A historical repository for the North American Fire Service

Oldest Continuously Working Fire Depts.

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Year	Fire Department	Company Name	Remarks
1678	Boston, MA	Boston Fire Department	First paid (call) municipal fire department organized. Thomas Atkins was the first Fire Chief. The department had one engine house. By 1715 they 6 engine companies. The present Boston Fire Department was organized in 1837. This makes Boston the oldest continuously operating fire department in the country.
1752	Mount Holly, NJ	Relief Fire Co.1	The Relief Fire Company No. 1 IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY serving volunteer company in the United States. Originally formed on July 11, 1752 as “Britannia” they later changed their name so the department would have a more patriotic name. Their original firehouse, built in 1752, sits next to the current firehouse built in 1895.
September 13th, 1756	Portsmouth, NH	Portsmouth Fire Company	With the hiring of 12 fire officers in 1756 and the purchasing of various fire equipment the Fire Companies in Portsmouth, NH were born. A "fire injin" was purchase in 1744 at the cost of 20 pounds sterling but the town was un-organized until 1756.
1764	Haddonfield, NJ	Haddon Fire Co.1	On March 8, 1764 the Friendship Fire Company of Haddonfield was started. Today known as Haddon Fire Co.1 it is the 2nd oldest fire department in operation in the country. The current station was built in 1952.
1775	Darby, PA	Darby Fire Co.1	The Darby Fire Company was established on January 27, 1775 by a group of villagers concerned for the well being of proper fire protection for their community. They are the second oldest in the state of Pennsylvania.
1784	Carlisle, PA	Union Fire Company 1	The Union Fire Company boasts a proud history of over 215 years. The Company was organized in 1789 and later became incorporated by a special act of Pennsylvania legislature in 1840. It still operates today under the same name and charter as when the Company was established.
1804	Bedford, PA	Bedford Fire Department	The Bedford Fire Department was established in 1804 and is still going strong. They celebrated their 200th anniversary in 2004. They are an all volunteer department that runs nearly 250 calls yearly.
1813	Rochester, NH	Rochester Fire Department	No information at this time.
1818	Frederick County, MD	Independent Hose Co.1	The Independent Hose Company is Frederick County Maryland's Fire & Rescue Station #1. They are Maryland's oldest volunteer Fire Company in continuous operation having been instituted in 1818.
1824	Buffalo, NY	Buffalo Fire Department	The first regular fire company was organized in Buffalo on the 16th of December, 1824.
1831	Portland, ME	Portland Fire Department	No information at this time.
July 14th, 1847	Yantic, CT	Yantic Fire Engine Co.1	Established by Act of Connecticut General Assembly on July 14th, 1847 and has never closed for one day since.
1848	Madison, IN	Washington Fire Company 2	Built in 1848, this station is considered to be the oldest operating firehouse in the United States.
December 27th, 1850	Honolulu, HI	Honolulu Fire Department	The Honolulu Fire Department was founded on December 27, 1850 by Kamehameha III and Alexander Cartwright. The Honolulu Fire Department serves and protects the entire island of O'ahu, covering over 600 square miles.
1851	Marysville, CA	Marysville Fire Department	The 2nd oldest fire department West of the Mississippi River.
1853	Cincinnati, OH	Cincinnati Fire Department	Organized April 1st, 1853. The Cincinnati Fire Department also placed into service the 1st functional steam fire engine called the "Uncle Joe Ross".
1853	Grass Valley, CA	Grass Valley Fire Department	The Grass Valley Fire Department was first organized in 1853 with the establishment of the Grass Valley Hook and Ladder Company. It is the third oldest active fire department West of the Mississippi River.
1854	San Jose, CA	San Jose Fire Department	Originally named El Pueblo of San Jose (The Town of San Jose) and protected by volunteers and bucket brigades starting in 1777, it would not be until 1854 when the official San Jose Fire Department started.
1855	Peabody, MA	Peabody Fire Department	Originally known as South Danvers and started in 1855, the town changed its name in 1868 to Peabody after philanthropist George Peabody. Peabody's headquarters station was built in 1873 making it the 2nd oldest continuously operating firehouse in the United States.
1857	Mechanicsburg, PA	Washington Fire Co.1	In 1856 Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Company put into service a new pumping station. For the first time the borough had a water system sufficient to support organized fire protection in Mechanicsburg. Though the borough had a fire engine it lacked the organization to use it effectively The borough fathers purchased a new pumper to complement the improved water supply. It arrived in the borough on December 29, 1857. That evening the Washington Fire Company was organized.
1858	Louisville, KY	Louisville Fire Department	On the evening of May 27, 1858, the General Council organized the Steam Engine Fire Department of Louisville, to be effective June 1, 1858. The Division of Fire consisted of three fire stations. Louisville's First Fire chief ( A. Y. Johnson) with the aid of 65 men, 23 horses and 5 newly purchased steam engines, provided fire protection for the 70,000 inhabitants of the city.
