Portland Fire & Rescue

Portland Fire and Rescue Bureau, also known as the Portland Fire Bureau, and sometimes informally the Portland Fire Department, provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The department is responsible for an area of 151 square miles (390 km2),[1] with a population of over 632,309.[6] It is the largest fire and emergency services provider in Oregon.

Portland Fire and Rescue
Always Ready, Always There
Operational area
Country United States
State Oregon
CityPortland
Agency overview[1][2]
EstablishedJanuary 3, 1883 (1883-01-03)
(volunteer force established 1850)
Annual calls67,191 (2010)[3]
Employees
  • 756 total personnel (2010)
  • - 699 uniformed members
  • - 57 civilian personnel
Annual budget$91 million (2010)[4]
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefSara Boone [5]
EMS levelALS
IAFF43
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions4
Stations31
Engines28
Trucks10
Squads3
Rescues1
Tenders1
HAZMAT1
USAR1
Wildland4
Fireboats4
Rescue boats2
Light and air2
Website
Official website
www.portlandfirefighters.org
Station #1, the Headquarters of the Portland Fire Bureau.
Portland Fire and Rescue Boathouse.
Truck #4.
A Fireboat in the background during the Portland Rose Festival's Fleet Week.
A Portland Fireboat during Portland Rose Festival's Fleet Week.
Station 21, Portland's newest fire station. It is located on the shore of the Willamette River next to the boathouses.
An engine at Station 21.

History

Portland's first firefighting services were provided by Pioneer Fire Engine Company no. 1, established in 1850 by Thomas Dryer, founder of The Oregonian newspaper.[2] It consisted of 37 volunteers wearing red shirts and operating a single hand pump. A fire at a steam mill in 1853 illustrated the need for an organized firefighting force, and on July 29, 1853, the Vigilance Hook and Ladder Company no. 1 was created, consisting of 36 volunteers. Less than a month later, 22 volunteers formed the Willamette Engine Company no. 1, and the first engine house in Portland was built on a donated lot on Yamhill Street.[2]

On May 22, 1854, the Portland city council passed an ordinance establishing the Portland Fire Department.[7] H. W. Davis was elected as the first "chief engineer" (or chief) and was reelected to the position in 1855 and 1856.[7] In 1857, businessman S. J. McCormick was elected chief. A reorganization of the department in 1857 brought the Willamette Company no. 1, the Multnomah Engine Company no. 2 (which had been formed in 1856) and Vigilance Hook and Ladder Company no. 1 into the Portland Fire Department, which thereupon had a total of 157 members (volunteer firefighters).[7] Another reorganization in 1859 added the Columbia Engine Company no. 3 to the department; it was the first engine company in Portland to use horses.[7] As the city's population grew, additional fire companies were organized, including the Protection Engine Company no. 4, in 1862; the Tiger Company no. 5, in 1873; and the Couch Engine Company no. 6, in 1880.[7]

On August 2, 1873, the Great Fire of 1873 broke out, burning for over 12 hours and destroying 22 blocks in the heart of the city. In 1883, the Portland Paid Fire Department submitted its first annual budget to City Council.[2]

Fire stations and apparatus

As of May 2016, the department operates out of 31 fire stations strategically located the city.[8]

