HISTORY OF PORTLAND FIRE AND RESCUE

drawing by Frank Maas (FICS)

IN THE BEGINNING

Portland has grown from a small town, protected by a volunteer Fire Department, into a thriving metropolis that is protected by today's highly trained, professional Fire Bureau.

The first paid Fire Department submitted its budget to City Council on January 3, 1883.

Initially, Firefighter training was "on the job" experience, courage, and a lot of luck. By 1950, formal training had become mandatory and all firefighters had to successfully complete a one year probation period.

The first work schedules had crews working 72 hour work weeks. In 1946, the citizens of the City voted to reject a change to a 48 hour work week; however, a 60 hour week was approved by a vote of the citizens shortly thereafter. This led to the three platoon system. In 1952 a 56 hour week was subsequently approved by the voters. Currently, a 53 hour week is worked.

In 1947 the citizens voted on a change to the City Charter, which established a pension and disability plan for Police and Firefighters. This plan was still in place, basically unchanged, until a pension reform vote in November of 1989 passed by the voters and went into effect, amending the City Charter, in July of 1990.

As the City grew, increased hazards required more specialized and up-to-date equipment. Fireboats, which up until 1928 had been powered by steam, were replaced by three gasoline powered boats.

One of the greatest assets to fire ground safety and efficiency came in 1946 with the advent of two-way radios. Previously, fire crews had to check in through police call boxes to find out if they were still needed on big fires and to inform the alarm office of their status. In 1975, the use of portable hand-held radios (pac-sets) added to the efficiency and safety for fire ground crews.

By 1973, implementation and use of better protective clothing, lighter weight hose and couplings; and replacement of the old filter masks with self-contained breathing apparatus was completed, further increasing safety and efficiency.

The bureau in the 1930's had 39 stations and 519 Firefighter protecting 66.97 square miles of city. By 1963, the number of stations was reduced from 38 to 30 and five districts were reduced to four, protecting 76.5 square miles of City; in 1975; that number dropped to 27 stations and 446 firefighters. As of July, 1994, Portland has 27 stations and 656 sworn Firefighters protecting 186 square miles.

The population of the protection area has grown from 365,000 in 1950 to 504,371 currently. Some of the population growth has resulted from Multnomah County Fire District 10 (with its 10 stations) merging with the Portland's Bureau in July, 1984. Other growth has resulted from the City annexing unincorporated land and increasing the square miles from 112 in 1982-83 to 186 square miles today. With the annexation of this area, the number of stations changed from 27 in 1982-83, increasing with the District 10 stations, and then decreasing back to 27 stations currently.

In 1972, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control published its report to President Richard Nixon. That report entitled "America Burning" shed new light on the magnitude of America's fire problem. The television series "Emergency" focused public attention on the duties and hazards facing the fire service in doing its job of protecting the public.

In 1983, the Portland Fire Bureau celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1988, the name itself was changed to more accurately reflect the variety of incidents to which the bureau responds. The name is now the Portland Bureau of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services.

In 1982-83 there were still 3 first-line fireboats with dedicated staffing of 2 to 3 persons per boat; now, there is only 1 fireboat which does not have its own crew but which is cross-staffed with the 4-person crew of Engine 6 from the NW Front Avenue Station.

The total number of uniformed Fire Bureau employees varied from 636 in 1982-83, to 827 in 1986-87. Currently the uniformed number of fire bureau employees is 656. The bureau has gone from a support staff (non-sworn) of 2 persons in 1963 to 62 non-sworn support staff positions today.

The total number of responses has continued to increase. In 1940, the bureau responded to 4,740 emergency alarms; in 1970, the bureau responded to 9,512 emergency alarms. In 1982-83, the Fire Bureau answered 20,818 emergency alarms. In 1993, there were 48,500 incidents, including fires, Emergency Medical Service, and Hazardous Materials responses.

