Population

Budget

Engines

Ladders

Strength

205,671 as of 2010 census

$23 mil.

17

3

288

January 24, 1876

Boise's fire department originally got its start when a group of 28 men signed on as the first volunteer firefighters.

April 11, 1876

A blacksmith shop owned by George Washington Stilz on Main Street was purchased as the first firehouse. The same year, a locally made hook and ladder started service as Ada Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1.

July 18, 1879

Boise received its first fire engine, a Silsby steam pumper, which was named "The Boise City", became Engine Co. No. 1. It was trimmed in scarlet, brass, and gold leaf.

October, 1883

A new firehouse was constructed on the corner of Ninth Street and Main Street, a month after the Stilz shop/firehouse burned to the ground. At the corner of Eighth Street and Idaho Street a new brick firehouse was also built, replacing a corrugated iron structure, which had been moved to the north side of Bannock Street.

1889

Boise received its first chemical fire engine. This became the new Engine Co. No. 1, while the Silsby steamer became the Relief Engine Co. No. 1.

1890

A new hook and ladder, painted in blue, red, and gold, was purchased from W.T.Y.. Schenck of San Francisco.

September, 1894

A second chemical engine was purchased from the Chicago Fire Extinguisher Company. This was a dual tank, of 60 gallons each, chemical engine, named "The Champion".

1895

The fire station that was located at Fort Street and Eighth Street was moved to Tenth Street and Resseguie Street. This year also marked the first use of horses for the Boise City volunteers.

1902

Boise purchased a lot at the corner of Sixth Street and Main, on which would be built the new Central Fire Station.

May 25, 1902

All of the volunteers resigned, bringing to an end the volunteer status of the Boise firefighters, but signalling the beginning of the paid professionals, now known as the Boise Fire Department.

January, 1903

A Metropolitan No. 3 steam pumper purchased from the American Fire Engine Co. This steamer is on display at the Idaho Old Penitentiary Transportation Museum, showing today the effects of much use.

September 20, 1907

A 3-hitch American LaFrance 900 gpm Metropolitan was purchased for $6625

1910

2 Seagrave Combinataion chemical and hose wagons were purchased in response to the need for better fire equipment, due to the rising upward and outward of Boise.

January, 1912

An 85 foot Seagrave/Miller aerial was the first motorized Boise apparatus.

1912

The American LaFrance Metropolitan steamer was motorized and used until 1924.

1912

Station 4 was built at McKinley and East State Street, the station at Tenth and Resseguie was moved to a new building at Sixteenth and Fort Street, and the new Station 2 was built at Sixteenth Street and Front Street (now Station 5).

April 14, 1914

2 American LaFrance combination pumpers were ordered. They had 4 cylinders and 70 hp each.

1916-1917

The two Seagrave Combinations were motorized with Federal Truck chain drive chassis.

1923

A Mack AC Aerial replaced the Seagrave/Miller apparatus.

1924-Two Stutz pumpers, a model O of 1200 gpm, and a model K3 of 500 gpm. The model O is also on display at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Transportation Museum. Also, the fire department consolidated to just 3 stations: No. 1-Central Station at Sixth and Idaho; No. 2-Sixteenth and Fort Streets; No. 3-Williams and Boise Avenue.

1927

A 500 gpm American LaFrance pumper put at Station 3.

1931

A 300 gpm Howe replaced the Model K3 Stutz, which had been wrecked and repaired, and a 750 gpm Howe-Studebaker booster and squad truck were put into service.

1940

New American LaFrance pumpers obtained and a new Seagrave 85 foot aerial.

1948

A new Seagrave aerial was acquired, an International 750 gpm pumper, and an Ahrens-Fox 1000 gpm pumper

1949

A Ford 600 gallon pumper

1950

An American LaFrance 1000 gpm pumper. Station 4 was built at the corner of Kootenai Street and Federal Way. Station 5 was reopened at the corner of Sixteenth and Front Streets.

1952

Station 2 built a new structure at Seventeenth and Ridenbaugh Streets to replace the Sixteenth and Fort Street station.

1954

2 Army tankers.

1960

An American LaFrance Open cab 1000 gpm pumper

1964

A Ford 1500 gallon tanker and 2 American LaFrance 900 Series 1000 gpm pumpers. Station No. 6 was built at Liberty Street and Primrose Street.

1965

Station 7 built at Gowen Field.

1966

An American LaFrance, a Ford 1500 gallon tanker, and a Yankee Walters.

1968

An American LaFrance Pioneer series 1000 gpm pumper. Station 8 took over the former Whitney fire station at 4522 Overland Road.

1970

Station 4 at Kootenai and Federal Way was abandoned due to the closeness of Stations 3 and 8.

1972

1.An American LaFrance 90 foot Aero Chief Boom Platform and an American LaFrance 1250 gpm Pumper (the first diesel in Boise) were purchased.

2. Station 4 was built at 8485 Ustick Road.

3. Map books of the city began to be used.

1973

Six new vehicles joined the force, including a Walters 1000 gal., 500 lb. dry powder quick response crash truck and a new diesel American LaFrance 1250 gpm pumper.

1975

November - Station 9 built at 3101 Sycamore Drive. An American LaFrance 1250 gpm Diesel Automatic Pioneer series was the first engine.

1980

Station 1 moved from Sixth and Main to a new facility located at 707 Reserve Street.

1996

1. Engine 11 begins operations at the former North Ada County Fire and Rescue Station 2.
2. Brush 1 temporarily operates as Station 13 at the old Station 2 building.
3. Brush 6 is moved to Station 8 as Brush 8.
4. HazMat 6 begins operations from Station 6.

1998

1. November 23-Engine 12 began operations.
2. HazMat 6 moved to Station 12 as HazMat 12.
3. ARFF operations closed at Station 7 and moved to the Gowen Field FD.
4. Brush 8 moved back to Station 6 as Brush 6.
5. County Stations 4 and 8 combined as one Eagle Fire Department unit.

1999

1. County Fire Station 9 opens as part of County Station 1.
2. Brush 9 moved to Station 2 as Brush 2.

2000

1. Brush 2 moved to Station 9 as Brush 9.
2. Dive 3 moved to Station 1 as Dive 1.
3. Meridian opens new fire station and renumbers station as Meridian Fire 31 instead of County Station 3.
4. County station 9 renamed as County station 3 - still part of the North Ada County Fire and Rescue.
5. Rescue 7 and Squad 7 formed in November at Station 7.
6. Whitney Fire District becomes Boise Fire Department on November 11. Engines 101 and 102 renamed Engine 21 and Engine 22.
7. ARFF records counted as Boise Fire Department records.

2001

A third battalion chief is added to the "A" shift and is stationed at Station 7.

May, 2002

May 23-27, Boise celebrated its 100th year as a paid fire department with a week-end long celebration. The festivities ended on the weekend with a dinner for invited guests from throughout the Northwest who were attending. On Saturday morning, a parade of about 85 apparatus from different years were presented with a static photographic opportunity display following for the next 6 hours. During the parade, apparatus were grouped according to decades, starting with 1902 to 1911, 1912 to 1921, etc.  A barbecue for all parade participants and invited guests was held at Julia Davis park Saturday evening.  On Sunday, a muster of the apparatus was held at the Boise State University football stadium, with other activities for the children.