PFD History
(page3)
1929 - Four new trucks in service; a Seagrave 1,000 gpm pumper
(E-4), a Seagrave tractor-drawn 75 ft. aerial ladder truck (L-6), a
Mack 1,000 pumper (E-6), and a McCann 1,000 gpm pumper (E-2).
Horse-drawn Ladder 2 on Munjoy Hill was decommissioned because of
improvements to Ladders 5 and 6. Engine 4's old 1920 Seagrave was
reassigned to Engine 3 on Brackett Street, retiring the last two
horses, and the Portland Fire Department became completely
motorized. Former Governor Baxter purchased the two horses from Hose
3 for light work on his Baxter Island farm. The Training Division
was established and a Drill Master assigned, trained by the Boston
Fire Academy.
1931 - New 6,000 gpm fireboat went into service replacing the first fireboat, which was purchased in 1894.
1932 - The first Fire Officer's School was conducted in the Training Division.
1936 - First steel aerial ladder truck (Seagrave 65 ft.) in service (Ladder 3, Brackett St.) replacing city service.
1938 - Hose 11 -East Deering and Hose 12-Peaks Island upgraded to engine companies with 500 gpm, pumpers. Ladder 6's trailer retrofitted with a 85 ft. steel aerial ladder and L-6's 75 ft. wooden ladder placed on L-5.
1940 - The Fire Prevention Bureau established in August.
1942 - Portland Firefighters rejoined the International Association of Firefighters Union as Local 740, I.A.F.F.
1943 - A new fire company was established (Rescue Co. 1), phasing out the Chemical Squad Company.
1945 - Two 65 ft. steel aerial ladder trucks purchased for Ladders I and 4, replacing city service ladder trucks.
1946 - A two-platoon system was created, as firefighters worked one-day on and one-day off (84 hrs. per/week).
1947 - Engine 3's Brackett Street station (built in 1850) closed and Engine 3 temporarily relocated to Central.
1948 - Volunteer fire co. established on Long Island as Engine 14.
1949 - Volunteer fire company established on great Diamond Island as Engine 13.
1950 - City of Portland was upgraded to a Class A rating from the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
1951 - New station opened on Stevens Ave. in the Rosemont area. Engine 3 relocated there with a Quad truck.
1952 - Volunteer fire co. established on Cliff Island as Engine 1, 5.
1954 - Chief Engineer Oliver T. Sanborn retired after 30 years in office. Harry Marr appointed Chief of Dept. First engine with a cab over roof in service (American LaFrance 750 gpm pumper), assigned to Engine 9.
1956 - Chief Engineer Harry W. Marr retired at the end of December.
New station opened on Ocean Ave., East Deering for Engine 11 on the same spot as the
1902 tire barn. Fire Prevention Bureau received 1st place National awards in its class for fire safety over the next 7 years.
1959 - A new 65 ft. all-steel fireboat with a pumping capacity of 7,000 gpm was placed in service at Engine 7.
1960 - The second ladder company at Central Station, Ladder 5, was decommissioned and covered by Ladder 1.
1961 - First 100 ft. aerial ladder truck in service assigned to Ladder 6 on Park Avenue (Seagrave tractor-drawn).
1963 - Movie called "24 Hours" produced, showing the average day in the life of the Portland Fire Department. Received national awards for fire prevention and education efforts and activities, including the movie. A Third Platoon was implemented with the reduction in work hours to a 56 hour schedule.
1964 - Munjoy Station closed two days in April (E-2 decommissioned), reopening with Engine I relocated there.
First Scott Air Pacs were purchased for use, and located in the compartments on the trucks.
1965 - Chief Engineer Carl P. Johnson retired after eight years in office. Joseph R. Cremo appointed Fire Chief.
1966 - Bramhall Square station opened. Engines 4, 6, Ladder 6, and the District I Chief were relocated there. Spring St., Park Ave., and Brackett St. stations closed. Ladder 3 was relocated to Ocean Ave. with E- 11.
1967 - North Deering station opened and Engine 8 & D-2 Chief relocated there, closing the Woodfords station.
1970 - New type aerial truck in service, an American LaFrance 80 ft. articulating boom snorkel truck (Ladder I).
1971 - The first woman to work in the P.F.D. was hired and assigned as a secretary in the Administrative Office.
1972 - Stevens Avenue station expansion completed and Ladder Co. 3 was relocated there with Engine Co. 3.
Riverton station opened, relocating Engine 9 and, closing Arbor St. station. Ladder 4 relocated to E-8.
1973 - Jetport fire station opened and airport foam trucks were acquired, two from Brunswick Naval Air Station. Fire Alarm/Electrical Division Office closed, relocating to the new Public Safety building on Middle St.
1974 - A forth platoon was added when the new forty two hour work schedule was implemented.
1975 - Chief Engineer Joseph R. Cremo retired after ten years in office. Clement 0. Dodd appointed Fire Chief.
Medical Crisis Unit (MEDCU) was created in the new Public Safety Department to answer EMS calls.
1976 - Rescue Co. I was decommissioned and only taken to fires by an assigned engine company.
