PEAKS ISLAND
(ENGINE 12/LADDER 12)
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COMPANY ORGANIZED: OCTOBER 13, 1884
COMPANY QUARTERS
COMPANY QUARTERS
1884-1979 129 Island Avenue, south side, near corner of Luther Street.
1979- * Remodeled, with two wide apparatus bay addition.
COMPANY NAMES
COMPANY NAMES
1884-1900 Peaks Island Forest City Hand Engine Co. No. 1.
1910-1913 Peaks Island Hose Co. 1.
1913-1938 Hose Co. No. 12.
1938- Engine Co. No. 12.
ABRIDGED HISTORY
ABRIDGED HISTORY
Peaks Island (717-acres) in Casco Bay is a part of the City of Portland, and 3.8 miles from the mainland.
1883 – An 1854 Jeffers & Co. hand-pump fire engine was acquired to be stationed on Peaks Island.
1884 – One & ½-story brick firehouse and police lock-up was built on Island Avenue. The engine was overhauled and placed in the new engine house August 22nd, and given the name “Forest City.”
October 13th – Formation of Peaks Island Hand Engine Co. No. 1. 30 members were listed in 1885.
May 20, 1897 – Fire Committee exchanged Forest City engine and presented it to Portland Veteran Firemen’s Association for musters, and PVFA engine (old 1848 Atlantic) was assigned to Peaks Island.
June 14, 1897 – Engine Co. disbanded. August 12th – Company reorganized with 21 members.
May 13, 1901 – Per/City Council, two men were assigned to patrol Peaks Island in summer months.
July 5, 1910 – A Permanent Captain (James C. Kent) and a Driver (Abe Sterling, lived on Peaks) appointed, using a spare hose wagon. The firehouse was remodeled for accommodations for the two Permanent men, augmented with ten Callmen. Company renamed as Peaks Island Hose Co. No. 1.
May 16, 1913 –Two people burned to death in a fire. Company number changed to Hose Co. 12.
1915 – Two-wheel hand-drawn 60-gallon chemical jumpers were built for Peaks and Long Islands.
May 8, 1918 – Fire destroyed 8 cottages, a stable and a barn. A detachment of 200 soldiers from Great Diamond Island’s Fort McKinley assisted Peaks Island firefighters and Engine Co. 7 (Fireboat).
August 22, 1921 – A Reo combination chemical & hose motor truck went in service as Hose 12. The hose wagon was kept in reserve on the Island until 1941. The chemical jumper went to Cliff Is.
June 2, 1936 – A house fire extended to another 40 dwellings/cottages, 6 stores, a theater and a hotel.
November 7, 1938 – A McCann/Diamond-T 500gpm pumper went in service as Engine 12. The ‘21 Reo was kept on Peaks as a second truck.
1942 – The Reo hose & chemical truck was sent to the mainland for the Civilian Defense Auxiliary during World War II, and returned to Peaks after the war ended in 1945.
January 21, 1948 – A fatal fire occurred and the island residents demanded increased fire protection. A department of Public Safety was set up under the fire department April 8th, with 2 firemen on-duty, sworn in as constables, and a radio-equipped Jeep purchased for “Patrol work.”
1949 – A 1948 Ford 600-gallon tank truck arrived in December.
May 9, 1950 – The firehouse was enlarged to accommodate Engine 12 and the tank truck.
1958 – A new Chevrolet ½-ton panel truck was purchased, replacing the original 1948 Patrol Jeep.
1961 – 1938 Seagrave 500gpm pumper (old E-11) was reassigned to Engine 12.
1973 – A 500gpm pumper w/750-gallon tank was purchased as E-12A, replacing the 1948 tank truck.
1975 – 1953 Maxim 750gpm pumper (old E-8, 11) was reassigned to Engine 12, replaced the Seagrave.
April 27, 1978 – Engine 12 received a 1962 Howe 1,000gpm pumper (old E-5, 3)., replacing the 1953.
May 26, 1978 – Four fire department officers and four firefighters at Engine 12 were transferred to the mainland. A new separate Public Safety Department began operation on Peaks Island with two PSOs on duty, cross-trained as police officers, firefighters and EMTs.
December 22, 1979 – Engine 12 received a new Chevrolet 1,000gpm pumper with a 500-gallon tank.
1980 – The old 1884 Engine House was remodeled for a communications center, office and living quarters. An annex was built on the right-side with two wide apparatus bays to house equipment.
July 1, 1981 – Public Safety Dept. eliminated and the officers’ became part of Police Department.
June, 1992 – Engine 12 was reassigned a 1977 Ward LaFrance 1,500gpm pumper (old E-5, 4), and the Chevrolet Engine 12 was renamed as Tank 12.
July 4, 2010 – Firefighter/Advanced EMT assigned with a Police officer on each of the 4 platoons.
2013 – An ALS Fire Captain and three ALS Fire Lieutenants replaced the four firefighters.
Engine 12/Ladder 12 - Assigned Apparatus
Engine 12/Ladder 12 - Assigned Apparatus
1961 - Peaks Patrol, ½-ton Chevrolet panel truck, w/minor firefighting equipment and stretcher.
1964 - Peaks Patrol, Chevrolet panel truck, w/minor firefighting equipment and stretcher.
1967 - Peaks Patrol, International Harvester ½-ton panel truck, w/minor FF. equipment and stretcher.
1970 - Peaks Patrol, International ½-ton panel truck, w/minor firefighting equipment and stretcher.
1972 - Peaks Patrol, GMC ½-ton van wagon to be used as a public safety vehicle and ambulance.
1973 - Tank 12, International 500gpm pump and 750-gallon tank.
1974 - Peaks Patrol, Dodge ½-ton panel truck (van-type wagon) public safety vehicle and ambulance.
1975 - Engine 12, 1953 Maxim 750gpm pumper (old E-8, 11).
1976 - 1953 Jeep 4x4, carrying a 300-gallon tank and a 250gpm pump (former E-16, Tank Truck 8).
1978 - Engine 12, 1962 Howe 1,000gpm pumper (old E-5 & E-3).
1979 - Engine 12, Chevrolet C-70 1,000gpm pump, w/500-gallon tank (1992 as Tank 12).
1987 - Medcu 12, Ford 350 XL four-wheel drive type-II van ambulance (white, w/Orange stripe).
1992 - Engine 12 - 1977 Ward LaFrance 1,500gpm pumper (Former E-5, 4).
1996 - Auxiliary Tank 12, 1954 Mack B-95, 1,600-gallon tank truck w/240gpm pump.
1999 - Ladder 12, 1983 American LaFrance 1,500gpm quint truck, w/75-ft. aerial ladder (old E-3).
1999 - Tank 12, 1966 Mack C-95 1,000gpm pumper, with two 500-gallon tanks.
2004 - Engine 12, Pierce/Kenworth 1,250gpm pumper, w/1,000-gallon tank. In-service.
2013 - Ladder 12, 1998 Pierce Dash 1,500gpm quint truck w/75-ft. aerial ladder (old L-3).
2014 - Medcu 12, Ford E-350 w/Braun Box, type III ambulance. In-service.
2018 - Engine 17, 1991 Pierce, 1,500-gpm pumper, 750-gallon tank (old E4, 2), Spare.
2024 - Gator 12, 2011 John Deere ATV (reassigned from E-9). In-service.
2024 - Ladder 12, 2001 Seagrave 1,500gpm quint truck w/75 ft. aerial ladder. In-service.
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