Station # Location Address Apparatus Notes
1Old Town55 SW Ash StreetC103, E1, RC1, S1, T1, TR1, USAR1, UT1
2Parkrose4800 NE 122nd AvenueE2, T2Station 2 includes PF&R's training facility, so both apparatus have extended cabs to seat two additional firefighters.
3Northwest/Pearl District1715 NW Johnson StreetE3, T3
4Portland State University511 SW College StreetE4, T4
5Hillsdale1505 SW DeWitt StreetC1, E5, R99, RHB5Rescue 99 is Portland Fire's SERT paramedics, which responds to tactical incidents when Portland Police's Special Emergency Reaction Team is activated.
6Northwest Industrial3660 NW Front AvenueE6, FB6, FB6RReserve Fireboat 6 is the David Campbell, which entered service in 1927.
7Mill Park1500 SE 122nd AvenueC3, E7, HC458, HM7, RC7, T7Hazmat 7 is Portland's primary hazardous materials response unit, and Oregon State Region 7 HazMat Emergency Response Team.
8Kenton7134 North Maryland AvenueT8
9Hawthorne1706 SE Cesar E. Chavez BlvdC4, E9, MC9
10Burlingame451 SW Taylors Ferry RoadT10, E10Engine 10 is sometimes used in service when Truck 10 is out for repairs.
11Lents5707 SE 92nd AvenueE11, R11
12Sandy Blvd.8645 NE Sandy BoulevardE12, S12Squad 12 is a tillered crane, the first of its kind manufactured by Pierce in 2012, designed to support Urban Search and Rescue operations in the event of an earthquake.[9]
13Lloyd926 NE Weidler StreetE13, T13, WT13
14Alberta1905 NE Killingsworth StreetBU14, E14
15Arlington Heights1920 SW Spring StE15
16Sylvan1715 SW SkylineBU16, E16, WT16
17Hayden Island848 North Tomahawk Island DriveE17, FB17, FB17R, RB17
18Multnomah Village8720 SW 30th AvenueBU18, E18, HS18
19Mt. Tabor7301 East Burnside StreetE19, RHB19
20Sellwood2235 SE Bybee BoulevardE20
21Eastbank5 SE Madison St.E21, FB21, RB21, UT21
22St. Johns7205 North Alta StreetBU22, E22, T22, UT22
23Lower Southeast2915 SE 13th PlaceE23, R23
24Overlook/Swan Island4515 North Maryland StreetC2, E24, FU24, HS24, R24
25Woodstock5211 SE Mall StreetE25, T25
26Portsmouth/University Park5247 North Lombard StreetE26
27Forest Heights3130 NW Skyline BoulevardBU27, E27, JP27
28Hollywood5540 NE Sandy BoulevardE28
29Powellhurst13310 SE Foster RoadBU29, E29
30Gateway13313 NE San Rafael StreetE30
31Rockwood1927 SE 174th AvenueE31, R31Station 31 is shared with Gresham Fire & Emergency Services. PF&R staffs Station 31 on A and C shifts, and Gresham staffs it on B shift.

Legend

Callsign Full title
TTruck (PF&R operates tillers, towers and quints all under the callsign "Truck")
EEngine
SSquad (PF&R operates one heavy rescue squad, located at Station 1)
RRescue response vehicle (modified GMC Yukons which respond to medical emergencies and can provide Advanced life support)
HSHeavy Squad (These units are assigned to Chemical and Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) response, as well as responding to high-rise fires)
FUFoam Unit
FBFireboat
RBRescue Boat
RCRescue Craft (specially outfitted SeaDoos which respond to water rescues from Station 1)
CBattalion Chief or Deputy Chief (PF&R always has four battalion chiefs on duty across the city, as well as a deputy chief at its headquarters at Station 1)
BUBrush Unit (responds to brush fires and emergencies in areas not accessible by normal fire apparatus)
JPJeep (responds to emergencies in areas and weather conditions not accessible by normal fire apparatus)
UTUtility (ATVs which respond along trails and other areas not accessible by normal fire apparatus)
HMHazMat
HCHazMat Conditions Unit
RHBRehabilitation Unit
AUAir Unit
TRTechnical Rescue Unit
USARUrban search and rescue

References
  1. "Portland Fire & Rescue GET TO KNOW US". City of Portland. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "Firefighting in Portland Through the Years". City of Portland. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. "FY 2010-11 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT Portland Fire & Rescue". City of Portland. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. "Portland interim fire chief named". KGW-TV. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  5. "Sara Boone Becomes Portland's 1st African American Fire Chief". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  6. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. Harry, De Witt (June 13, 1920). "Spirit of Emulation Inspires Portland's Fireman [sic] to Great Deeds". The Sunday Oregonian. Magazine section, p. 1.
  8. "Fire Stations". City of Portland. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  9. "PIERCE DELIVERS HEAVY-DUTY RESCUE TILLER TO OR FIRE DEPARTMENT". Fire Engineering. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
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