Engine Company Turns 125

Vancouver Fire Department’s Engine Company 2 may have been celebrating its 125th anniversary, but for the dozens of kids who clamored to pet a real-live firehouse Dalmatian, run drills with fire hoses and climb to the top of the ladder of a bright red fire truck, it was clearly all about the fun that could be had in the moment.

The city’s second-oldest engine company (Engine Company 1 holds the obvious age title) celebrated its June 6, 1885, inception with a community open house Saturday, at which firefighters recounted the company’s history and likely recruited a few far-future firefighters.

The station building itself, located at the corner of 37th and Main streets and opened in 1937, is the oldest continuously operated firehouse in Clark County, and one of the oldest in the state, Fire Capt. Scott Blanton said.

“This firehouse is built and looks just like the community around it,” he said. “When we go out on calls, their homes look just like our fire station, and people do stop by and come in. It’s really a community firehouse.”

In front, firefighters parked the 1934 Seagrave fire engine that was assigned to the station when it first opened. Aerial, a 9-year-old Dalmatian, sat in the front seat, accepting affection from all comers.

“Her job is to sit in the engine and look cute,” said her owner, Fire Marshal John Genty.

Outside, a group of painters from the Clark County Mural Society painted Engine Company 2’s mascot logo — a tiger holding a fire hose in its mouth — on a wall. Plans are in the works to paint a two-part mural of the antique Seagrave on the walls facing 37th Street, Blanton said.

Tiger Company firefighters have been involved in battling just about every major fire in downtown since the late 1800s, the captain said. Today, the station, which staffs nine people in three shifts of three, takes about 10 to 15 calls a day.

The station may not be as palatial as, say, the new Pacific Park Station in East Vancouver, but firefighter Matt Krossow said that may be the best part about being at the Westside Station.

“Believe it or not, it’s the smallness,” he said. “When you get a good group of guys working together, it’s a great station. We’re busy enough to where we’re active, but small enough to where you get to know people.”

Five-year-old Oscar Glasgow was clearly excited for the opportunity to get to know the station. Clambering down from the high cab of a fire truck, he reported the best part of the experience was “spinning the wheel.”

His mom, Julie Glasgow, said she saw the open house in their Carter Park neighborhood newsletter, and brought him down, along with her husband and 13-year-old daughter, Grace.

“It’s been good. We got t-shirts and took pictures with Aerial the dog,” she said, as Oscar ran off to try out the nearby hoses. “Some of these guys are definitely future firefighters.”

Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542 or andrea.damewood@columbian.com.