CHRONOLOGY - 1982 TO PRESENT

In 1982-83, all truck companies are staffed with 5 persons; engine companies have a 4 or 5 person crew. Traveling firefighters are used to fill vacation vacancies and reduce overtime replacement costs. Portland's Fire Alarm Dispatch combines dispatching centers with Multnomah County Fire District 10. This is the first step towards the merging of both departments in July of 1984.

1983-84: January 1, 1983, the Linnton Station 27 is closed. The response area was then covered by stations located in the NW Industrial Area and St. Johns.

The Bureau embarks on its first ever Strategic planning effort to plot the course of the bureau for the next decade.

For the first time, all firefighters are certified in basic emergency medical response and care to supplement the 3 existing paramedic crews.

The Rose City Station 28, at NE 56th and Sandy, is closed and the crew consolidated with the Fire District 10, Cully Neighborhood Station 40, at NE 60th and Going. The Fire Bureau's Hazardous Materials Response team begins service at NW Industrial Area's Station 16.

The first reorganization occurs, creating three Divisions in Emergency Operations, Prevention and Operations Support Services. The Bureau is now divided into five battalions instead of four.

A ship docked at Kalama in the Columbia River caught fire and subsequently was cut adrift into the channel, causing a hazard to navigation and safety. As a result of this fire, shipping agencies, port authorities, the Portland Fire Bureau, and other fire protection agencies in Southern Washington and Northern Oregon along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers met together to develop plans of action for response to fires and other emergencies on those rivers. As a result of their meetings and efforts, the Marine Fire Safety Association was created and incorporated on November 25, 1983, to provide for not only mutual aid but also coordinated and trained fire and emergency response for incidents on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and Ports.

On December 31, 1983, a train fell into the Willamette River from the railroad bridge in the St. Johns area of the city. It was later determined that this was the result of a combination of heavy fog and of signal devices on the bridge that were not activated, causing three train crew deaths. At the time of the accident, the Bureau did not have any underwater rescue capability. Shortly thereafter, the Bureau formed and equipped its first, specialized dive rescue team.

The John's Landing Station 10 is relocated from SW Kelly and Pendleton to SW Taylors Ferry Road. Marquam Hill Station 2 is closed. Boat 3 located at the Port of Portland, Pier 2, Terminal 4 is closed. Station 16 relocates to NW Front Avenue until a new Station 16 can be built at Willbridge. (The new Station 16 at Willbridge is closed in 1991 because of budget cuts.)

July 1984 brings Multnomah County Fire District 10 into the Portland Fire Bureau. With the merger of District 10, there are seven battalions. This merger delayed the bureau's active recruitment and hiring of minorities because of the absorption of District 10's personnel into the Bureau. All equipment is renumbered to the station in which they are housed.

1985-86: The Bureau is continuing to train and certify all personnel at the Emergency Medical Technician I level.

A major Bureau reorganization took place on April 17, 1986, and resulted in four divisions: Management Services, Planning and Development, Emergency Operations and Fire Prevention. Management Services is directed by a civilian; the other three divisions are headed by a Division Chief.

In April, 1986, Station 46, the 12-mile Corner station, was closed.

At Hazardous Materials meetings in Salem, a new State-wide response system is developed.

The first Fire Bureau Emergency Medical Services Task Force is formed to investigate and report the feasibility of transporting patients by Fire Bureau rescues. The report is presented to City Council on January 21, 1986.

1986-87: An intergovernmental agreement with Clackamas County District 1 is finalized. This agreement was a contract for Portland to provide fire service to some areas in north Clackamas County and some portions of south Multnomah County adjacent to the City of Milwaukie. (This agreement ended in 1991-92; the personnel were retained by Portland but the facilities returned to the District).

An innovative pre-employment training program for minorities and women begins, which results in the best representation ever on a fire-fighter's examination list. However, due to the merger with Multnomah District 10 in 1984, and the addition of the Clackamas District 1 personnel, few people from that list are hired.

In January, 1986, the Fire Bureau initiates a new program called the Juvenile Firesetter Program to educate juveniles identified having fire behavior problems. This program receives the League of Oregon Cities Fire Place Award for Excellence.

