 978-692-5542 for more information.