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The Reading Fire Department (RFD) provides fire and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

History
The Reading Fire Department was officially organized on March 17, 1773, with the founding of the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company. It grew to include fourteen volunteer fire companies by 1914. Well into the 1970s the Reading Fire Department was organized and operated as 14 distinct companies, all of which operated an engine company and many provided specialty units.

Beyond fire service the fire companies filled an important role in 19th and 20th society in Reading. They ranked second only to churches in their importance to Reading's social life. Member roles numbered in the hundreds, many of whom lived in the neighborhood surrounding the firehouse. Fire houses were in constant use as meeting places of many local organizations; dances, concerts, and charitable events were held there; and the companies participated in parades and other civic events.

A unique feature of the Reading Fire Department is the continued existence of many of these independent volunteer fire departments. Reading boasts the longest volunteer fire department in existence.

The Reading Fire Department was administered by a fire chief and deputy fire chiefs as early as 1873.

Fire Company History
The 14 fire companies that comprised the Reading Fire Department for nearly 200 years are:

Friendship Fire Company

The Friendship Fire Company was organized in 1848. It was headquartered at Peach and Franklin Streets.

The company operated the city's first and only rescue when it established its rescue company in 1938. That rescue company continues to operate today.

The Friendship Fire Company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Rescue

Hampden Fire Company The Hampden Fire Company was organized on September 7, 1867. Its first station was located at the southwest corner of 11th and Greenwich Streets. In 1887 a new station was constructed on the northeast corner of the same intersection. Construction costs were paid for by the city of Reading, which took possession of the building on November 7, 1887. This structure still stands.

The Hampden has operated an engine company, which today is located in the Hampden/Marion station on North 9th Street.

Junior Fire Company The Junior Fire Company No. 2 was incorporated in 1813 and continues to exist today as an independent organization. It was headquartered at 638 Walnut Street, at the intersection with Reed Streets. Today that station houses the Reading Fire Department's EMS units.

The Junior Fire Company was the first Reading company to use horses to pull apparatus; prior to that equipment was pulled by hand.

The Junior Fire Company implemented the second ambulance in the Reading Fire Department in 1908.

The Junior Fire Company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Ambulance

Keystone Hook and Ladder

The Keystone Hook and Ladder and Hose Company was organized in 1855 and incorporated in 1858. Today it is registered as the Keystone Hook and Ladder Company #1 of Reading, PA, and it continues to exist today.

It was headquartered at Second and Penn Streets, where its building still stands today.

The company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Ladder

Liberty Fire Company

The Liberty Fire Company was organized in 1854. It was headquartered at Fifth and Laurel Streets, where its station still stands today. Built in 1876, the first two floors were built by the members themselves.

The Liberty Fire Company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Scuba rescue

Marion Fire Company The Marion Fire Company was organized in 1881.

The company became the city's third ladder company in 1915, after the Keystone and Washington companies.

The Marion Fire Company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Ladder

Neversink Fire Company The Neversink Fire Company was organized in 1829. It was headquartered at Third and Court Streets.

The fire company has operated an engine.

Oakbrook Fire Company The Oakbrook Fire Company was originally oranized in 1902 as the Liberty Fire Company of Milmont in Cumru Township. The company joined the Reading Fire Department when that area was annexed to Reading in 1914, and changed its name to Oakbrook at that time. As a result it was the last company to join the Reading Fire Department.

The Oakbrook Fire Company has operated an engine company.

Rainbow Fire Company The Rainbow Fire Company was organized on March 17, 1773, which marked the origination of the Reading Fire Department. According to legend, the new company's name was being boisterously debated in the tavern where the meeting was being held, when a rainbow appeared in the eastern sky following an early spring thunderstorm, thus giving birth to the name. Since the Rainbow Company was formed on St. Patrick's Day, a shamrock appropriately became the company's insignia. The Rainbow fire station is located at 8th & Court Streets, where it has been since 1870.

The Rainbow Fire Company has operated an engine company.

Reading Hose Fire Company The Reading Hose Company was organized 1819. It was headquartered on Franklin Street.

The company was the first in Reading to utilize a steam fire engine in 1860.

The Reading Hose also instituted the first ambulance in the Reading Fire Department in 1887.

In 1968 the company began operating a snorkel.

The Reading Hose has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Snorkel
 * Ambulance

Riverside Fire Company The Riverside Fire Company was organized in 1891. It was headquartered at Front and Exeter Streets in northern Reading.

The fire company has operated an engine company.

Schuylkill Fire Company The Schuylkill Fire Company was organized in 1892. It was headquartered at Schuylkill Avenue and West Green Street in Reading's northwest.

It became the fire department's fourth ladder company in 1956.

The Schuylkill Fire Company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Ladder
 * Ambulance

Union Fire Company The Union Fire Company was organized in 1898. It was headquartered at Fifteenth and Muhlenberg Streets in the area known as East Reading.

The company was the last in the Reading Fire Department to use horse-drawn apparatus, with its switch to motorized occurring in 1923.

The Union Fire Company has operated an engine company.

Washington Hose Company The Washington Hose Company was organized in 1855. It was headquartered at 1019 Spruce Street.

The company has operated the following apparatus:
 * Engine
 * Ladder

Chiefs of the Reading Fire Department

 * Howard F. Boyer 1873 to 1885
 * George Washington Miller 1886-1915
 * John George Niethammer 1916-1931
 * Harry John Brown 1932-1947
 * Edward Charles Dell 1947-1953
 * Russell Charles Bowers years 1953-1971
 * Russell P. Mogel 1971 - 1983
 * Charles W Schaeffer, Jr 1983 - 1993
 * Richard I Boyer 1993 - 1996
 * William H Rehr, III 1996 - 2010
 * Kevin L Kulp 2011 - 2012
 * David W. Hollinger 2012 - 2013.
 * Gary Mogel (Acting) 2013

Fire Museum
The Reading Area Firefighters Museum is located on the second floor of the former headquarters of the Liberty Fire Company. Its mission is to preserve that historic structure and the contents therein.

William Rehr III, recently retired fire chief of the department, was appointed president of the museum in January 2011.