Emergency Services

Fire Department

The Boston Fire Department responds to emergencies including fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, medical assistance, and large scale events held in the city. Learn more about the Boston Fire Department, and how various divisions in the city work together.

Home Fire Risk Questions

  • Are fueling-burning space heaters and appliances properly installed and used?
  • Are all space heaters placed away from traffic? Are children and elderly persons cautioned to keep their clothing away?
  • Has the family been cautioned not to use flammable liquids, like gasoline, to start or freshen a fire (or for cleaning purposes)?
  • Is the fireplace equipped with a metal fire screen or heat-tempered glass doors?
  • Since portable gas and oil heaters in fireplaces use up oxygen as they burn, do you provide proper ventilation when they are in use?
  • Are proper clearances provided between space heaters and curtains, bedding, and furniture?
  • Do you stop members of your household from smoking in bed?
  • Do you check after others to see that no cigarette butts are lodged in upholstered furniture where they can smolder unseen at night?
  • Are matches and lighters kept away from small children?
  • Do you dispose of smoking materials carefully (not in waste baskets) and keep large, safe ashtrays wherever people smoke?
  • Do you have a qualified electrician install or extend your wiring?
  • Are there enough electrical outlets in every room and special circuits for heavy-duty appliances such as space heaters and air conditioners?
  • Are all electrical cords out in the open — not run under rugs, over hooks, or through door openings? Are they checked routinely for wear?
  • Is the right size fuse in each socket in the fuse box, and do you replace fuses with ones that are the same size?
  • Children get burned climbing on the stove to reach an item overhead. Do you store cookies, cereal, or other "bait," away from the stove?
  • Do you keep your basement, closets, garage, and yard clear of combustibles like papers, cartons, old furniture, or old rags?
  • Are gasoline and flammable liquids stored in safety cans (never glass jugs, discarded bleach bottles, or other makeshift containers) and away from heat, sparks, and children?
  • Is paint kept in tightly-closed metal containers?
  • Are furnace, stove, and smoke pipes far enough from combustible walls and ceilings, and in good repair?
  • Is the heating equipment checked yearly by a serviceman?
  • Is the chimney cleaned and checked regularly?
  • For safety against chimney and other sparks, is the roof covering fire retardant?
  • Do all your appliances carry the seal of a testing laboratory?

Police

The Boston Police department works in partnership with the community to fight crime and improve the quality of life throughout Boston's many neighborhoods.

Do you know anything about a crime that has happened, or a crime that could happen? Call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS, or text the word "TIP" to CRIME (27463).

Tips for Home Security

  • Use safe locks. Adding quality deadbolt locks is a great idea because they can’t be ‘popped’ the way spring-latch locks can.
  • Don ‘t buzz people into the building without knowing who they are.
  • Thieves use many disguises and some- pose as someone that they are not.
  • Strangers should be questioned as to their business in a building.
  • This can be done in a polite way and is essential.
  • Lock your windows.
  • When you are not at home, always lock your first floor windows.
  • In a single family home or a multi-dwelling building, the outer hallway door should be locked. If a thief has access to the inner hallway, he now has a cover from the public’s eye and extra time to break through the front door without being noticed.
  • Introduce yourself to your neighbor. Consider having a neighbor or friend watch your home when you’re on vacation.

Package Theft Prevention

The Boston Police Department suggests a few security tips to ensure that packages end up in the right place throughout the year.

  • Don't assume that common hallways and back doors are "secure" locations. If the door is unlocked and accessible by those who do not reside there, it's still a vulnerable location.
  • Make arrangements with relatives if you know they won't be home when shipping them a package. Arrange for packages to be shipped to a location where someone will be available to receive them, such as a relative's home or a work address. You can also leave special instructions for the carrier to leave the package with a neighbor or in another secure location.
  • The United States Post Office (USPS) offers special delivery instructions which can be submitted online via the USPS website. Be sure to read them before shipping packages.
  • Ask that mail carriers post a notice that a package is available for pickup at the local post office instead of leaving it unattended.
  • UPS drivers are trained to leave packages in places that are away from public sight and inclement weather, and customers can submit detailed delivery instructions online for where they'd like delivery items to be left in the event they aren't home to receive them.
  • Customers can choose to have their UPS packages shipped to a specific UPS Store location. A notification will be sent via text message or e-mail when they've arrived and are ready for pickup.
  • FedEx offers a "signature for delivery" option. Choosing this option would mean a person would need to sign for the package and it would never be left unattended.
  • FedEx Packages can also be shipped to FedEx Office stores, and customers even have the option to go online and redirect a package to a store while it is en route.

Taking advantage of the security options offered by the carriers will help ensure packages are not easy targets for thieves. If you or someone you know has been victimized by this type of crime, please report the incident to the Boston Police Department. If you see criminal activity taking place, or are in need of police assis­ tance, always call 911.