24/7/365
Peterborough Fire Services provides emergency and support services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We serve a residential population of about 78,000 people and a day population of 90,000, 38 schools, Trent University, Fleming College, 52 churches, 17 nursing homes, 150 industrial properties and 900 commercial businesses.
We provide a wide range of programs and services including:
- Public fire and life safety education
- Fire prevention
- Investigation and enforcement
- Fire suppression
Locations
We operate out of three fire station locations and a non-staffed station at the Peterborough Airport. The fire stations are at:
- Station 1 – 210 Sherbrooke St.
- Station 2 – 161 Carnegie St.
- Station 3 – 839 Clonsilla Ave.
- Airport – 925 Airport Rd., Cavan-Monaghan (non-staff station)
Organization
Our team of about 98 personnel are organized into the following divisions:
- Suppression
- Prevention
- Public Education
- Communications
- Training
- Administration
Our story
Prior to the incorporation of the Town of Peterborough in 1850, the Citizens Fire Organization extinguished fires. The reorganization of the Fire Department was first on the list for the newly elected Town Council in 1850. In 1908, the Fire Department moved to a permanent, full-time structure from a volunteer-based organization.
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History of the Peterborough Fire Services |
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The new Town Council established the Fire Department in 1850. The department had 30 personnel structured into two companies:
Before 1908, Peterborough's fire brigade was staffed by volunteers. The town paid the volunteers a $15 per year honorarium for their efforts. From 1886 to 1908, the fire department and the police department shared space in the town buildings on the southeast corner of the market square.
On June 16, 1908, Council engaged W.A. Howard as the Chief of the Fire Department, a position he held until 1917. Since the establishment of Peterborough's public water supply in 1882, fire protection has been a valuable service, protecting people and property, in the City. Historical literature indicates that the public water system was established essentially to provide fire protection. The value of a permanent fire service was shown on December 11, 1916 when a major fire destroyed the Quaker Oats plant in Peterborough, killing 23 people. The fire burned for four days. List of Fire Chiefs from 1850-2012:
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A new fire station opened on Aylmer Street on New Year's Day 1908. That same year, the City of Peterborough decided that it needed permanent fire brigade. The change to permanent, full-time service from a volunteer-based organization took place on June 30, 1908 and a grand procession of the old fire brigade marked the occasion.Contact Peterborough Fire Services for details on how to get a copy of the Fighting Fires in Peterborough book.
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