Pittsburgh Fire Bureau
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire (PBF) is the 630-strong http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/fire/about.htm#chiefTab fire department
of the City of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania
. The Bureau dates its history back to September 12, 1793, with the initial purchase of a fire engine and the opening of a fire station
at the corner of First Avenue and Market Street in downtown Pittsburgh. Originally a volunteer fire department
, it became a fully paid (professional) department on May 23, 1870.
In 1820, Pittsburgh firefighter Marina Betts became one of the world's first female volunteer firefighters. On May 5, 1903 firefighters in the bureau created the first firefighter union in the world, and on September 11, 1903, organized the first local
of what would become the International Association of Fire Fighters
. Pittsburgh firefighters became Local 1 of the IAFF after winning a coin toss with Chicago
, Illinois
.
Currently, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire operates out of 30 fire stations, strategically located throughout Pittsburgh and also operate a fire apparatus
fleet of 28 engines (including three quints
), 11 trucks, two Mobile Air Compressor Units (MACs), and numerous other special, support, and reserve units. The PBF is divided into four districts or zones. The PBF responds to approximately 28,000 emergency calls annually.
The Bureau of Fire does not provide emergency medical services
for the City of Pittsburgh; these operations are provided by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). On April 1, 2011, the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau took over all fire department operations, including fire prevention
for the Borough of Wilkinsburg
.
in which the officers can maintain knowledge and enforce discipline within their units.
The rank structure of the Bureau is as follows:
These ranks are appointed by the Administration; ranks up to and including Deputy Chief are promotable under civil service rules.
Certain firefighters with over 15 years experience have the title of Master Firefighter, and senior firefighters in each company are the full-time driver–engineers, but these are not official ranks in the Bureau. Officers within the rank structure are paid 10% more than the rank under them. Master Firefighters are paid a 5% premium over a firefighter, and drivers get an additional $10 per day. Fire Instructor has recently been removed as a rank, but is paid a 10% premium above the instructor's current rank, so a Firefighter instructor gets paid lieutenant wages, a Lieutenant instructor gets paid Captain wages, etc...
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
of the City of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The Bureau dates its history back to September 12, 1793, with the initial purchase of a fire engine and the opening of a fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
at the corner of First Avenue and Market Street in downtown Pittsburgh. Originally a volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
, it became a fully paid (professional) department on May 23, 1870.
In 1820, Pittsburgh firefighter Marina Betts became one of the world's first female volunteer firefighters. On May 5, 1903 firefighters in the bureau created the first firefighter union in the world, and on September 11, 1903, organized the first local
Local union
A local union, often shortened to local, in North America, or a union branch in the United Kingdom and other countries is a locally-based trade union organization which forms part of a larger, usually national, union.Local branches are organized to represent the union's members from a particular...
of what would become the International Association of Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters
The International Association of Fire Fighters is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in...
. Pittsburgh firefighters became Local 1 of the IAFF after winning a coin toss with Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Currently, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire operates out of 30 fire stations, strategically located throughout Pittsburgh and also operate a fire apparatus
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
fleet of 28 engines (including three quints
Quint (fire apparatus)
A quintuple combination pumper or quint is a fire service apparatus that serves the dual purpose of an engine and a ladder truck. The name quint is derived from the Latin prefix quinque-, meaning five, and refers to the five functions that a quint provides: pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial...
), 11 trucks, two Mobile Air Compressor Units (MACs), and numerous other special, support, and reserve units. The PBF is divided into four districts or zones. The PBF responds to approximately 28,000 emergency calls annually.
The Bureau of Fire does not provide emergency medical services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
for the City of Pittsburgh; these operations are provided by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). On April 1, 2011, the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau took over all fire department operations, including fire prevention
Fire prevention
Fire Prevention is a function of many fire departments. The goal of fire prevention is to educate the public to take precautions to prevent fires, and be educated about surviving them. It is a proactive method of reducing emergencies and the damage caused by them. Many fire departments have a Fire...
for the Borough of Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Wilkinsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States adjacent to the city of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,930 at the 2010 census, having lost more than 13,000 in the 70 years since 1940, when 29,853 people were enumerated...
.
Organization and ranks
The Bureau works on a paramilitary–hierarchical rank structure. Firefighters are to address concerns using the chain of command. This allows for a span of controlSpan of control
Span of control is the term now used more commonly in business management, particularly human resource management. Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a supervisor has....
in which the officers can maintain knowledge and enforce discipline within their units.
