Engine 1

Engine 1's 1995 KME pumper ~ Photo by: Jack Wright

Engine 1's 1995 KME ~ Photo by: FF Jerry McGovern, Snorkel 5/B Plt

Engine 1 outside of station, August 1999 - Photo by: Charles Herbert

QUICK FACTS

Apparatus: 1995 KME 1500/500 (W/R)

Location: 711 S. Broad Street

Housed with: Snorkel 5, Battalion 1, Medic 35

COMPANY HISTORY

Engine 1 was first organized on March 21 in the year 1761. At the time of their organization, they were only a volunteer fire company, since the Philadelphia Fire Department didn't become a Paid Department until 1870. While they were a volunteer fire company, they didn't have unit numbers such as "Engine 1." They had names. Engine 1 was known as the King George III Fire Company.

In 1776, their name was changed to Delaware Fire Company #4 and in 1861, they relocated to 1839 South Street.

On March 15, 1871, they became a part of the paid Philadelphia Fire Department. After the Fire Department became a Paid department, the Commissioners and Chief Engineer William Johnson, were faced with the difficult task of finding locations for the firehouses and the companies. Finally, they decided to use the old volunteer firehouses, in which the City either bought the station or just paid rent. Engine 1 was one of the original 22 engine companies of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Their station on South Street was rebuilt in 1888.

After spending quite a while on South Street, they got a new station on December 15, 1964. The new station would be located at 711 South Broad Street. Engine 1 would, however, share the station with Ladder 5 and Battalion 5.

Battalion 5 moved out of Engine 1's station on Broad Street on March 24, 1975 and was then stationed at Engine 43's station located at 2110 Market Street in Center City Philadelphia.

When Battalion 5 was moved over to Engine 43, Car 4 (Assistant Chief) was placed at Engine 1. Car 4 came to Engine 1 from Engine 43's station. They were located at Engine 1 for only about a year. Light Wagon-1 was relocated to Engine 1's station in 1984 and was relocated once again to Engine 10's station on July 1, 1993.

ES-4, who is the Emergency Medical Control Officer, was moved over to Engine 1 from the Fire Administration Building. They were housed at Engine 1 from August 5, 1991 to July 1, 1993.

On July 1, 1993, Battalion Chief 1 was moved to Engine 1's station from Engine 10's located at 12th and Reed.

Engine 1 was placed Out-of-Service on May 25, 1994 for asbestos removal in their station. Ladder 5 was simply relocated to a nearby station, Engine 11, until the Engine 1's station re-opened and Battalion 1 was relocated to Engine 10 until the station was re-opened.

On June 18, 1994, Engine 1 was put back in service and Ladder 5 and Battalion 1 were placed back into Engine 1's station.

During 1995, Engine 1 was one of 20 engine companies who received a new pumper in 1995 to replace their 1984 Seagrave that they were running with. The new pumper was a 1995 KME which had a 1500 G.P.M. Tank and a 500-gallon booster tank. It also featured a new paint scheme, white-over-red, instead of the plain red.

On January 1, 1996, a new unit was placed in service at Engine 1's station. That unit was Medic 35B, which is now an ALS Medic Unit.

As of 2000, Engine 1 is still housed at 711 South Broad Street with Snorkel 5, Battalion 1, and Medic 35. In 1999, Engine 1 got 2216 runs and 544 of them were medical. They also got 58 jobs.