The department is the largest fire protection and emergency medical services provider in the state of Oregon, responsible for an area of 151 square miles (390 km2),[3] serving a population of over 635,000.

Seeing the need for a more organized firefighting force in the growing community, Oregonian editor Colonel Thomas Dryer began writing editorial pieces in the paper about the need for a volunteer firefighting force.

[4] While only having a hand pump to fight fires with, Dryer desired to find funding for a steam engine for his company.

That the whole city be a district for the organization of a Hook and Ladder company; and further, that all that portion of the city lying north of Washington street, be one district for the organization of an engine company and all that part of the city south of that street be another district for the same purpose.”[6] A fire at a steam mill in 1853 illustrated the need for an organized firefighting force, and on July 29, 1853, the Vigilance Hook and Ladder Company No.

The Portland City Council purchased a hand pump for the company in 1856, which was later replaced by a 2nd Class Amos keag steam apparatus.

Due to their uniform shirts, people started referring to the firefighters as "redshirts," a name that stuck with them for some time.

[9] While the city was going through a drought, on August 2, 1873, the Great Fire of 1873 broke out at the Hurgren and Shindler furniture shop at the corner of First & Taylor.

The fire quickly spread, and twelve hours later, twenty-two blocks of the city had been burned.

In 1875 the system was replaced by alarm boxes and engine gongs connected through telegraph wires.

The City of Portland provided the funds for the department to purchase its first fire boat, the George H. Williams, in 1904.

By 1906 firefighters with the Portland Fire Department had begun wearing turnout gear.

Due to the department's ranks being cut after the start of World War II, volunteer firefighting returned to Portland.

Following the end of the War, the auxiliary forces expanded, having their own officers and chiefs through seven districts.

As of May 2016[update], the department operates out of 31 fire stations strategically located the city.