Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department

10/09/2026

As Fire Prevention Week comes to a close, our commitment to keeping our community safe remains a year-round mission.
While this designated week highlights essential lifesaving education and community outreach, fire safety is not a seasonal topic. The fire department will continue to actively stress and promote fire safety, home escape planning, and routine maintenance and testing of smoke alarms every single day of the year. We urge all residents to carry the lessons learned this week into the months ahead to protect both lives and property. Remember, prevention is a daily practice, and we are always here to help you stay prepared.

10/07/2026

October is Fire Prevention Month, and the Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department reminds all residents that fire safety starts with you.

This year's theme is Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower, a focus on safe charging practices for lithium‑ion battery‑powered devices, from phones and laptops to e‑bikes, scooters, power tools, and toys.

Charge on a hard, flat surface — avoid beds, couches, or other soft surfaces that trap heat.

Use the correct charger — prefer the manufacturer‑supplied or approved charger for your device.

Watch for warning signs — heat, swelling, strange odors, or smoke indicate a problem; stop use and move away.

Unplug when full — don’t leave devices charging unnecessarily.

Charge large devices safely — keep e‑bikes, scooters, and power tools away from exits and flammable materials.

Travel with batteries in sight — keep charging devices visible during flights; avoid overhead compartments.

OTHER FIRE PREVENTION TIPS:
As cooler weather arrives and heating systems are turned on, taking proactive steps can protect your family, your home, and our neighborhood communities.

Please share and practice these essential fire safety tips throughout the month:

• Test Smoke Alarms Monthly: Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, especially inside and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace batteries at least once a year. These detectors must also be tested monthly. Replace the entire unit from the date code on the back.
• Practice a Home Escape Plan: Design and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in your household. Know two ways out of every room and establish a designated meeting place outside.
• Give Space to Space Heaters: Keep all flammable items—including curtains, blankets, and furniture—at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, fireplaces, and space heaters.
• Stay in the Kitchen While Cooking: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Never leave the stove or oven unattended while fry, grilling, or boiling food.
Together, we can prevent tragedies and keep our city safe. Remember, in the event of any fire or medical emergency, immediately call 911.

09/17/2026

Come out and watch the Wilkes-Barre First Responders battle the Scranton First Responders on the ice for the second annual Mayor's Cup.

09/14/2026

Wilkes-Barre City Bureau of Fire 1930's engine featured in a Ward LaFrance advertisement in a 1948 issue of Fire Engineering magazine.

09/11/2026

25 YEARS LATER

WE REMEMBER

Twenty-five years ago today, our nation was attacked.
For those of us in the fire service, September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched into our hearts.
At the World Trade Center, 343 FDNY firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice. They entered the burning buildings, climbed stairwells, comforted and rescued countless victims while thousands were desperately trying to escape.

They were firefighters.
They were brothers and sisters.
They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, and coworkers.

They answered the call that morning just as they had countless times before never knowing they would not be coming home.

343
That number represents 343 lives.
343 families forever changed.
343 empty chairs at dinner tables.
343 names that will never be forgotten.

They were not simply responding to a fire. They were running toward unimaginable danger because that is what firefighters do.

We also remember the 23 NYPD officers, 37 Port Authority Police officers, 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93, the 184 victims at the Pentagon, and the thousands of civilians who lost their lives that day.

But September 11 did not end on September 11.
In the years that followed, hundreds of first responders have died from illnesses connected to their work at Ground Zero and the other 9/11 sites. Thousands more continue to carry the physical and emotional scars of that day.

For the fire service, the impact of September 11 will never truly go away.
Twenty-five years later, their brothers and sisters of the Wilkes-Barre City Bureau of Fire and every other fire department across the country continue to carry their memory.

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Their courage will never be forgotten.
Their names will never be forgotten.

We Remember. We Honor. We Will Never Forget.
May they rest in peace. May their families always know that their sacrifice mattered.

343 FOREVER

09/09/2026

TRAINING AT THE VAMC
Wilkes-Barre City Fire crews had the opportunity to conduct training evolutions at the VA Medical Center. Firefighters practiced skills to include but not limited to hose deployment, forcible entry, and overhaul. Thank you to the VAMC administration for the use of one of their buildings that is slated for demolition.

09/08/2026

Deputy Chief Alan Klapat and Captain John Kirn ran the 4th Annual Wyoming Valley Run this past Sunday. This 10-mile road race started in downtown Pittston and finished at Wilkes-Barre's Public Square. Over 1000 runners, walkers, and hand cyclists competed in this year's event. Thank you to the organizers, the volunteers, and the hundreds of supporters that lined the race route.

08/20/2026

Please share.

https://www.570creative.shop/Nikoli/
We are saddened to hear about another unfortunate fire that claimed the life of another local boy with so much more ahead of him. Nikoli was a big fan of animals, especially sea life, so we wanted to encompass that into this design.
We launched a campaign with the family's approval to help ease any financial burdens that come of this.
Sale ends on 9/11 at midnight.

08/12/2026

07/14/2026