Yes! The Chester Bureau of Fire—commonly known as the Chester Fire Department—is a fully career (paid) fire service that protects the City of Chester, PA, just southwest of Philadelphia .

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🧯 At a Glance
• Personnel & Coverage
• Around 64 full-time firefighters serve about 32,000 residents across a 6 sq mile area .
• Stations & Apparatus
• Station 81 at 1501 W. 3rd St.: houses a squad (Squrt 81) and Engine 83, each with at least 3 firefighters per shift .
• Station 82 at 320 E. 14th St.: houses Engine 82, Ladder 82, and the Battalion Chief (Car 3). This station staffs a minimum of 7 per shift .
• History
• The roots go back to five volunteer fire companies: Felton, Franklin, Goodwill, Hanley, Moyamensing. These merged into a single career bureau in the 1970s. 
• Station 81 was opened in 1978 (at 3rd & Tilghman) after a tragic fire; Station 82 followed in 1984, consolidating older volunteer halls .

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Notable Incidents
• 1978 Wade Dump fire: A major hazardous waste blast that burned for nearly 20 hours. Over 200 first responders exposed to toxic fumes; 43 treated on-site and many later faced long-term health challenges. 
• Historical marker on Avenue of the States commemorates fallen firefighters from WWI, representing those original volunteer companies .

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Career vs. Volunteer Structure

- Chester is one of the few fully paid fire departments in Delaware County—most surrounding areas rely on volunteers .
- Operates with two 24/7 paid stations, ensuring rapid response without relying on volunteer availability.

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Fire Safety & Community Role
• The department provides traditional fire suppression and includes rescue, hazardous-materials response, and medical aid.
• Community education efforts, though less documented, align with modern fire department duties.