Pittsburgh Fire Bureau

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire (PBF) dates its history back to 1794 and became a fully paid department on May 23, 1870. In 1820, Pittsburgh firefighter Marina Betts became one of the world's first female volunteer firefighters. On September 11, 1903, the International Association of Firefighters was formed. Pittsburgh firefighters became Local 1 of the IAFF after winning a coin toss with Chicago, Illinois. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire consists of 29 stations, operating 24 engine companies, 11 ladder trucks, three quints and one mobile air compressor unit MAC. The department is divided into four battalions. The busiest units in the city in terms of call volume are 24 Engine and 24 Truck which are housed in Southside.

----Chain of Command

The Bureau works on a paramilitary/ hirarcical rank structure. Firefighters are to address concerns using the Chain of Command. This allows for an allowable span of control in which the officers can maintain knowledge and enforce dicipline within his or her unit.The rank structure of the Bureau is as follows:Chief of the Dept*,Assistant Chief*,Deputy Chief,Battallion Chief,Fire Instructor,Captain,Lieutenant,Firefighter.
*(These ranks are appointed by the Administation, Ranks up to and including Deputy Chief are promotable under civil service rules)

Certain firefighters with over 15 years experience have the title of Master Firefighter, and senior firefighters in each company are the full time driver/engineers, but these are not official ranks in the Bureau. Officers within the rank structure are paid 10% more than the rank under them. Master Firefighters are paid a 5% premium over a firefighter, and drivers get an additional $10 per day.

tation locations

Station Address Neighborhood

*No. 3E 1401 Penn Ave. Strip District
*No. 4E&T 1324 Forbes Ave. Mercy Hospital
*No. 6E&T 3958 Penn Ave. Lawrenceville
*No. 7E 4603 Stanton Ave. Stanton Heights
*No. 8E&T 5714 Penn Circle W. East Liberty
*No. 10E 2500 Allequippa St. Upper Oakland
*No. 12E 4156 Winterburn St. Greenfield
*No. 13E&T 200 Flowers Ave. Hazelwood
*No. 14T 259 McKee Pl. Oakland
*No. 15E 7024 Lemington Ave. Lincoln-Lemington
*No. 17E&T 7601 Hamilton Ave. Homewood
*No. 18E 5858 Northumberland Squirrel Hill
*No. 19E 159 Homestead St. Swisshelm Park
*No. 20E 514 Baldwin Road Hays
*No. 22E 1945 Arlington Ave. Arlington- Double Duece on the Loose
*No. 23E 1704 Brownsville Road Carrick
*No. 24E&T 1729 Mary St. South Side
*No. 26E&T 630 Brookline Blvd. Brookline
*No. 27E 96 Virginia Ave. Mt. Washington
*No. 28E 1428 Beechview Ave. Beechview
*No. 29E 2100 Noblestown Rd. Westwood
*No. 30 916 Steuben St. Elliot
*No. 31E&T 3000 Chartiers Ave. Sheraden
*No. 32E&T 900 Spring Garden Spring Garden
*No. 34E 3914 Perrysville Ave. Observatory Hill
*No. 34T 3284 Central Ave. Woods Run
*No. 35E 1519 Orchlee St. Brighton Heights
*No. 37E 1124 W. North Ave. Manchester
*No. 38E 198 Essen St. Northview Heights

Ficitional portrayals

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire has been shown in many movies and television roles:
*Sudden Death - A Pittsburgh firefighter, played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, rescues the U.S. Vice President during the Stanley Cup Finals.
*The Guardian
*Full Run - a 1903 docudrama about Pittsburgh firefighters
*Ablaze - a 2001 remake of City on Fire (1979)

External links

* [http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/fire/index.html Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire official website]
* [http://www.firefightersforums.com/articles/rrpitshistoryfd.shtml Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire history site]
* [http://www.iafflocal1.org/ Pittsburgh Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local No. 1]