Philadelphia Fire Department

Philadelphia Fire Department
Motto: Dedication and Service
Operational area
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CityPhiladelphia
Agency overview
EstablishedMarch 15, 1871 (1871-03-15)
Annual calls437,329 (2013)
Employees2700
StaffingCareer
CommissionerAdam Thiel
Mayor of Philadelphia responsibleJim Kenney
EMS levelALS & BLS
IAFF22
Facilities and equipment
Divisions3 Divisions
Battalions13 Battalions
Stations63 Fire Stations
Engines58 Engine Companies
Trucks23 Truck Companies
Platforms4 Platform Truck Companies
Squads2 Squad Companies
Rescues1 Heavy Rescue Company
Ambulances60 Ambulances
HAZMAT2 Hazardous Materials Units
USAR1 Urban Sear And Rescue Unit
Airport crash10 Crash Trucks
Wildland2 Wildfire Engines
Fireboats3 Fire Boats
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Philadelphia Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) to the city of Philadelphia. The PFD's official mission is to protect public safety by quick and professional response to emergencies and through the promotion of sound emergency prevention measures. This mandate encompasses all traditional firefighting functions, including fire suppression, with 58 engine companies and 27 ladder companies as well as specialty and support units deployed throughout the city; specialized firefighting units for Philadelphia International Airport and the Port of Philadelphia; investigations conducted by the Fire Marshal's Office to determine the origins of fires and to develop preventive strategies; prevention programs to educate the public in order to increase overall fire safety; and support services such as: research and planning, management of the Fire Communications Center within the City's 911 system, and operation of the Fire Academy.

The delivery of emergency medical services now generates more than seventy percent of the department's total calls for services. Furthermore, the department's Regional Emergency Medical Services Office is responsible for regulating all public and private ambulance services within the city. Lastly, the department enforces all state and federal hazardous materials (HAZMAT) regulations within the city, and coordinates the response to such incidents. The IAFF local is 22.

The PFD is the largest fire department in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and also has the busiest Emergency Medical Services division in the United States with a single ambulance, Medic 2, responding to 8,788 calls in 2013 and Medic 8 responded to 9,011 calls in 2018.

History

Formation of the Philadelphia Fire Department

One of the oldest established fire departments in the United States, the PFD traces its origins back to early volunteer companies, specifically the Union Fire Company, established on December 7, 1736.

Ordinances of 1840, 1855, and 1856 established a City Fire Department which was a voluntary association of independent fire companies which, in return for subsidies, accepted the direction of City Councils.

An ordinance of 29 December 1870, established Philadelphia's first fully paid and municipally controlled fire department, administered by seven commissioners chosen by Councils. The PFD officially entered into service on 15 March 1871. In 1887 the commissioners were abolished and the department placed under the control of the Department of Public Safety as the Bureau of Fire in compliance with the 1885 Bullitt Bill and enabling ordinance of 1886. The Fire Marshal, first appointed on 1864, was a member of the Bureau of Police until 1937 when his office was removed from it and placed directly under the Director of the Department of Public Safety. In 1950 it was transferred to the Bureau of Fire.

The City Charter of 1951 abolished the Department of Public Safety and established the present Fire Department. At that time its inspectorial duties were transferred to the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Investigation of the origin and cause of fires remains with the PFD fire marshal's office.

High-Pressure Fire System

As the 1800s came to an end, Philadelphia's regular water supply system had become unable to supply the needed water to fight fires in the increasingly larger and higher buildings of the central business district. After the Insurance Companies raised premiums and eventually refused to write new policies in the Downtown section of Philadelphia the City finally commissioned the installation of the High-Pressure Fire System in 1901. This would be the worlds first major city high-pressure water service dedicated for firefighting. The system was designed to encompass the area of Delaware River to Broad Street and Race Street to Walnut Streets. The system would be supplied from a pumping station located at Race Street and Delaware Ave utilizing a total of seven 280HP natural gas powered fire pumps. The total cost of the proposed system at the time was estimated between $625,975 and $702,539. Once completed in November 1903 the system encompassed a total of 26 miles of pipe supplying 434 hydrants. The system maintained a pressure of 70psi and could be increased to over 200psi upon demand.

The system proved to be so successful that in approximately 1909 the city expanded the system to cover the Textile Mill District which was located in the North Philadelphia, Port Richmond, and Kensington neighborhoods. This expansion also included a reservoir located at 6th & Leigh Avenue fed by a large service main under Broad Street. Additional expansions were made to the original system to cover the area from the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers from Girard Avenue to South Street. The expansions grew the original 26 miles network of pipes to 56 and also included more pumping stations. The High-Pressure Fire System was officially decommissioned in 2005 after falling into years of disrepair.

Fire Commissioners of Philadelphia

Adam Thiel is the present Fire Commissioner of Philadelphia City. He is an Eisenhower Fellow and Aspen Innovation Voices Fellow as well.

Lloyd Ayers, Ex Commissioner.

