History

Crook County Fire and Rescue started as Prineville Volunteer Fire Company on January 30, 1884 with J. F. Corchs as Fire Chief. Prineville Volunteer Fire Company purchased the first piece of fire fighting apparatus in 1882 for $180.00. This Rumsey six-man hand pumper as well as many of the other original pieces of fire fighting equipment have been fully restored to their original condition and are on display in the fire station.

Prineville's Fire District was originally based on how far a man could run because the equipment was scattered throughout the town in various locations. Volunteers would have to manually pull the equipment from the closest location to the fire scene. Water was channeled by wooden flumes from Ochoco Creek through town with openings placed at each block for suction lines.

In the fall of 1997 the Crook County Court established Crook County Rural Fire Protection District #1. THis expanded the fire protection district over 150 square miles. The name was later changes by the fire board to Crook County Fire and Rescue. In May 2005 the district boundaries were changed again and expanded to cover over 450 square miles.