Bondsville Fire Department

08/02/2026

07/13/2026

Our Association members are proud to serve!

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July everyone.

07/01/2026

Dear Neighbors and Businesses of Thorndike.

Effective July 1, 2026, the Thorndike Fire and Water Commission has entered into a contractual agreement with the Bondsville and Three Rivers Fire Departments to provide joint fire protection coverage to the properties within the Thorndike Fire and Water District.

On behalf of the men and women of the Bondsville and Three Rivers Fire Departments, we sincerely thank you for putting your trust in us to provide fire protection and emergency services to your district under this new agreement. Our mission is to safeguard lives, property, and the environment through rapid emergency response, fire prevention, inspections, permits and public education. Whether you require emergency medical assistance, technical rescue, or fire suppression, our highly trained first responders are here for you 24/7. We consider every resident and business a vital partner in community safety.

Although the Water Commissioners of Thorndike have chosen to not contract with Palmer Fire District #1, the firefighters, EMT’s and paramedics of the Palmer Fire Department have dedicated themselves to protecting the residents of Thorndike for many years, answering calls at all hours of the day and night, caring for our neighbors during their most vulnerable moments, and representing this community with professionalism, compassion, and pride. The Palmer Fire Department will continue to be the primary provider of EMS services to the community under the Town’s EMS Service Zone Plan.

We want to publicly thank Palmer Fire for their years of service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the residents of Thorndike. Their contributions make this a safer community and have our deepest respect and gratitude. Palmer Fire will continue to be an important asset with continued mutual aid, EMS coverage and automatic aid for specific incidents.

The strength of the Fire Service as a whole has always been found in the dedication of its people and our shared mission to serve. We will continue working as one team, adapting to these challenges while remaining committed to providing the best service possible to our residents.

We ask for your patience, understanding, and continued support during this transition. Public safety is a partnership between those who serve and the community that stands behind them. Together, we will move forward and remain focused on protecting the town we all call home.

Thank you for the trust you place in us each and every day. It is a privilege to serve you.

Chief Michael S Germaine
Bondsville Fire Dept.

Chief Stephen Nodurf
Three Rivers Fire Dept.

06/28/2026

This afternoon, Bondsville Fire personnel assisted railroad construction crews in expediting the reopening of the intersection of State and River St. At this time, the intersection has been reopened to through traffic

06/26/2026

RECREATIONAL FIRES
Outdoor Fire Pit Regulations
Please read the following in full.

Fire Pits must be used appropriately; when use is altered, fire pits will be subject to Mass DEP open burning regulation. Open burning season is from January to May and requires a permit.

At single-family dwellings (with the owner's permission), there are no special permits required in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the use of outdoor fire pits, cooking, or recreational fires. There are however, several requirements based on the Department of Environmental Protection regulations (DEP), the Massachusetts State Fire Laws and Codes (ML Chapter 148 and 527 CMR), the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC), and the State Fire Marshal (SFM):

Fire must be small and manageable, no greater than 3 feet in diameter. A fire larger than 3 feet in diameter is no longer considered a cooking or recreational fire. IE: "bonfire" (IFC). Flames shall be a maximum of 2 feet above ground level.
All fires must be constantly attended by a competent person (18 years and older) until the fire is extinguished
A fire extinguisher, garden hose, or water bucket must be available for quick extinguishment if necessary (IFC)
Fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or any combustible materials (IFC)
The fire pit shall be placed on a flat, noncombustible surface. An area of 50 feet should be cleared around the fire pit in all directions, and clear of all dry vegetation and combustibles. Make sure the fire pit is placed away from other materials that could burn or catch fire, paying attention to overhead and side exposure areas (IFC and SFM)
The burning of trash, painted or stained wood and construction debris is prohibited by the DEP. Never use wet or damp wood; this creates needless, irritating smoke. Always use dry seasoned wood, charcoal, or specialist fuel
Never use an accelerant to light any fire
Environmental condition will limit or exclude the use of Recreational Fire such as bad air quality, or a 4 or 5 Fire Danger classifications (DEP)
Should the fire cause nuisance to neighbors or surrounding areas, the fire department will investigate, and determine if the fire will be extinguished (MGL Chapter 148) and (527 CMR)
Burn will be halted at Fire Officer's discretion for violation of any regulation

The Bonndsville Fire Department strongly suggests you follow the manufacturer's recommendations when using any above-ground fire pit or chiminea.

06/21/2026

Effective June 1st, both the Three Rivers and Bondsville Fire Departments have entered into an automatic aid agreement designed to enhance public safety and ensure a timely response to emergencies that may require additional resources.

This agreement improves the efficiency of our operations by ensuring that necessary backup units are dispatched immediately, rather than waiting for an initial assessment on the scene of an emergency . This proactive approach establishes a unified command structure and a joint accountability system, which significantly increases the safety of personnel from both departments. Currently, these joint operations occur from the early morning through the late afternoon, with the potential for expansion in the future.

Furthermore, the two departments have begun training together multiple times a month. By practicing joint operations, responder accountability, and communication protocols now, we ensure a more seamless and professional integration when responding to high-priority incidents.

Automatic aid agreements are not a new concept practiced by the Fire Districts throughout the town. For years, automatic aid agreements have been in place for high risk building and facilities (schools and hospitals). In the event of a fire alarm at any of these facilities, all three departments throughout the town are simultaneously dispatched. In the event of a structure fire anywhere in Palmer, all three departments are again dispatched simultaneously.

As staffing challenges continue to affect fire services nationwide, these automatic aid agreements are an imperative tool. They allow us to maintain the high level of service you expect and deserve by pooling our resources effectively. We are proud to build upon the Fire Districts long-standing tradition of mutual support to better serve our residents.

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

On Tuesday evening Bondsville Fire Auxiliary members Ian LaPete and Gavin Ryder-Medina participated in the graduation ceremony of Class 010 of The Western MA Regional Firefighter I Recruit Training Program. Congratulations and best of luck to all of the recruits! Special thanks to Monson Fire Department's Chief Harris, Assistant Chief Miller & Lt. Baker along with the Chiefs, officers and firefighters who assisted with classes from the participating departments that helped make this regional training class a huge success again.