Prescott Fire Department

The Prescott Fire Department is the municipal fire department for the city of Prescott, Arizona. Additionally, the PFD provides aircraft rescue and firefighting for the Prescott Municipal Airport.[3] Founded in 1885, it is the oldest fire department in the state of Arizona.[1] With a coverage area of 41.5 square miles (107 km2) and serving a population of 39,843, the PFD consists of 92 career personnel, split among five fire stations.[1]

Prescott Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Arizona
CityPrescott
Agency overview[1]
Established1885
Annual calls8737 (2012)
Employees92
StaffingCareer
EMS levelALS
IAFF3066
Facilities and equipment[2]
Stations5
Engines7
Trucks2
HAZMAT1
Airport crash1
Wildland4 - Type 6
Website
Official website
IAFF website

History

Prior to 1884, Prescott had no water system for fire protection. Wells were sunk at the four corners of the courthouse plaza and double acting hand pumps were installed.[4] In 1884 the water system was installed and the Prescott Volunteer Fire Department was started with a single hose company using a two-wheeled cart hand drawn with 600 feet (180 m) of 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) hose. In 1954 the then four separate volunteer companies were merged into one and named Prescott Fire Department.[4]

Granite Mountain Hotshots
Main article: Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park

The Granite Mountain Hotshots were a group within the department whose mission was to fight wildfires. Founded in 2002 as a fuels mitigation crew, it transitioned to a handcrew (Type 2 I/A) in 2004, and ultimately to a hotshot crew in 2008.[5] The crew had their own fire station, station 7, where equipment, including two 10-person crew carriers, was housed.[6] The 2017 film Only the Brave was based on the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the Yarnell Fire.

Yarnell Fire fatalities
Main article: Yarnell Hill Fire

On June 30, 2013, 19 members of the 20-man group died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.[7][8] Only Brendan McDonough survived.[9] The firefighters had apparently deployed fire shelters, but not all of the bodies were found inside them.[10] According to the National Fire Protection Association, it was the greatest loss of life for firefighters in a wildfire since 1933, the deadliest wildfire of any kind since 1991, and the greatest loss of firefighters in the United States since the September 11 attacks.[11] Vice President Joe Biden attended the memorial and stated, "All men are created equal. But then, a few became firefighters."[12]

Stations and apparatus
Fire Station Number Address Engine Companies Truck Companies Wildland Units Special units
71 333 White Spar Rd.Engine 71, Engine 711Truck 71Patrol 71Utility 71 & Battalion 1[13]
72 1700 Iron Springs Rd.Engine 72, Engine 722Truck 72Patrol 72[14]
73 1980 Clubhouse Dr.
Prescott Municipal Airport		Engine 73Patrol 73Foam 73[3]
74 2747 Smoketree Ln.Engine 74Boat 74[15]
75 315 Lee Blvd.Engine 75Patrol 75Haz-Mat Unit[16]

References
  1. "About the Prescott Fire Department". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. "Annual Report" (PDF). Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. "Station 73". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. Connell, Robert. "History of the Prescott Fire Department". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. "Granite Mountain Hotshots". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  6. "Station 77". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. "Multiple firefighter fatalities on the Yarnell Fire in Arizona". wildfiretoday.com. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. "19 firefighters working Yarnell Hill Fire confirmed dead". FOX 10. June 30, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  9. "Yarnell Hill Fire: Wildfire grows to more than 2,000 acres, 19 firefighters killed". ABC15. June 30, 2013. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  10. Harris, Craig (July 1, 2013). "Deadly Yarnell Hill Fire: Crews expect fire to be erratic". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  11. Castellano, Anthony (July 1, 2013). "19 Firefighters Killed in Arizona Wildfire". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  12. "Members Of Elite Firefighting Unit Memorialized In Arizona". NPR. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  13. "Station 71". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  14. "Station 72". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  15. "Station 74". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  16. "Station 75". Prescott Fire Department. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
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