Fire protection started in Portland on March 29th, 1768 with the appointment of five "Fire Wards." These men had police powers and had the authority to order citizens to help at fire scenes. 

As the city grew, so did the fires and the fire department. In 1787 Portland's first organized fire company was formed and named "Neptune." More companies followed: "Vigilant" in 1794, "Cataract", "Portland", "Extinguisher", and later "Alert". Hand Engines came into service starting with the "Deluge" in 1827 and the "Hydraulion" and "Niagara" in 1830. And in 1827 the "Washington Hook and Ladder" became the City's first Ladder Company.

In 1831 the Portland Fire Department was officially established by the Legislature. With increasing fires the fire companies became better organized leading to a numbering system starting in 1835.

In November 1859 Portland's "Machigonne 1," a first-size Amoskeag, became the first steam engine in Portland. On November 21 it also became the first Engine to respond as a permanent manned piece. A second steam Engine was placed in service in 1861, the "Falmouth Steam Fire Engine 2" and assigned to Congress St. at Smith St., but due to it's weight and mechanical problems it was out of service more often than in service. In 1862 the "Cumberland Steam Fire Engine Number 3" became the next commissioned steamer for the City of Portland and was stationed in the city's West End at 176 Brackett Street. 

The Portland Co. built the next steamer in 1864, which was placed in service on Congress St. along with Ladder 1 as the "Casco Steam Fire Engine Number 5". The Steam Engines proved very useful to the PFD with companies requiring only 15-20 men per company as compared to the 60 needed for the Hand Tubs. Even though the Steam Engines were well built, they required mechanically-skilled engineers at the Stations 24 hours a day.

On July 4, 1866, Portland was devastated by a fire that destroyed a third of the City. Mutual Aid was received from cities as far away as Boston, Massachusetts as the fire spread through the city. The next morning, 2 people were dead, 1500 buildings, including 3 Fire Houses, were destroyed and 10,000 people were left homeless.

The city and the fire department rebuilt after the fire. New stations were built, Congress St. and Market in 1866, and India St. in 1867. The department put the Alarm Division into operation in March of 1867. New Companies were formed, Eagle Ladder Co. 2 in 1874, Hose Co. 6 in 1881, Bramhall Ladder Co. 3 in 1883, Chemical 1 in 1892, and 1894 the department commissioned Engine Seven Fireboat. The Fireboat was fitted with a steam engine capable of discharging 1,800 GPM, and quartered at the Portland Pier from where it protected the City's busy waterfront.

By the late 1890s the Portland Fire Department had become a respected fire department well known throughout the northeast for its skill in battling major fires and for its high fire activity. In 1899 Portland annexed the City of Deering, and with that annexation the entire firefighting force of Deering was incorporated into the Portland Fire Department.

In March of 1899, as the twentieth century approached, the annexation of Deering to the city of Portland more than doubled the population and the geographical area of the city. Overnight, the fire department nearly doubled from eleven to twenty fire companies. 

At that time, Melville N Eldridge was the active fire chief, and he was appointed the City's first Permanent Chief of Department. Chief Eldridge was well known for his organizational abilities and was well respected throughout New England as a fire service leader. Upon his appointment, he undertook a major reorganization of the entire fire department which included renumbering the Deering fire companies, assignments to box alarms, establishing first alarm response districts, and disbanding three hose companies: Hose 10, Allen's Corner, Hose 13, Deering Center, and Hose 14, in Libbytown. 

Five companies remained in the centralized neighborhoods: Hose 8, Ladder 4 at Woodfords Corner, Hose 9 at Morrill's Corner, Hose 11 at East Deering, and Hose 12 on Pitt Street in the Oakdale area. Permanent Drivers were then appointed and horses were purchased. A new hose wagon was assigned to Hose 11 and a spare ladder carriage was reconditioned to replace the Deering ladder truck, which was deemed too light for fire duty, and given to the city of South Portland. The Peninsula was assigned as District-1 and the Deering area as District-2.

Upgrades were also made in the District-1 area, including the purchase of Munjoy Hill's first ladder truck and the overall improvements in daily operations of the reorganized Department. These changes created a strong foundation for the Portland Fire Department to build on as 1900 arrived.

1915 brought change to the department again. This time it was motorized equipment. Chief Butler began with a motorized Chief's car followed by a Deputy Chief's car in 1916. 1916 also brought the first motorized apparatus: Hose 8. Ladder 5 and Engine 1 in 1917, Chemical 1 in 1918, Ladder 3 in 1919, and Engine 4 in 1920. Only 14 years later, with the 1930 purchase of Engine 6, a 1929 Mack triple combination pumper, the Portland Fire Department became completely motorized.

The 1930s through the 1960s brought steady change for the department. The Engine 7 Fireboat was replaced with a new boat named "City of Portland," which had a pumping capacity of 6,000 gallons per minute (GPM). Ladder 3 became the department's first steel Aerial in 1936. 1938 saw the creation of the Fire Prevention Bureau. Rescue 1 went onto service in 1943, and in 1963 Portland's Bravest were the stars in a movie about Firefighters called "24 Hours."

The 1970s and 1980's were a busy time for the department too, as was it for many fire departments across the Country. With fire calls up the department put its first Snorkel into service in 1970. Air Rescue units were added in 1973, and in 1975 the Medical Crisis Unit (Medcu) was formed as a part of the fire department to handle the increasing need for EMS in Portland.

In 1990, the department added a third Medcu unit, and in 1993 the "Joseph C. Cavallaro.", a 42-foot Duffy, went into service as a Rescue boat for the waterfront and Portland's Coastal Islands.

In 1996 MedCu was officially integrated into the department, and members from both were now grouped into one union, the IAFF Local 740. Paramedics were cross-trained to become Firefighters. Almost all firefighters are now licensed EMTs, and all new hires are required to obtain at a minimum their Advanced-EMT license.

The department currently runs 4 engine companies, 4 ladder companies, a heavy rescue company, 5 paramedic-level ambulances, 1 EMS Officer, a fully-staffed Marine Division, and 1 Deputy Chief as shift commander. In addition to these companies protecting the mainland, the department also staffs Air Rescue firefighting personnel to protect the Jetport and 1 Officer/Advanced EMS provider for Peaks Island.