Seattle Fire Department

The catastrophic fire of June 6, 1889, devastated Seattle, destroying 25 city blocks and leading to the establishment of the Seattle Fire Department after the volunteer firehouses were lost. The city’s first fireboat was introduced in 1891, and for decades, the department relied on horse-drawn equipment until 1924. Today, the Seattle Fire Department is celebrated for its long history, including the oldest continuously operating medic unit in America, and operates 34 fire stations with over 1,000 uniformed personnel.