Harrisburg Bureau of Fire

Harrisburg Bureau of Fire (HBF) is a fire fighting agency that is located in and serves Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and its surrounding metropolitan area.[1][2] It is a career firefighting agency with at least 15 firefighters and fire officers on duty at any given time, supplemented with volunteer staffing as well. Everyday duties for the Bureau include fire suppression, emergency medical services, tactical rescue, urban search and rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, fire codes enforcement, and public safety educations.[3]

Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
Official Logo
Operational area
Country United States
U.S. State Pennsylvania
CountyDauphin
CityHarrisburg
Agency overview
Established1841 (1841)
Employees90 (2021)
Annual budget10.2 million (2021)
StaffingCombination career and volunteer
Fire chiefBrian Enterline
Senior Deputy Fire ChiefMichael Souder
Deputy Fire ChiefGlenn Sattizahn
IAFF428
Facilities and equipment
Battalions2
Stations3
Engines3
Trucks3
Squads1
Rescues4
HAZMAT1
Wildland1
Fireboats1
Rescue boats3
Website
Official Website
IAFF Website

History
PA Governor Tom Wolf (center) with Fire Chief Brian Enterline (right) and Senior Deputy Fire Chief Michael Souder(left)

Though a volunteer bucket brigade was established in 1791 (and several other temporary ones existed throughout the 19th century), the first hose companies with carriages were formed in 1841 following the installation of the city's water system.[4] On December 1, 1913 following the passing of Clark Act to restructure Pennsylvania cities, the Bureau was named so under the Department of Public Safety (headed by the Mayor). Despite this technicality, it is not uncommon to hear "Harrisburg Fire Department" instead of "Bureau." In 2018, the city approved a budget of 10.1 million dollars, along with a Future of Fire report stating the need for updated equipment and apparatuses in the next 10 years. In January 2019, the city announced its plan to purchase 12 new pieces of apparatus from 2020 through 2035.

Operations

Specialty units
  • HAZMAT unit; the HBF is the home station for Hazmat 77 which is housed at Station 1. HAZMAT 77 was reciently moved to Dauphin county hazmat teams new station and the team moved HAZMAT 77-3 to station 1. Hazmat 77 is a part of the Dauphin County Hazmat team.
  • Urban search and rescue unit; Harrisburg is mostly urban with small patches of wooded areas and parks throughout. In 1983 the HBF formed an urban search and rescue unit with two Ford F-350 marked trucks. This team is made up of numerous department employees as well as dozens of civilian volunteers.
  • Marine rescue unit; the marine rescue unit is make up of one fireboat and three smaller rescue boats. Due to Harrisburg's proximity to the Susquehanna River the HBF often respond to emergencies in the water. Majority of which include missing swimmers/sportsmen and vehicles which entered the water. This unit is made up of department volunteers and is located at station 8 due to its proximity to the waterfront. The marine unit can respond anywhere along the cities waterfront within 15 minutes of a call.

Stations and apparatus
  • Station 1: 1820 N. 6th Street
  • Station 2: 140 N. 16th Street
  • Station 8: 9 S. 13th Street
  • Department of Public Safety HQ/de facto Station 4: 123 Walnut Street (Vance C. McCormick Public Service Center)[5]

The Bureau has over 30 apparatuses, trucks, and vans. The HBF fleet contains Pierce and Seagrave firefighting apparatus and Freightliner ambulances. The truck and SUV brands used by the department include Ford and Chevrolet.[6][7][8]

Fallen firefighters
Rank Name Last Alarm Badge Age Description
Fireman Eli K. Hoffman May 13, 1908 Unknown Unknown Electrocuted at fire on S 18th Street[9]
Fireman William H. Benner August 15, 1909 Unknown Unknown Succumbed to injuries sustained due to fall from scaffolding inside Fire House while scraping paint[9]
Driver Samuel Wanbaugh November 21, 1912 Unknown 45 Killed in an accident at 15th & Market Street responding to scene[10]
Fireman Daniel P. Huber November 26, 1922 Unknown Unknown Inhaled superheated gases while trapped at a general alarm fire at 14th & Howard Street[9]
Lieutenant Dennis H. DeVoe March 11, 2017 401 45 Killed in accident when responding to scene[11][12]

See also

References
  1. Metrick, Becky (2019-04-09). "Gas company confirms employee was at Harrisburg home before it was destroyed by fire". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  2. Ducey, Joe (2019-02-06). "Special Report | Firefighters healing through a tragedy". WHP. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  3. "2021 Proposed Budget" (PDF). City of Harrisburg website. 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  4. "Centuries of Service: Harrisburg Fire Bureau has grown, evolved with the city". TheBurg. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  5. "Bureau of Fire". City of Harrisburg. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  6. Benscoter, Jana (2019-05-08). "Harrisburg's wish list includes money for technology upgrades, police patrol vehicles". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  7. "Minivan Crashes into PA Fire Apparatus". Firehouse. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  8. Marroni, Steve (2018-03-07). "$6 million in gaming revenue granted to police, schools, community groups". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  9. Administrator, 911 Hot Designs. "Allison History - Allison Hook & Ladder #2". Allison Hook & Ladder 2. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  10. Austin, Steve. "Remembering Our Fallen Brother Samuel Wanbaugh, Last Alarm Nov 21, 1912 - Allison Hook & Ladder #2". Allison Hook & Ladder #2. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  11. Miller, Barbara (2017-03-12). "Harrisburg firefighter dies of injuries in crash on way to deadly fire". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  12. "Years in prison for driver who killed York County firefighter". York Dispatch. Retrieved 2019-05-09.


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