The rank structure of the Bureau is as follows:
- Chief of the Dept* (Darryl Jones)
- Assistant Chief*
- Deputy Chief
- Battalion Chief
- Fire Instructor
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Firefighter
These ranks are appointed by the Administration; ranks up to and including Deputy Chief are promotable under civil service rules.
Certain firefighters with over 15 years experience have the title of Master Firefighter, and senior firefighters in each company are the full-time driver–engineers, but these are not official ranks in the Bureau. Officers within the rank structure are paid 10% more than the rank under them. Master Firefighters are paid a 5% premium over a firefighter, and drivers get an additional $10 per day. Fire Instructor has recently been removed as a rank, but is paid a 10% premium above the instructor's current rank, so a Firefighter instructor gets paid lieutenant wages, a Lieutenant instructor gets paid Captain wages, etc...
List of fire station locations and apparatus
PFB has 38 districts and four zones (Yellow, Purple, Red and Green):| Engine Company | Truck Company | Address | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 3 | 1401 Penn Ave. | Strip District Strip District (Pittsburgh) The Strip District is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a one-half square mile area of land northeast of the central business district bordered to the north by the Allegheny River and to the south by portions of the Hill District... |
|
| Engine 4 | Truck 4 | 1324 Forbes Ave. | Mercy Hospital |
| Engine 6 | Truck 6 | 3958 Penn Ave. | Lawrenceville Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh) Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and... |
| Engine 7 | 4603 Stanton Ave. | Stanton Heights | |
| Engine 8 | Truck 8 | 5714 Penn Circle W. | East Liberty East Liberty (Pittsburgh) East Liberty is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's East End. It is bordered by Highland Park, Morningside, Stanton Heights, Garfield, Friendship, Shadyside and Larimer, and is represented on by Patrick Dowd... |
| Engine 10 | 2500 Allequippa St. | Upper Oakland | |
| Engine 12 | 4156 Winterburn St. | Greenfield Greenfield (Pittsburgh) Greenfield is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is represented on by Doug Shields.Greenfield is a member of Pittsburgh's 15th Ward, which includes the neighborhoods of Greenfield and Four Mile Run. Greenfield is adjacent to the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Hazelwood to... |
|
| Engine 13 | Truck 13 | 200 Flowers Ave. | Hazelwood Hazelwood (Pittsburgh) Hazelwood is a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is represented on by Douglas Shields. It is bordered by Greenfield and Oakland on the north, Squirrel Hill and Glen Hazel on the east, and the Monongahela River on the south and west... |
| Truck 14 | 259 McKee Pl. | Oakland Oakland (Pittsburgh) Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland... |
|
| Engine 15 | 7024 Lemington Ave. | Lincoln-Lemington Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located in the northeastern section of the city and spans the Allegheny River. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire houses 15 Engine in the Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar section of the city.... |
|
| Engine 16 | 605 Ross Ave. | Wilkinsburg, PA | |
| Engine 17 | Truck 17 | 7601 Hamilton Ave. | Homewood Homewood (Pittsburgh) Homewood is a predominantly African American neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, officially divided into three neighborhoods: Homewood North, Homewood South and Homewood West.... |
| Quint 18 | 5858 Northumberland Ave. | Squirrel Hill | |
| Engine 19 | 159 Homestead St. | Swisshelm Park | |
| Engine 20 | 514 Baldwin Road | Hays Hays (Pittsburgh) Hays is a neighborhood in the 31st Ward of southeastern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is represented on by the representative of . It occupies ZIP codes 15227, 15207, and 15236. It is named after James H... |
|
| Engine 22 | 1945 Arlington Ave. | Arlington Arlington (Pittsburgh) Arlington is a south neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The zip code used by residents is 15210, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 3 . The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire houses 22 engine in Arlington. The city has discussed the possibility of... |
|
| Quint 23 | 1704 Brownsville Road Brownsville Road Brownsville Road is a road in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It has had several names over its history, and was also known at the Red Stone Road and the Brownsville Plank Road, or Southern Avenue.-Pre-history to eighteenth century:... |
Carrick Carrick (Pittsburgh) Carrick is a south neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is served by two zip codes, 15210 and 15227, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 4 with a part in District 3.Located between the suburbs of the South Hills and... |