February 15th, 1859	Baltimore, MD	Baltimore Fire Department	On February 15, 1859, the Baltimore City Fire Department was activated for service with four companies. They were Engine Co.1, formerly Howard Fire Company, Engine Co.2, formerly Washington Hose Company, Engine Co.3, formerly Vigilant Fire Company and Hook and Ladder Co.1, formerly Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company. The first fire was recorded on February 23rd at 12:15am for a large fire in a 3 story building. In May of 1859 3 additional companies were added. They were Engine Co.5, formerly Columbian Fire Company, Engine Co.4, formerly Monumental Hose Company and Deluge Co.6 formerly Independent Hose Company. In July of 1859 a Gamewell Alarm System was added to the city and in September of 1859 the final two companies by ordinance were added. They were Hook and Ladder Co.2, moving in with Engine Co.1 and Engine Co.7 in a temporary home and in 1860 receiving a permanent station.
1859	Niles, MI	Niles Fire Department	On June 9th 1859, the citizens of Niles, MI formed an official fire department. The department started with nearly 200 men. In 1923, they purchased their first motorized fire engine and in 1950 they purchased their first aerial ladder was added.
1860	Detroit, MI	Detroit Fire Department	In l860, the city fathers hastily hired Detroit's first paid fire fighters, an engineer, five hosemen, two drivers and a foreman to operate the first steam fire engine. The engine cost the city $3,150 and was delivered from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, N.H.
1861	St. Charles, MO	St. Charles Fire Department	In 1836, the City of St. Charles began taxing its citizens for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine and firefighting buckets. By 1853, each of the city wards had been mandated to keep at least two side ladders and two roof ladders on hand for fire protection purposes. In answer to the need for more organized fire protection, the Union Fire Company was formed in 1861.
1863	Carson City, NV	Warren Engine Co.1	Warren Engine Co.1 was organized on June 17, 1863, in Carson City, then a part of Utah Territory.
1865	St. Joseph, MO	St. Joseph Fire Department	The St. Joseph Fire Department was established in 1865 when the community passed a bond to purchase the city’s first steam powered fire pump. The pump was named the “Blacksnake”. Most fire equipment was given personalized names in this time period. The “Blacksnake Company” was staffed by former members of the Union Army and a team of horses pulled it.
1866	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco Fire Department	Changing from a volunteer system that lasted for 16 years, San Francisco became paid in 1866. The worst fire and disaster to strike the city occurred in 1906 during the San Francisco Earthquake.
1869	Camden, NJ	Camden Fire Department	No information at this time.
1878	Wabasha, MN	Wabasha Fire Department	No information at this time.
1882	Charleston, SC	Charleston Fire Department	Started January 1st 1882 as a result of a want for better fire protection from the Volunteer System. The Board of Firemasters and the City of Charleston purchased the equipment from a majority of the volunteer houses and manned them as paid. This went on until 1886 when the Charleston Earthquake destroyed many of the stations and new ones had to be built. For more information on Charleston Fire Houses, go to Mike Legeros site.
1882	El Paso, TX	El Paso Fire Department	On January 18th, 1882 El Paso Fire Company No. 1 was organized. Another meeting was held on August 22nd, 1882 and El Paso Hose Company No. 1 was formed and officers elected. The first test for the new fire department occurred on November 11th, 1882 when two one-story frame lodging houses were destroyed by fire.
1891	Rome, NY	Rome Fire Department	The paid department consisted of a new Chief, four drivers, two stokers, and two engineers. The first paid firefighters worked six straight 24 hour shifts, going home only for meals and getting the 7th day off. The six volunteer companies were still in existence.
1895	Mt. Holly Springs, PA	Citizens Fire Co.1	The first company meeting was held on July 29, 1895. On August 6, 1895, the company's first piece of equipment was purchased.
1896	Yonkers, NY	Yonkers, NY	At the Yonkers Fire Commissioner's Board meeting held on Aug. 6, 1896, it was decided to appoint six men for the Firehouse on Palisade Ave. There were twenty-three applicants for the position, but only seventeen actually appeared for the examination, and only six were finally selected.
1899	Hampton, NJ	Hampton Fire Company	The Hampton Fire Company began in 1899 as the Junction Fire Company following the completion of the borough wide water system, including hydrants, in that same year. In 1909, the name changed to the Musconetcong Fire Company and then later to the Hampton Fire Company. The HFC consists entirely of over 40 men and women volunteers.
1899	State College, PA	Alpha Fire Company	No information at this time.
1902	Chesterton, IN	Chesterton Fire Department	After a fire on April 6, 1902 that burned 11 businesses in the downtown, the Chesterton Fire Department was formed. The town board purchased a hand pump fire engine for $980. In 1903, a new town hall was built in the downtown area and the ground floor was used exclusively for the fire department. The first Fire Chief was John Graessle.
1904	Berkeley, CA	Berkeley, CA	After a disastrous fire in the Berkeley City Hall a paid fire department was organized in September of 1904.
1905	Glenn Falls, NY	Glenn Falls Fire Department	No information at this time.
1909	Mason City, IA	Mason City Fire Department	No information at this time.
1916	Austin, TX	Austin Fire Department	Voters approved to change to a fully paid fire department in May, which began operations in June 1916 with 27 men and Clarence Woodward as Fire Chief. On July 23, 1916, the new department experienced its first major fire in the Kreisle Building. Four firefighters were seriously injured. Firefighter James T. Glass had his spine crushed. He lay paralyzed at Brackenridge Hospital until his death more than one year later. His badge number was "13" and that number was permanently retired in his memory.
1922	Phoenix, AZ	Phoenix Fire Department	After thirty four years of volunteer FF's the PFD finally went paid in 1922.