The 1864 Munjoy Hill station was closed, then razed. Engine I temporarily relocated to Central Station. First new Aircraft firefighting foam truck (Walters 1,500) in service at the Portland International Jetport. Chief Engineer Clement 0.Dodd retired in September. District Chief John J. Flynn was appointed Acting Chief, then retired at the end of December.
1977 - New Munjoy Hill station/Community Center opened. Engine I was relocated back to Munjoy Hill. Joseph E. McDonough appointed Chief of Department.
(page 4)
1931 - New 6,000 gpm fireboat went into service replacing the first fireboat, which was purchased in 1894.
1932 - The first Fire Officer's School was conducted in the Training Division.
1936 - First steel aerial ladder truck (Seagrave 65 ft.) in service (Ladder 3, Brackett St.) replacing city service.
1938 - Hose 11 -East Deering and Hose 12-Peaks Island upgraded to engine companies with 500 gpm, pumpers. Ladder 6's trailer retrofitted with a 85 ft. steel aerial ladder and L-6's 75 ft. wooden ladder placed on L-5.
1940 - The Fire Prevention Bureau established in August.
1942 - Portland Firefighters rejoined the International Association of Firefighters Union as Local 740, I.A.F.F.
1943 - A new fire company was established (Rescue Co. 1), phasing out the Chemical Squad Company.
1945 - Two 65 ft. steel aerial ladder trucks purchased for Ladders I and 4, replacing city service ladder trucks.
1946 - A two-platoon system was created, as firefighters worked one-day on and one-day off (84 hrs. per/week).
1947 - Engine 3's Brackett Street station (built in 1850) closed and Engine 3 temporarily relocated to Central.
1948 - Volunteer fire co. established on Long Island as Engine 14.
1949 - Volunteer fire company established on great Diamond Island as Engine 13.
1950 - City of Portland was upgraded to a Class A rating from the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
1951 - New station opened on Stevens Ave. in the Rosemont area. Engine 3 relocated there with a Quad truck.
1952 - Volunteer fire co. established on Cliff Island as Engine 1, 5.
1954 - Chief Engineer Oliver T. Sanborn retired after 30 years in office. Harry Marr appointed Chief of Dept. First engine with a cab over roof in service (American LaFrance 750 gpm pumper), assigned to Engine 9.
1956 - Chief Engineer Harry W. Marr retired at the end of December.
New station opened on Ocean Ave., East Deering for Engine 11 on the same spot as the
1902 tire barn. Fire Prevention Bureau received 1st place National awards in its class for fire safety over the next 7 years.
1959 - A new 65 ft. all-steel fireboat with a pumping capacity of 7,000 gpm was placed in service at Engine 7.
1960 - The second ladder company at Central Station, Ladder 5, was decommissioned and covered by Ladder 1.
1961 - First 100 ft. aerial ladder truck in service assigned to Ladder 6 on Park Avenue (Seagrave tractor-drawn).
1963 - Movie called "24 Hours" produced, showing the average day in the life of the Portland Fire Department. Received national awards for fire prevention and education efforts and activities, including the movie. A Third Platoon was implemented with the reduction in work hours to a 56 hour schedule.
1964 - Munjoy Station closed two days in April (E-2 decommissioned), reopening with Engine I relocated there.
First Scott Air Pacs were purchased for use, and located in the compartments on the trucks.
1965 - Chief Engineer Carl P. Johnson retired after eight years in office. Joseph R. Cremo appointed Fire Chief.
1966 - Bramhall Square station opened. Engines 4, 6, Ladder 6, and the District I Chief were relocated there. Spring St., Park Ave., and Brackett St. stations closed. Ladder 3 was relocated to Ocean Ave. with E- 11.
1967 - North Deering station opened and Engine 8 & D-2 Chief relocated there, closing the Woodfords station.
1970 - New type aerial truck in service, an American LaFrance 80 ft. articulating boom snorkel truck (Ladder I).
1971 - The first woman to work in the P.F.D. was hired and assigned as a secretary in the Administrative Office.
1972 - Stevens Avenue station expansion completed and Ladder Co. 3 was relocated there with Engine Co. 3.
Riverton station opened, relocating Engine 9 and, closing Arbor St. station. Ladder 4 relocated to E-8.
1973 - Jetport fire station opened and airport foam trucks were acquired, two from Brunswick Naval Air Station. Fire Alarm/Electrical Division Office closed, relocating to the new Public Safety building on Middle St.
1974 - A forth platoon was added when the new forty two hour work schedule was implemented.
1975 - Chief Engineer Joseph R. Cremo retired after ten years in office. Clement 0. Dodd appointed Fire Chief.
Medical Crisis Unit (MEDCU) was created in the new Public Safety Department to answer EMS calls.
1976 - Rescue Co. I was decommissioned and only taken to fires by an assigned engine company.
The 1864 Munjoy Hill station was closed, then razed. Engine I temporarily relocated to Central Station. First new Aircraft firefighting foam truck (Walters 1,500) in service at the Portland International Jetport. Chief Engineer Clement 0.Dodd retired in September. District Chief John J. Flynn was appointed Acting Chief, then retired at the end of December.
1977 - New Munjoy Hill station/Community Center opened. Engine I was relocated back to Munjoy Hill. Joseph E. McDonough appointed Chief of Department.
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