Before the alarm sounds the Attleboro Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division is already at work. Their mission is simple but powerful; make sure the emergency never happens in the first place.
Every day, the team quietly safeguards our city. They pore over building plans for new homes, businesses, and public facilities, ensuring safety is built into every wall, every hallway, every exit sign. They walk the halls of commercial buildings and city offices, checking that sprinklers are ready, alarms are functional, and no hazard hides. They ensure occupants of the building have working and clear exits should an emergency arise. Before any home sale can go through, they ensure the new buyers will be protected with properly placed and working smoke detectors.
It’s not just about buildings. Attleboro is a city on the move. Seven miles of Interstate 95 cut through our community, carrying thousands of vehicles each day, many transporting hazardous materials. Freight and commuter trains crisscross our neighborhoods, their miles of track carrying everything from passengers to industrial chemicals. The Fire Prevention Division keeps a watchful eye on these high-risk corridors, knowing that prevention here is not optional, it’s essential.
The team completes approximately 1,500 inspections every year, each one an opportunity to find and fix problems before they turn into an emergency call. As District Chief Scott Godin puts it, “Every inspection is a chance to protect someone’s life, even if they never know it. The best emergency is the one that never happens.”
Chief Godin leads the division’s strategy, ensuring that inspections, plan reviews, and safety initiatives are focused where they’ll have the greatest impact. Fire Alarm Superintendent Lt. Erik Johnson manages the city’s network of alarm systems, making sure they’re installed and maintained to deliver an instant warning when danger appears. Inspector Gregory Pion brings that mission into the field, moving from construction sites to municipal buildings to private homes, applying fire codes with a careful, experienced eye.
While much of the credit naturally goes to the firefighters and officers in the field, the unsung hero of the division is Clerk Pam Quinn. She is the one who keeps the operation running smoothly, organizing records, scheduling inspections, and ensuring that the constant flow of requests and paperwork is handled efficiently. If you call or visit the Fire Prevention office, there is a good chance Pam will be the first person you speak to. She is the backbone of the division, keeping the chaos organized so the inspectors can focus on keeping the city safe.
Much of their work will never make the news and that’s exactly the point. Every hazard found and fixed is an emergency that never needs to be answered. Every alarm tested and certified is a layer of protection that stands ready, silent but strong. The Fire Prevention Division doesn’t just respond to emergencies, they prevent them, shaping a safer Attleboro.
###