Riverside Fire Department

The Riverside Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Riverside, California. As of 2015 the department is responsible for servicing a population of 314,034 in an area of 81.51 square miles (211.1 km2).[2]

Riverside Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State California
City Riverside
Agency overview[1][2]
EstablishedOctober 7, 1887
Annual budget$52,088,055 (2014)
Fire chiefLaWayne Hearn
IAFF1067
Facilities and equipment[3]
Battalions2
Stations14
Engines13 - first-run
8 - reserve
Trucks4
Squads3
Rescues1
Tenders1
HAZMAT1
Wildland4 - Type 3
1 - Type 6
Website
Official website
IAFF website

History
Fire Station #1, circa 1910, at the corner of 8th and Lime Streets (8th Street is now University Avenue)

The City of Riverside Fire Department can trace its origin back to 1875 from a newspaper article referencing the response of a hose cart to a fire in the township of Riverside. An unorganized group of volunteers existed in the Riverside township from December 1871 to April 1882. In April 1882, Frank Miller, the owner of the Mission Inn, convinced local businessmen to contribute towards a wagon and fire buckets, costing $500.[4] Subsequently, William Hayt, a businessman and owner of several stage lines, began a drive to establish a complete fire department. Hayt got the city's Board of Trustees agreement to establish the Riverside Fire Department, but only after Hayt offered to raise half the money from local businessmen, and to put up the other half of the funds himself, to be reimbursed later. Hayt was able to raise $527, he loaned the city an additional $516, and the Riverside Fire Department was officially established on October 7, 1887.[5]

The first major fire to confront the new fire department was on April 21, 1888, when the Pavilion, a large wood-frame structure used for many social occasions such as theaters, dances, and general meeting space, burned to the ground.[6] Nearly two decades later, in February 1906, the first station was built for the Riverside Fire Department at the corner of 8th and Lime Streets.[6]

The department received its first motorized unit in September 1909, with the $4,750 purchase of a Seagrave, hose wagon and chemical engine.[7] Following another major fire in 1924 at the Motor Transit building, the number of fire hydrants in the city was doubled. By 1938, the department had grown to 33 firefighters and five engine companies spread out across four stations.[7] Starting in 1998, the department transitioned to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level of support.[8]

USAR Task Force 6

The RFD is the sponsoring agency of California Task Force 6 (CA-TF6), one of the eight FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces spread out across the state.[9] The task force is prepared to respond to a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, terrorist attacks and other natural or man-made disasters.[10] Some of their most notable responses include the Northridge earthquake (1994), the Oklahoma City bombing (1995) and Hurricane Katrina (2005).[11]

Stations and apparatus

The RFD has 14 stations in the city.[3]

Fire Station Number Neighborhood Engine Company Truck Company Squad Company Reserve Engine or Squad Wildland Unit Command Unit Specialized units
1 DowntownEngine 1Truck 1Squad 1Brush 1Battalion 1, Battalion 51UT-1, ATV 1
2 ArlingtonEngine 2Truck 2Squad 2Battalion 2HazMat 2, Support 2 & UT-2
3 Magnolia CenterEngine 3Truck 3Heavy Rescue 3, Water Rescue 3, UT-3, ATV 3, HART
4 UniversityEngine 4Water Tender 4
5 AirportEngine 5Truck 51Squad 5Squad 51, Engine 51Breathing Support 5
6 NorthsideEngine 6Engine 54EMS-1
7 ArlanzaEngine 7Brush 7UT-7
8 La SierraEngine 8Engine 369UT-8
9 Mission GroveEngine 9Engine 57
10 Arlington HeightsEngine 10Engine 52
11 Orange CrestEngine 11Engine 53Battalion 52
12 La Sierra SouthEngine 12Brush 52DECON 12
13 Sycamore CanyonTruck 13Engine 56Patrol 13UT-13
14 Canyon CrestEngine 14Engine 8635UT-14, Ladder Trailer, Fire Explorer Trailer, Quad 13 & Quad 14

Past Chiefs

LaWayne Hearn (2022 - Present)

Michael Moore (2014-2022)

Michael Esparza (2013 - 2014)

Steven H. Earley (2009 - 2013)

Tedd Laycock (2005 - 2009)

Dave Carlson (1996 - 2005)

Michael Vonada (1993 - 1996)

Douglas Greene (1986 - 1992)

Richard Bosted (1977 - 1986)

Fred Woodard (1973 - 1977)

Burney Montgomery (1959 - 1973)

Ray Allen (1942 - 1959)

William Taylor (1938 - 1942)

Ed Mosbaugh (1931 - 1938)

Jack Hutchinson (1929 - 1931)

John Bayha (1928 - 1929)

Jack Hutchinson (1926 - 1928)

Joseph Schneider (1901 - 1926)

S.L. Wight (1897 - 1901)

W.G. Polcene (1897 - 1897)

S.R. Smith (1896 - 1897)

G.F. Ward (1890 - 1896)

J.N. Keith (1887 - 1890)

References
  1. "Department History". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  2. "Budget" (PDF). Riverside California. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  3. "Fire Stations". Riverside Fire Department. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  4. "Riverside Fire Department in the 19th Century". Riverside Fire Department. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  5. Lewis, Richard (1983). The Riverside Fire Department Presents, A Century of Service. Riverside, California: Riverside Firemen's Benefit Association. p. 13.
  6. Souvenir of the City of Riverside. Riverside, California: Riverside Museum Press. 1987. ISBN 0-935661-16-6.
  7. "History - 20th Century". Riverside Fire Department. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  8. "About us now". Riverside Fire Department. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. "USAR Task Force Locations". FEMA. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  10. "About Us". USAR Task Force 6. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  11. "Response History". USAR Task Force 6. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

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