Harrisburg Bureau of Fire

Last updated
Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
HBG Bureau of Fire Logo.jpeg
Official Logo
Operational area
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
U.S. State Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania
County Dauphin
City Harrisburg
Agency overview
Established1791;233 years ago (1791)
Employees96 (2023)
Annual budget10.4 million (2023)
StaffingCombination career and volunteer
Fire chief Brian Enterline
Senior Deputy Fire ChiefMichael Souder
Deputy Fire ChiefGlenn Sattizahn
IAFF 428
Facilities and equipment
Battalions2
Stations 3
Engines 3
Trucks 3
Squads 1
Rescues 4
HAZMAT 1
Wildland 1
Fireboats 1
Rescue boats 3
Website
Official Website
IAFF Website

Harrisburg Bureau of Fire (HBF) is a firefighting agency that is located in and serves Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and its surrounding metropolitan area. [1] [2] It is a career firefighting agency with at least 15 firefighters and fire officers on duty at any given time, supplemented with volunteer staffing as well. Everyday duties for the Bureau include fire suppression, emergency medical services, tactical rescue, urban search and rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, fire codes enforcement, and public safety educations. [3]

Contents

History

PA Governor Tom Wolf (center) with Fire Chief Brian Enterline (right) and Senior Deputy Fire Chief Michael Souder(left) Governor Wolf Attends Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association Meeting.jpg
PA Governor Tom Wolf (center) with Fire Chief Brian Enterline (right) and Senior Deputy Fire Chief Michael Souder(left)

As Harrisburg became a Borough in 1791, a volunteer bucket brigade was established as the Union Fire Company, and several other temporary ones existed throughout the 19th century. The first hose companies with carriages were formed in 1841 following the installation of the city's water system, initially with the Washington Hose Company. [4] [5] On December 1, 1913 following the passing of Clark Act to restructure Pennsylvania cities, the Bureau was named so under the Department of Public Safety (headed by the Mayor). Despite this technicality, it is not uncommon to hear "Harrisburg Fire Department" instead of "Bureau." In 2018, the city approved a budget of 10.1 million dollars, along with a Future of Fire report stating the need for updated equipment and apparatuses in the next 10 years. In January 2019, the city announced its plan to purchase 12 new pieces of apparatus from 2020 through 2035.

Operations

Specialty units

Stations and apparatus

The Bureau has over 30 apparatuses, trucks, and vans. The HBF fleet contains Pierce and Seagrave firefighting apparatus and Freightliner ambulances. The truck and SUV brands used by the department include Ford and Chevrolet. [7] [8] [9]

Fallen firefighters

RankNameLast AlarmBadgeAgeDescription
Captain Samuel J. MillerMay 13, 1859Unknown21Fell and was run over by hand pumper [10]
FiremanGeorge HotcornDecember 19, 1874UnknownUnknownSuccumbed to injuries sustained due to fall and being run over by hand pumper [10]
FiremanMaximillian GrieshaberJuly 31, 1880Unknown27After developing a cold during 36-hour exposure to fire in December 1878, succumbed to Pneumonia [10]
FiremanWilliam C. FisherMarch 28, 1899Unknown40 Electrocuted investigating an electrical fire [10]
FiremanCharles F. DeikerApril 19, 1901UnknownUnknownRuptured intestine while cranking hose reel following structure fire [10]
FiremanEli K. HoffmanMay 13, 1908Unknown31Electrocuted at fire on S 18th Street [11]
FiremanWilliam H. BennerAugust 15, 1909UnknownUnknownSuccumbed to injuries sustained due to fall from scaffolding inside Fire House while scraping paint [11]
FiremanH. Howard MaySeptember 10, 1912UnknownUnknownSuccumbed to Pneumonia after being drenched working a hose on a fire Christmas Eve 1911 [10]
DriverSamuel WanbaughNovember 21, 1912Unknown45Killed in an accident at 15th & Market Street responding to scene [12]
FiremanWilliam H. HarrisApril 8, 1914Unknown56Collapsed from a heart attack while fighting an industrial fire [10]
FiremanThomas A. WenrickSeptember 3, 1919Unknown45Succumbed to Tuberculosis after a prolonged heavy cold from manning a hose for hours during a fire [10]
FiremanCharles A. FilmoreJune 11, 1921UnknownUnknownKilled in collision with streetcar while riding on running board of pumper [10]
FiremanDaniel P. HuberNovember 26, 1922UnknownUnknownInhaled superheated gases while trapped at a general alarm fire at 14th & Howard Street [11]
Fire ChiefMarion VerbekeOctober 29, 1926Unknown64Succumbed to Bright's disease after inhaling chemical laden smoke while directing a fire [10] (Son of William K. Verbeke)
FiremanBernard E. GoodyearMay 7, 1927Unknown29Smoke inhalation from a large industrial fire [10]
Fire ChiefEdward HalbertMarch 11, 1935Unknown58Succumbed to injuries from three-story fall while surveying a fire [10]
DriverWilliam MetzgerJune 1, 1941Unknown28Struck by a fast moving car while on scene [10]
FiremanDonald HeneryAugust 22, 1953Unknown26Killed under collapsed wall of large industrial fire [10]
FiremanWilliam F. BarbushMay 10, 19689041Collapsed on duty as a radio dispatcher [10]
FiremanWilliam CorishJune 13, 19781551Succumbed to injuries after being suddenly pinned to a wall by a stalled car he was trying to free [10]
Lieutenant Dennis H. DeVoeMarch 11, 201740145Killed in accident when responding to scene [13] [14]

See also

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References

  1. Metrick, Becky (2019-04-09). "Gas company confirms employee was at Harrisburg home before it was destroyed by fire". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  2. Ducey, Joe (2019-02-06). "Special Report | Firefighters healing through a tragedy". WHP. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  3. "2021 Proposed Budget" (PDF). City of Harrisburg website. 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  4. "Centuries of Service: Harrisburg Fire Bureau has grown, evolved with the city". TheBurg. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  5. David, Houseal (1999). The History of the Harrisburg Volunteer Fire Department. Pennsylvania National Fire Museum.
  6. "Bureau of Fire". City of Harrisburg. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  7. Benscoter, Jana (2019-05-08). "Harrisburg's wish list includes money for technology upgrades, police patrol vehicles". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  8. "Minivan Crashes into PA Fire Apparatus". Firehouse. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  9. Marroni, Steve (2018-03-07). "$6 million in gaming revenue granted to police, schools, community groups". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
  11. 1 2 3 Administrator, 911 Hot Designs. "Allison History - Allison Hook & Ladder #2". Allison Hook & Ladder 2. Retrieved 2021-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. Austin, Steve. "Remembering Our Fallen Brother Samuel Wanbaugh, Last Alarm Nov 21, 1912 - Allison Hook & Ladder #2". Allison Hook & Ladder #2. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  13. Miller, Barbara (2017-03-12). "Harrisburg firefighter dies of injuries in crash on way to deadly fire". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  14. "Years in prison for driver who killed York County firefighter". York Dispatch. Retrieved 2019-05-09.

Further reading