Providence Fire Department

The Providence Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Providence, Rhode Island.

Providence Fire Department

“In Omnia Paratus,” meaning “In all Things Ready”[1]
Operational area
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
City	Providence
Agency overview[2][3]
Established	March 1, 1854 (1854-03-01)
Annual calls	51,351 (2014)
Annual budget	$67,775,182 (2014)
Staffing	Career
Fire chief	Vacant
IAFF	799
Facilities and equipment[4]
Divisions	1
Battalions	3
Stations	12
Engines	12
Trucks	5
Platforms	2
Rescues	1
Ambulances	7
Tenders	1
HAZMAT	1
Fireboats	1
Rescue boats	1
Light and air	1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

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.[1]

On March 1, 1854, a paid fire department was established.[1]

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	Ladder Company	Rescue Ambulance	Special Unit	Chief Unit	Address	Neighborhood	Battalion
Engine 2	Ladder 7	Rescue 3		Battalion 3	10 Branch Ave.	Mt. Hope	3
Engine 3	Tower Ladder 1	Rescue 4	Special Hazards 1(Heavy Rescue & Haz-Mat)	Division 1(Deputy Chief), Safety Battalion	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	1
Engine 8	Tower Ladder 2			Battalion 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	2
Engine 12	Ladder 3	Rescue 7			426 Admiral St.	Elmhurst	3
Engine 13			Foam Unit	Battalion 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	3

Gallery

• 
  Admiral Street Fire Station (Engine 12)
• 
  Engine 7, North Main Street
• 
  Public Safety Complex at 325 Washington Street
• 
  Lower South Providence Station, 847 Broad Street
• 
  Brook Street Station
• 
  Humboldt Avenue Fire Station (decommissioned 2017)

References

1. "About Us". City of Providence Fire Department. City of Providence. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
2. "2014 Annual Budget". Providence Rhode Island. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
3. "2014 Annual Report". Providence Fire Department. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
4. "Stations". Providence Fire Department. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
5. "Providence Fire Department Records". Rhode Island Historical Society. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
6. Molinaro, Sara (31 October 2006). "Firefighters and city make slow progress in contract talks". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
7. "Providence mayor, union duel over national meeting". Deseret News. Associated Press. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
8. Bramson, Kate (7 January 2017). "Providence firehouses closing as part of downsizing". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
9. Reynolds, Mark (5 January 2017). "Providence, firefighters' union approve 5-year contract, ending long standoff". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
10. http://www.providenceri.gov/fire-department/find-fire-station/

External links