USAR Task Force 1

The Philadelphia Fire Department is the sponsoring agency for Urban Search and Rescue Pennsylvania Task Force 1 (PA-TF1), one of twenty-eight FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces in the nation and the only one in Pennsylvania.

Operations

Fire station locations and apparatus

Below is a complete listing of all fire station and equipment locations in the city of Philadelphia along with their Division and Battalion. There are three divisions and 13 battalions in the department. Division 1 consists of 5 battalions and 23 fire stations while Division 2 has 4 battalions and 17 fire stations and Division 3 has 4 battalions and 21 fire stations. In November 2019, the Department announced plans to staff and reinstate four previously disbanded Engine Companies. Engine 1 in Center City, Engine 8 in Olde City, Engine 14 in Frankford and Engine 39 in Roxborough were restored on 23 November 2019. There are over 55 medic units spread across the department, including advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) units. For special events, or to meet staffing requirements, the advanced life support (ALS) medic units may be downgraded to basic life support (BLS) units. A BLS unit will contain a 'B' in their call sign, for example Medic 9B.

Division 1

Battalion Neighborhood Engine Company Ladder Company EMS Units Chief Units Additional Units Address
1 Hawthorne Engine 1 Ladder 5 Medic 35 711 South Broad Street
1 Queens Village Engine 3 EVAC 1 200 Washington Avenue
1 Passyunk Square Engine 10 Medic 27B Battalion Chief 1 1357 South 12th Street
1 Southwest Center City Engine 24 Medic 14 1200 South 20th Street
1 Wharton Engine 53 Ladder 27 Medic 43 414 Snyder Avenue
1 Melrose Foam 60 Ladder 19 Medic 37 Haz-Mat 1
Haz-Mat 2
Chemical 1
Haz-Mat Administrative Unit 1
Haz-Mat Administrative Unit 2
Haz-Mat Administrative Unit 3
Haz-Mat Administrative Unit 4
Haz-Mat Administrative Unit 5
2301 South 24th Street
4 Old City Squrt 8 Tower Ladder 2 Battalion Chief 4 101 North 4th Street
4 Society Hill Engine 11 Medic 21 601 South Street
4 Chinatown Engine 20 Ladder 23 Medic 1 133 North 10th Street
4 Center City Engine 43 Ladder 9 Medic 7
ES 1
2108 Market Street
6 Elmwood Engine 40 Ladder 4 Medic 19 6438 Woodland Avenue
6 Grays Ferry Squad 47 Medic 40
Medic 53B
ES 8
Deputy Chief 1 Squad 47A 3023 Grays Ferry Avenue
6 Lower Moyamensing Engine 49 Medic 11 2600 South 13th Street
6 Eastwick Engine 69 Medic 55B
ES 12
Battalion Chief 6 Grass Firefighter 1 8138 Bartram Ave
7 Carroll Park Engine 41 Ladder 24 Medic 23 1201 North 61st Street
7 Overbrook Park Engine 54 Medic 41 1913 North 63rd Street
7 West Philadelphia Water Tower 57 Medic 9 5559 Chestnut Street
7 Cedar Park Engine 68 Ladder 13 Medic 3
Medic 59B
Battalion Chief 7 801 South 52nd Street
7 Philadelphia
International Airport
Engine 78
(Foxtrot 10)
Medic 30
Medic 130
Foxtrot 1
Foxtrot 2
Foxtrot 3
Foxtrot 4
Foxtrot 5
Foxtrot 6
Foxtrot 7
Foxtrot 8
Foxtrot 9
Foxtrot 11
Foxtrot 21
Foxtrot 22
Foxtrot 23
8800 Hog Island Road
11 Spruce Hill Engine 5 Ladder Tower 6 Battalion Chief 11 4221 Market Street
11 East Parkside Engine 16 Medic 26 Mass Casualty Unit 1 1517 Belmont Avenue
11 Brewerytown Engine 34 Medic 36 1301 North 28th Street
11 Mantua Engine 44 Medic 34 3420 Haverford Avenue

Division 2

Battalion Neighborhood Engine Company Ladder Company EMS Units Chief Units Additional Units Address
5 Millbrook Engine 22 Ladder 31 Medic 20 3270 Comly Road
5 Fox Chase Engine 56 Medic 48 832 Rhawn Street
5 Somerton Engine 58 Medic 54B Battalion Chief 5 812 Hendrix Street
5 Bustleton Engine 62 Ladder 34 Medic 6 9845 Bustleton Avenue
10 Harrowgate Engine 7 Ladder 10 Medic 2 Battalion Chief 10 3798 Kensington Avenue
10 Kensington Engine 25 Medic 8
Medic 58B
2931 Boudinot Street
10 Port Richmond Engine 28 Medic 45 Mass Decon 1 2520 East Ontario Street
10 Bridesburg Foam 33 Foam Tender 1 4750 Richmond Street
10 Fishtown Ladder 16 Medic 46
ES 9
2601 Belgrade Street
12 Frankford Engine 14 Ladder 15 1652 Foulkrod Street
12 Wissinoming Engine 52 Medic 32 4501 Van Kirk Street
12 Lawndale Engine 64 6100 Rising Sun Avenue
12 Lawncrest Squrt 70 Medic 42 Deputy Chief 2 4800 Langdon Street
12 Northeast Philadelphia Engine 71 Tower Ladder 28 Medic 12 Battalion Chief 12 1900 Cottman Avenue
13 Rhawnhurst Foam 18 Medic 38 8205 Roosevelt Boulevard
13 Holmesburg Engine 36 Ladder 20 Medic 17 7818 Frankford Avenue
13 Tacony Water Tower 38 Medic 47B
ES 3
ES 11
Mass Casualty Unit 2 4931 Magee Avenue
13 Torresdale Engine 46 Medic 49B Battalion Chief 13 Grass Firefighter 3 9197 Frankford Avenue

