Fire Department History

Fire Bell

Within two years, the city purchased a bell from the Blymer Bell Company for $165. The bell weighed an astounding 865 pounds and was 40 inches in diameter. The bell was placed high above city hall located at what is now 4th and 'H' Streets. The bell could be heard from as far away as the top of 6th and Front (now known as 'A') streets. The bell had a distinctive tone that could easily be distinguished from a nearby church and school bells. It was rung vigorously to notify volunteers of an alarm. The bell can still be seen today on display in the tower above the Parkway Public Safety Center.

First Apparatus

As the city grew, so did the need for up-to-date technology. The mayor and city council recognized that the Fire Department was a much-needed asset for assuring the safety of the townsfolk. The decision was made to purchase the department's first hook and ladder truck for $574 dollars. This was in addition to the hose cart the city already owned. This was the first major apparatus purchase for the department. It was hand-drawn and held ladders, buckets, and long-handled hooks for pulling apart a burning building.

In 1911 the city acquired an American LaFrance pumper, "Engine 1". There is some debate as to whether or not Portland or Grants Pass was the first Fire Department in Oregon to take delivery of a motorized fire truck.

Many of the town's citizens gathered to watch the small engine extinguish its first fire on December 22, 1911. To many of the awe-struck people, it was a hose cart, hook and ladder truck, and an automobile - all in one. The firefighters spent long tedious hours keeping the truck in pristine condition, waxing and polishing the chrome, and making sure the acetylene headlights were always primed.

Fire Station Locations

During this time, the Fire Department was housed in the same building as City Hall, which is now known as the Golden Rule building on 6th street. Within twenty years the department had a paid chief, assistant, and engineer. The fire station was moved from its location on 6th Street to a new location at 4th and 'H' Streets, which today is the "Firehouse Art Gallery". The original bay doors can still be seen as you drive by on 'H' Street.

Fire Engines

Engine 1, after putting in nearly 20 years of service, was sold. Throughout the years, Engine 1 collected rust and was nearly forgotten until a gentleman by the name of Roger May of Mesa, Arizona obtained it. Mr. May restored Engine 1 to its original beauty before donating the pumper back to the City of Grants Pass in 2006 before his death, with an estimated value of nearly $100,000.

To accompany the 1911 pumper, the city purchased a second American LaFrance engine in 1927, aptly named Engine 2. The City of Grants Pass probably did not realize their hefty investment of $13,500 would put in 48 years of service. Shipped from El Mira New York in 1927, the American LaFrance was a thing of beauty to the men who stood by to watch it arrive in the apparatus room on southwest "H" street.

Fire Chief Claud Hollowell and members of the department stood in admiration of the glowing red paint, pure leather seats, nickel-plated fittings, and finely detailed solid gold leaf artwork. Engine 2 would extinguish her first fire a short 3 days after delivery and continue protecting the city from countless fires until the end of a 12 1/2 hour fire at Pacific Custom Loaders on July 23, 1964, when the truck finally was placed into retirement.

During the late 1980s, the Grants Pass firefighters gathered donations of nearly $10,000 to bring the pumper back to its original condition. Both Engine 1 and Engine 2 are still owned by the City of Grants Pass and are displayed in their fully restored condition at the Parkway Public Safety Center. Joining the two pumpers is Engine 3, a 1936 Chevy pumper also fully restored. It is stored at the Hillcrest Public Safety Center and is still used for parades.

Expanding the Staff

Around the time of the purchase of Engine 2, the first paid firefighters were hired. From then on, the department became a combination of paid and volunteer staff. During the 1930s, the department began to take a more proactive role in fire prevention and education by providing building inspections that helped prevent the start of fires resulting from faulty wiring, inoperable chimneys, and other hazards.

By 1964, the city employed 12 full-time firefighters along with thirty volunteers. By this time a new pumper had been purchased to replace the aging 1927 LaFrance. The Fire Department had now grown to house 5 pumpers, an 85-foot aerial ladder, 3 1/2 miles of fire hose, and 47 paid and volunteer firefighters.

Branching Out

By the early 1970s, the single downtown fire station was having a problem keeping up with the increased call volume and increased size of the city. The city pursued a federal revenue grant to help pay the expenses of building a new fire station at the north end of town. The city received $180,000 in grant money and the new fire station cost a grand total of $225,000 to build. The station was erected on the corner of NW Hillcrest Drive and Washington Boulevard The Hillcrest fire station, as it would come to be known is still in use today with the 1936 Chevrolet proudly on display for public viewing. 1983 marked the closing of the old downtown station at 4th and 'H' streets and all responses for fires came out of the Hillcrest Fire Station.

Combination of Police and Fire Departments

Transitioning to Public Safety in 1984, Grants Pass began to experience severe budget issues with the decline of the timber industry in Oregon. It was decided to try a new and rarely used approach by offering public safety services by combining the Police and Fire Departments.

This created a mesh between both police officers and firefighters. Police officers began training in basic firefighting duties including locating and sizing up fires, making fire hydrant connections, and other basic fire ground duties. Along with this, firefighters began learning basic police procedures regarding crime scene preservation, photography, traffic control, and local area searches.

The End of Public Safety

The City of Grants Pass ended the Public Safety model in 2021, choosing to separate Fire and Police services. Both disciplines require a strong commitment to remain competent. Public Safety Stations are still shared by Firefighters and Police Officers. 

The Present

Today, the City of Grants Pass is protected by 26 full-time firefighters operating from three public safety centers. The full-time firefighters are supplemented by student firefighters who are working on degrees through Rogue Community College. Grants Pass Fire Rescue continues to provide fire protection to a growing community of over 34,000 residents. Today's firefighters are committed to serving their community and responding swiftly to whatever they are called for.