The Providence Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Providence, Rhode Island.
History
Providence's first fire department was organized in 1759.[5] The state General Assembly raised money to purchase the town's first large water engine, and required every citizen to acquire a pair of two-gallon leather buckets to form volunteer bucket brigades.[3]
On March 1, 1854, a paid fire department was established, making it the second oldest professional fire department in the country.[3]
A years-long contract dispute between the city and the firefighter's union began in 2001.[6] Mayor David Cicilline promised to resolve the dispute within 30 days of his election in 2002, but was unable to reach an agreement.[6] In 2009, the dispute became national news as Vice President Joe Biden refused to attend the national mayor’s conference, held that year in Providence, so as not to cross the picket line.[7]
As part of a 2017 agreement reached by mayor Jorge Elorza, the Humboldt Avenue and Rochambeau Avenue firehouses were decommissioned to save costs.[8][9]
Operations
Fire Station Locations and Apparatus
The PFD operates out of twelve fire stations, organized into three battalions[10]
| Engine Company | Image | Ladder Company | Rescue Ambulance | Special Unit | Chief Unit | Address | Neighborhood | Battalion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 2 |  |
Ladder 7 | Rescue 3 | Battalion Chief 3 | 10 Branch Ave. | Mt. Hope | 3 | |
| Engine 3 |  |
Tower Ladder 1 | Rescue 4 | Special Hazards 1(Heavy Rescue & Haz-Mat) | Division Chief 1(Deputy Chief), Safety Battalion Chief | 325 Washington St. | Federal Hill | 1 |
| Engine 6 |  |
Rescue 2 | 489 Hartford Ave. | Hartford | 2 | |||
| Engine 7 |  |
Rescue 5 | Air Cascade Unit 1 | 151 N. Main St. | College Hill | 3 | ||
| Engine 8 |  |
Tower Ladder 2 | Battalion Chief 2 | 201 Messer St. | West End | 2 | ||
| Engine 9 |  |
Ladder 8 | Fireboat 1 | 223 Brook St. | Fox Point | 3 | ||
| Engine 10 |  |
Ladder 5 | Rescue 1 | 847 Broad St. | Lower South Providence | 1 | ||
| Engine 11 |  |
274 Reservoir Ave. | Reservoir | 1 | ||||
| Engine 12 |  |
Ladder 3 | Rescue 7 | 426 Admiral St. | Elmhurst | 3 | ||
| Engine 13 |  |
Foam Unit | Battalion Chief 1 | 776 Allens Ave. | Washington Park | 1 | ||
| Engine 14 |  |
Ladder 6 | Rescue 6 | 639 Atwells Ave. | Valley | 2 | ||
| Engine 15 |  |
Car 56, Car 72 (Fire Investigations) | 136 Mt. Pleasant Ave. | Mt. Pleasant | 2 |
Former stations
-
Humboldt Avenue Fire Station (decommissioned 2017)
References
- ^ "2014 Annual Budget". Providence Rhode Island. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^ "2014 Annual Report". Providence Fire Department. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "About Us". City of Providence Fire Department. City of Providence. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Stations". Providence Fire Department. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ "Providence Fire Department Records". Rhode Island Historical Society. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ a b Molinaro, Sara (31 October 2006). "Firefighters and city make slow progress in contract talks". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Providence mayor, union duel over national meeting". Deseret News. Associated Press. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Bramson, Kate (7 January 2017). "Providence firehouses closing as part of downsizing". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Reynolds, Mark (5 January 2017). "Providence, firefighters' union approve 5-year contract, ending long standoff". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "Find a fire station".
External links
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