|
| Engine 24 | Truck 24 | 1729 Mary St. | South Side South Side (Pittsburgh) South Side is an area in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, located along the Monongahela River across from Downtown Pittsburgh. The South Side is officially divided into two neighborhoods, South Side Flats and South Side Slopes. Both the Flats and the Slopes are represented on Pittsburgh City... |
| Engine 26 | Truck 26 | 630 Brookline Blvd. | Brookline Brookline (Pittsburgh) -Early settlement:Brookline was a part of the larger West Liberty Borough before its absorption intoPittsburgh in 1908. Early in its history, the area was mostly inhabited by miners and farmers... |
| Quint 27 | 96 Virginia Ave. | Mt. Washington | |
| Engine 28 | 1428 Beechview Ave. | Beechview Beechview (Pittsburgh) Beechview is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Hills area. It has a zip code of 15216, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council member for District 4 and for District 2 . Beechview was founded in 1905. It is Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Zone 4-10 and... |
|
| Engine 29 | 2100 Noblestown Rd. | Westwood Westwood (Pittsburgh) Westwood is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's West End Region. Annexed by the City of Pittsburgh in three pieces, the eastern third in 1872, then the remaining sectors progressing west in 1921 and 1927, Westwood is and has always been a quiet community inhabited by a large variety of... |
|
| Engine 30 | Truck 30 | 916 Steuben St. | Elliott Elliott (Pittsburgh) Elliott is a small, hilly neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's West End Region. Elliott is represented on the Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 , and uses the zip code 15220.-History:... |
| Engine 31 | 3000 Chartiers Ave. | Sheraden Sheraden (Pittsburgh) Sheraden is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. Nearby neighbourhoods include Windgap, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Esplen, and Elliott.... |
|
| Engine 32 | Truck 32 | 900 Spring Garden | Spring Garden Spring Garden (Pittsburgh) Spring Garden is a small neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It takes its name from Spring Garden Avenue, which follows the floor of the valley that separates the two adjacent hilltop neighborhoods of Spring Hill and Troy Hill... |
| Truck 33 | 3284 Central Ave. | Woods Run | |
| Engine 34 | 3914 Perrysville Ave. | Observatory Hill | |
| Engine 35 | 1519 Orchlee St. | Brighton Heights Brighton Heights (Pittsburgh) Brighton Heights is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's northside area. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1... |
|
| Engine 37 | 1124 W. North Ave. | Manchester Manchester (Pittsburgh) Manchester is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a ZIP code of 15233, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 6 . The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire houses 37 Engine and their foam unit in Manchester... |
|
| Engine 38 | 198 Essen St. | Northview Heights |
Fictional Portrayals
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire has been shown in many movies and television roles:- Sudden DeathSudden Death (film)Sudden Death is a 1995 American action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Powers Boothe. The film's story was written by Karen Elise Baldwin, the wife of then-Penguins owner Howard Baldwin. It also features Dorian Harewood and Raymond J. Barry, and is directed by Peter Hyams. It has been...
- A Pittsburgh firefighter, played by Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
, rescues the U.S. Vice President during a Stanley Cup FinalsStanley Cup FinalsThe Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
game seven terrorist plot. - The GuardianThe Guardian (TV series)The Guardian is an American drama series which aired on CBS from September 25, 2001 to May 4, 2004. It is currently showing in re-runs on the Sleuth Channel in the US. The Guardian has also aired in the United Kingdom on the Hallmark Channel, ABC1 and more recently five USA and as of August...
- Dominick and EugeneDominick and EugeneDominick and Eugene is a 1988 American drama film directed by Robert M. Young about twin brothers, Dominick and Eugene. Dominick has an intellectual disability due to an accident in his youth. The film was directed by Robert M...
- the EMT division is portrayed in this Ray LiottaRay Liotta[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
and Jaime Lee Curtis classic. - Full Run - a 1903 docudrama about Pittsburgh firefighters
- Ablaze - a 2001 remake of City on FireCity on Fire (1979 film)City on Fire is a 1979 disaster film directed by Alvin Rakoff and featuring an “all-star cast,” as was the custom for that time. The film’s plot revolves around a disgruntled employee who sets fire to an oil refinery, setting off a blaze which engulfs an entire city. Various people try to either...
(1979)