Established in 1885, the Berwick Fire Department is responsible for the protection of homes and businesses from fire. It offers vehicle extraction, emergency management, medical assistance and rescue services. The department provides various educational programs in fire and personal safety. It maintains a fleet of command vehicles, tanks, pumpers and equipment. The department manages a staff of more than 35 firefighters, volunteers and support personnel. The Berwick Fire Department is a part of the town of Berwick, Maine, which also operates finance, code enforcement, highway, planning, police and recreation departments. The town maintains a public library that stocks books, periodicals and reference materials.