In early, 1986, the Bureau forms a Quality Assurance Committee to review and evaluate the performance and charting of Emergency Medical Service calls; this has continued to the present.

The Bureau begins a successful residential smoke detector installation program.

The United States Congress passes Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, (SARA-Title III). This legislation requires fire departments to preplan for spills, and other emergencies with businesses who have hazardous materials. One thousand businesses in the Portland area were identified the first year; that number increased to 3048 by 1993.

The previous 3 battalions, consisting of six on-duty Battalion Chiefs are reorganized in four Emergency Response Districts with 4 Battalion Chiefs. The Bureau assumes responsibility for emergency management for the City, bringing the Portland Office of Emergency Management and the City's Emergency Operations Center at Kelly Butte under bureau administration.

Alderwood Road Station 12, at the airport is closed. (This station was new in 1980).

1988-89: All sworn personnel are certified as Hazardous Materials Technician I. More Advanced Life Support engines are designated as personnel assigned to staff engines are trained as paramedics.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs gave the Portland Fire Bureau an award for its residential smoke detector installation program. That program had been started in 1986.

1989-90: The Fire Marshal's Office is reorganized to include 2 Assistant Fire Marshals. Training moves from the Emergency Operations Division and combines with Planning and Development to become the Training and Emergency Management Division.

The Bureau acquires the old Parkrose Water District Headquarters building, and begins to develop it into the Training Center and new Parkrose Station 2.

1991: SE Water Avenue Station 7 is closed. The Fire Marshal's East Side office relocated from SE 174th into the empty station to better serve the public.

The Fire Information and Communication Services Section is formed. This section consists of Fire Alarm Dispatch, Fire Information Services, and the Computer Aided Dispatch Project.

1992-93: In September, 1992, Parkrose Station 48 is closed. The personnel are moved to the new Parkrose Station 2. Truck 40, which had been located at the Cully neighborhood station, is relocated to Station 2, becoming Truck 2.

A Fire Bureau arson investigator attended the Connecticut State Police Academy and returns with Oregon's first Accelerant Detector/Detecting/Detection Canine (Arson Dog). "Charlotte" is trained to detect over ten flammable and combustible liquids at fire scenes.

The Bureau's Hazardous Materials team, located at Station 23, became part of Oregon's Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team in 1993. The team is now identified as Regional Response Team 6.

1993-94: February, 1994, Fire Alarm Dispatch closed. Fire Alarm Dispatch was the communications center for all fire departments in Multnomah County. Dispatch duties were civilianized, thus ending 100 years of uniformed personnel handling fire dispatch. Currently civilian dispatchers at the Bureau of Emergency Communications (911) provide dispatch for all Fire Departments in Multnomah County.

May 5, 1994, the first recruit class to use the new Parkrose Training Center is hired. This recruit class consists of 9 members, including 1 female and 4 minorities. This is the first group of recruits hired since August, 1990.

JULY, 1994: Orient Station 47 is returned to Fire District 10. The Multnomah County Fire District 10 contract is not renewed. Gresham Fire Department takes over the facilities of District 10. All personnel brought into the Portland Fire Bureau as a result of the earlier merger with District 10 are retained by Portland.

AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE

The Portland Fire Bureau has seen many changes in its 111 years. As Oregon struggles with diminishing revenues due to property tax limitations, the next ten years will undoubtedly bring increased demands on the Fire Bureau to provide additional services with fewer resources.

The 1970's was called the decade of Emergency Medical Services. The 1980's was the decade of Hazardous Materials. The 1990's appears to be the decade of not only that of specialized, technical rescue/emergency response teams but also that of Community Emergency Services. The concept of Community Emergency Services goes beyond the mission of providing services for the community, and involves the citizens in bringing back the spirit of civilian participation. This is currently being started through city-wide fire prevention programs and through a growing civilianization of the department in its administrative and clerical staffs.

The Portland Bureau of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services is continuing to diversify its workforce to better reflect the population which it serves.

Last modified: March 31, 2000