| EFD's History & Equipment
Our History, Our Equipment
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History: Although museum records show a local fire brigade in Ephrata as far back as 1911, the Ephrata Fire Department was formally organized in 1937 after a devastating fire wiped out most a downtown city block. Interested community members built a fire engine in the shop at Greenlee's Garage on Basin Street. The first fire station was located behind the current US Bureau of Reclamation building on C St NW.
The fire department grew and occupied a new fire station in the early fifties at the site of the current Public Library. In 1982, the City hired a Fire Marshal, Ron Renken. 1987, the current fire station was built at 800 A St SE, and the first career Fire Chief, James R. "Ron" Burns was hired to oversee the operation of the growing agency.
Ron Burns retired in 2003, and his son, then-Assistant Chief Jeremy Burns, was given the nod to assume the role of Chief.
Today's Ephrata Fire Department is the second largest municipal fire agency in Grant County, and answers an average of 395 requests for help each year.
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The first Ephrata Volunteer Firefighters with the engine
they built at Greenlee's Garage.
The first Ephrata Fire Station, ca. 1930
(Fire engine housed in garage on left of City Hall, located on
Division Ave W between C St and Basin St)
Ephrata Fire Station & City Hall, mid-1940s. The Ford on the right (Engine 42) is now on display at the Grant County Historical Museum. Then-Police Chief Harry Smith is seen walking out of City Hall.
Ephrata Fire Department - ca. 1958
Ephrata Fire Department, 1963, at the EFD's Fire Station on Alder Street NW where the Public Library currently stands.
This Station was replaced in 1987.
Ephrata Fire Department - 2005
Chief Ron Burns (ret.) and Chief Jeremy Burns.
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Service Delivery: At the forefront of the department's mission is to protect life and property from all types of hazards. The department responds to all requests for help, and has provided services statewide and nationwide in times of crisis.
Protecting the nearly 7,000 customers of Ephrata is a big job. To meet this challenge, the Ephrata Fire Department operates one station, which houses 15 pieces of apparatus to respond to a wide variety of service needs:
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2 - Class A Fire Engines: Engine 2111 delivered in 1994, Engine 2112 delivered in 1998, and a reserve engine (Engine 2113) delivered in 1975.
Engines 2111 & 2112 each carry 1,000 gallons of water, and have 1,500 gallon per minute pumps, and fire extinguishing foam. |
Engine 2111 NIMS Type I Engine
Engine 2112 - NIMS Type I Engine
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1 - 95-foot aerial ladder truck: delivered in 2002, Ladder 2195 is one of the two largest aerial device in the county, and also has the largest pump in the county, rated at 2,000 gallons-per-minute. |
Ladder 2195 - NIMS Type I Aerial Platform
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1 - Light Rescue/Aid Unit: delivered in 1994, Rescue 2141 carries emergency medical equipment, hydraulic special rescue tools, and is capable of transporting patients in times of disaster. |
Rescue 2141
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5 - Wildland Engines: Also known as "Brush Trucks" or "Type 6s", these 4 wheel drive trucks are capable of accessing grass fires in difficult terrain.
Brush trucks carry 250-350 gallons of water, firefighting handtools such as shovels and Pulaski tools, and fire extinguishing foam.
Ephrata Fire Department's wildland fire fighters are all structural firefighters for the department who have received further training in wildland firefighting techniques.
This group not only handles the larger wildland fires in the county but is frequently called out to assist fire agencies in other parts of the state.
These members respond with two Type 6 wildland engines from this department and others from the rest of the county. A type-6 engine is a 1-1˝ ton truck with 250-350 gallons of water and all of the associated hose, appliances, pumps and hand tools needed to operate in the wildland environment.
These firefighters are a dedicated group that are willing and able to leave the area for up to two weeks at each assignment living in tents and working long arduous days.
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Brush 2121 - NIMS Type VI Engine
Brush 2122 - NIMS Type VI Engine
Brush 2125 - NIMS Type VI Engine
Brush 2124 - NIMS Type VI Engine
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1 - Water Tender: Tender 2131 carries 3,000 gallons of water to supply fire apparatus outside of the City. |
Tender 2131 - NIMS Type I Tender
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1 - Customer Support Unit: Support Unit 2161 carries plywood, cordless tools and nails and screws to protect a homeowner’s property after a fire. Ephrata Firefighters will board up windows and doors to help prevent unauthorized access or looting. |
Support 2161
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1 - Fire Investigation Trailer: Owned by the Region 6 Investigation Task Force, this trailer is housed and operated by the EFD, and responds to assist with fire investigations throughout Central Washington.
3 - Command Units: These vehicles are staffed by the Duty Officers, and carry the equipment necessary to provide an organized response to all emergencies. |
Command 2172 with the Task Force Trailer
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Last Modified: December 29, 2009
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