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Fire Department | 380 Congress Street | Portland, Maine 04101 | (207) 874-8400

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Central Station Fire Department Headquarters 380 Congress Street

ENGINE COMPANY No. 5

COMPANY ORGANIZED: February 25, 1837
COMPANY QUARTERS:

1837-1862 Franklin Street, head of Sumner Street
1863          157 Spring Street, near State St.
1864          Congress St., near India St., head of Smith
1864-1866 Congress St., between Lime and Pearl Sts. ( engine house destroyed in fire, July 4, 1866 )
1867-1924 380 Congress St., old Central Fire Station
1924-1979 380 Congress St., new Central Fire Station
1979-1987 134 Congress St., Munjoy with E-1 and L-1
1987-         380 Congress St., Central Station reopened

COMPANY NAMES:

1836-1863  Portland Hand Engine Co. No. 5
1863           Ellsworth Hand Engine Co. No. 5
1864-1889 Casco Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 5
1889-         Engine Company 5

COMPANY MOTTO:

Veni-Vidi-Vice (Italian)
(we came-we saw-we conquered)
"Pro Bono Publico" in 1957

• Company organized on February 25, 1837
• Portland Engine Co. 5 was honorably discharged from service by an order of the Board of Aldermen on September 15, 1862, in consequence of the introduction of Cumberland Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 3.
• Old Ellsworth Hand Engine No. 3 was changed to No. 5 on March 2, 1863 by order of the Board of Aldermen in consequence of the confusion created by having a steam engine of the same number. ( 1849 Hunneman Engine )
• Ellsworth Engine Co. 5 was disbanded in November of 1863, then located on Spring Street near State Street, for repeated violation of regulations of the Department.
• Casco Steam Engine Co. No. 5 was put in service in early 1864.

RESCUE COMPANY NO. 1

COMPANY ESTABLISHED: September 9, 1943
COMPANY QUARTERS:

1943-1979 380 Congress St. ( Central Station )
1979-1987 784 Congress St. ( Bramhall Station )
1987-         380 Congress St. ( Central Station )

On September 9, 1943, Chemical Co. 1 was decommissioned, as a new type of fire company was established to replace it. Commissioned the same day was Rescue Company 1. Chief Sanborn had been recommending a rescue company for several years. When approved, he obtained a second-hand vehicle from the Police Department, a Chevrolet wagon. It then went to the Fire Dept. shop on India Street, where it was rebuilt by F.D. mechanics. It carried 4 large search lights, smoke ejectors, extrication tools, jacks, a inhalator, oxygen, first aid equipment, air masks, stretchers, a generator, salvage covers, and other tools. It was manned with 1-officer and 2-firefighters.

Over the years, much more equipment has been added, making Rescue Co. 1 an important piece of equipment to respond to all types of emergencies. Rescue 1 responds to all Desk Box alarms city-wide, all in town boxes and car accidents.

Because of budget cuts, Rescue 1 was decommissioned on March 2, 1977. The truck was taken to working fires by an assigned engine company.

The Rescue was recommissioned on December 15, 1986, and one firefighter was assigned.

In 1987, it began being manned by 2-firefighters.

ASSIGNED APPARATUS:

1943-1948 - Second-hand Chevrolet 1/2 ton panel car, rebuilt in FD Shop,
1948-1962 - International panel truck, metro body K.B.1,
1962-1970 - International panel truck, model AM-152, with duel wheels, Out of service 1/04/1970; (destroyed in accident)
1970-1981 - Chevrolet 1-ton panel truck, step-van
1981-1982 - Used Medcu Ambulance unit, equipped with Rescue 1 tools
1982-2000 - 2000 Ford C model heavy rescue / command post truck, diesel-powered built by Yankee Coach Co. of Palmer, Mass.
2000-          - Freightliner Custom Built Rescue