Division 3

Battalion Neighborhood Engine Company Ladder Company EMS Units Chief Units Additional Units Address
2 Logan / Ogontz Engine 51 Ladder 29 Medic 18 Battalion Chief 2 5931 Old York Road
2 Olney Engine 61 Medic 29 5334 Rising Sun Avenue
2 East Oak Lane Engine 63 Medic 56B 1210 Oak Lane Avenue
2 Wyoming Squad 72 Medic 24
ES 10
Squad 72A 1127 West Louden Street
2 West Oak Lane Engine 73 Medic 33 Air Unit 2 7515 Ogontz Avenue
3 Fairmount Engine 13 Medic 50B Air Unit 1 1541 Parrish Street
3 Cecil B. Moore Engine 27 Medic 13 Battalion Chief 3 1901 West Oxford Street
3 Olde Kensington Engine 29 Medic 15 Rescue 1
Rescue 1A
Collapse Unit 1
400 West Girard Avenue
3 Strawberry Mansion Engine 45 Ladder 14 Medic 25 2401 North 26th Street
8 West Kensington Engine 2 Ladder 3 Medic 31
Medic 51B
2426 North 2nd Street
8 East Falls Squrt 35 Ladder 25 Medic 16 4208 Ridge Avenue
8 Glenwood Engine 50 Ladder 12 Medic 22
Medic 57B
1325 West Cambria Street
8 Franklinville Engine 55 Ladder Tower 22 Medic 39 4000 North Front Street
8 Nicetown Engine 59 Ladder 18 Medic 4 Battalion Chief 8 2207 West Hunting Park Avenue
9 Mount Airy Squrt 9 Ladder 21 Medic 10 6900 Germantown Avenue
9 Manayunk Engine 12 Battalion Chief 9 4447 Main Street
9 East Germantown Engine 19 Tower Ladder 8 Medic 28 Deputy Chief 3 300 East Chelten Avenue
9 Chestnut Hill Engine 37 101 West Highland Avenue
9 Roxborough Engine 39 Ladder 30 Medic 5 6630 Ridge Avenue
9 Roxborough Engine 66 Medic 52B 7720 Ridge Avenue

Marine Division

Neighborhood Marine Company Address
Delaware River Marine Unit 1 1 Washington Avenue
Schuylkill River Marine Unit 2
Marine Unit 4
Passyunk Avenue & Schuylkill Avenue

Disbanded, never organized or restored fire companies

Engine 41 on 61st Street
* Engine 1 - 711 S. Broad St.  Restored 23 November 2019
* Engine 4 - 1528 Sansom St.
* Engine 6 - 2601 Belgrade St.
* Engine 8 - 101 N. 4th St.    Restored 23 November 2019
* Engine 14 - 1652 Foulkrod St. Restored 23 November 2019
* Engine 15 - 1625 N. Howard St. - Disbanded to form Marine Unit 15
* Engine 17 - 1328 Race St.
* Engine 21 - 609 N. 2nd St.
* Engine 23 - 2736 N. 6th St. - Disbanded to form Marine Unit 23
* Engine 26 - 1010 Buttonwood St.
* Engine 30 - 3548 Germantown Ave.
* Engine 31 - 2736 6th St.
* Engine 32 - 239 S. 6th St. - Disbanded to form Marine Unit 32
* Engine 39 - 6630 Ridge Ave.  Restored 23 November 2019
* Engine 42 - 3320 N. Front St.
* Engine 48 - 930 S. 7th St.
* Engine 65 - 5331 Haverford Ave.
* Engine 67 - Haverford Ave. & N. Preston St.
* Engine 74 - Never Organized
* Engine 75 - Never Organized
* Engine 76 - Philadelphia Northeast Airport
* Engine 77 - Philadelphia International Airport - Merged with Engine 78
* Ladder 1 - 1541 Parrish St.
* Ladder 7 - 400 W. Girard Ave.
* Ladder 11 - 1357 S. 12th St.
* Ladder 17 - 1210 Oak Lane Ave.
* Ladder 26 - 8201 Tinicum Blvd.
* Ladder 32 - 3023 Grays Ferry Ave.
* Ladder 33 - Never Organized

Gallery

See also

39°57′40″N 75°08′31″W / 39.961°N 75.142°W / 39.961; -75.142


This page was last updated at 2023-07-17 23:36 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari