Providence Fire Department

Providence Fire Department

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

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]}

Providence Fire Department in the 2025 Saint Patrick's Day Parade

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

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

External links

41°49′25″N71°25′20″W / 41.82361°N 71.42222°W / 41.82361; -71.42222