Forest Grove
Firefighters Association
| "Trained to Save, Committed to Serve" |
(503) 992-3240 FAX (503) 992-3243 Email Us 1919 Ash Street Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 Website Created and maintained by Forest Grove Firefighters Association |
| 2009 Monthly Call Totals: |
| January: 198 February: 197 March: 190 April: 202 May: 211 June: 206 July: 217 August: 218 September: 196 October: 213 November: 192 December: Total: 2241 |
| 2008 Total Calls: 2704 |
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| This Page is Currently Under Construction |
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February 1, 1894: Forest Grove Fire Department was organized.
January 1921: The first piece of motorized equipment was purchased, a Pulmotor truck was purchased and converted into a
hose wagon.
February 1921: a second motorized truck was purchased. The one ton Chevrolet truck was also converted into a hose
wagon.
September 1921: Another motorized vehicle was purchased and converted to a ladder wagon.
August 1924: The department purchased another motorized vehicle. This vehicle was outfitted chemical tanks and was the
first vehicle to carry water.
July 1926: The fire department decided to form a rural department. This decision drew good support from local farmers.
December 1928: Walt Vandervelden was elected Fire Chief for the first time.
January 1929: The rural Department purchased an engine.
July 1930: First Aid became an important function of the fire department with the purchase of an H&H inhalator.
May 1932: Due to increased first aid responses, more first aid equipment and supplies were purchased.
March 1934: The Department converted another vehicle into the departments first pumper.
September 1935: A 1906 steamer was purchased from the City of Portland to be used as a second out engine. The original
wheels were removed and replaced with steel wheels to be pulled behind a motorized vehicle.
August 12th & 13th, 1938: New city and fire hall at 1924 Council Street was opened for public inspection.
April 10th, 1940: Motion was passed to form a rural fire protection district.
July 17th, 1940: The rural fire district was established.
August 21st, 1940: An election was held for electing board members.
July 1954: The city hired it's first 3 full time firefighters. Frank Strahl, Ray Vandervelden, and Walt Vandervelden was hired
as the first full time Fire Chief.
June 1957: New fire station at 1919 Ash Street opened. This station was located between the current fire and police stations.
November 1969: A four alarm fire— burned out the three-story Colonial Apartments here yesterday but the 24 persons in
the building were evacuated safely, loses were estimated at $100,000.
January 1921: The first piece of motorized equipment was purchased, a Pulmotor truck was purchased and converted into a
hose wagon.
February 1921: a second motorized truck was purchased. The one ton Chevrolet truck was also converted into a hose
wagon.
September 1921: Another motorized vehicle was purchased and converted to a ladder wagon.
August 1924: The department purchased another motorized vehicle. This vehicle was outfitted chemical tanks and was the
first vehicle to carry water.
July 1926: The fire department decided to form a rural department. This decision drew good support from local farmers.
December 1928: Walt Vandervelden was elected Fire Chief for the first time.
January 1929: The rural Department purchased an engine.
July 1930: First Aid became an important function of the fire department with the purchase of an H&H inhalator.
May 1932: Due to increased first aid responses, more first aid equipment and supplies were purchased.
March 1934: The Department converted another vehicle into the departments first pumper.
September 1935: A 1906 steamer was purchased from the City of Portland to be used as a second out engine. The original
wheels were removed and replaced with steel wheels to be pulled behind a motorized vehicle.
August 12th & 13th, 1938: New city and fire hall at 1924 Council Street was opened for public inspection.
April 10th, 1940: Motion was passed to form a rural fire protection district.
July 17th, 1940: The rural fire district was established.
August 21st, 1940: An election was held for electing board members.
July 1954: The city hired it's first 3 full time firefighters. Frank Strahl, Ray Vandervelden, and Walt Vandervelden was hired
as the first full time Fire Chief.
June 1957: New fire station at 1919 Ash Street opened. This station was located between the current fire and police stations.
November 1969: A four alarm fire— burned out the three-story Colonial Apartments here yesterday but the 24 persons in
the building were evacuated safely, loses were estimated at $100,000.
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| 2010 Monthly Call Totals: |
| 2009 Total Calls: 2505 |
| January: 234 February: 187 March: 215 April: 176 May: June: July: August: September: October: November: December: Total: 812 |
| January: 234 February: 187 March: 215 April: 176 May: 209 June: 201 July: August: September: October: November: December: Total: 1222 |