History of the Painesville Fire Department

From hand-pulled engines to modern emergency response, the Painesville Fire Department has been protecting the community for nearly two centuries.

What began in 1841 as a volunteer effort sparked by a devastating fire has grown into a full-time, professional department serving thousands of residents each year. Along the way, the department has adapted, innovated, and remained committed to one mission: protecting lives and property in Painesville.


Key Moments in Our History

The Early Years (1840s–1800s)

  • 1841 – The “Courthouse Disaster” leads to the formation of Painesville’s first fire company, made up of 50 volunteers with a hand engine and hose cart
  • 1843 – Painesville firefighters provide mutual aid to Cleveland, transporting equipment by rail
  • 1849–1856 – Additional fire companies are established
  • 1857 – A major fire destroys the southern Main Street business district
  • 1871 – Village leaders fund an all-volunteer fire department and introduce a cistern water system—one of the first in the region
  • 1873 – A new firehouse opens on North St. Clair Street, considered state-of-the-art at the time

 

Growth and Innovation (1900–1950s)

  • 1900 – Painesville appoints its first full-time Fire Chief
  • 1915 – The department purchases its first motorized vehicle
  • 1921 – Transition from volunteer to full-time professional department; horse-drawn equipment is retired
  • 1928 – First motorized aerial ladder is added
  • 1940s – Staffing increases; volunteers support operations during World War II
  • 1948 – First power-assisted aerial ladder is introduced

 

Modernization and Expansion (1960s–1990s)

  • 1961 – Current fire station on Mentor Avenue opens
  • 1962 – Painesville enters the EMS era with its first rescue vehicle—the first of its kind in Lake County
  • 1963 – Voters approve funding to support fire operations
  • 1970s–1980s – Staffing increases and modern equipment continues to be added
  • 1991 – The department hires its first African American firefighter
  • 1997 – Paramedic services begin

 

A Department for Today (2000–Present)

  • 2000–2002 – New leadership continues to guide the department forward
  • 2003 – EMS billing is introduced to support operations
  • 2007 – Part-time firefighters are reintroduced
  • 2008 – The department hires its first female firefighter
  • 2011 – A 9/11 Memorial Garden is established at the fire station
  • 2019 – Chief Thomas C. Hummel Jr. is appointed Fire Chief