In 1883 the Portland Fire Department, while still augmented by volunteers, became known as the Portland Paid Fire Department. In January of this year, the department submitted it first budget totaling $55,340 for the entire year, with $25,940 being for the annual salary for the department's 52 employees, which included a Chief Engineer, two Assistants, a Secretary and 48 firefighters in five companies. Under this new name, the volunteer companies in the downtown area were replaced by full time firefighters, while the volunteers still responded to alarms and worked side by side with the full time staff. Unlike today, firefighters during this time did not work shifts and they rarely left or traveled far from their station houses; with many actually living in the fire station. Paid firefighters worked seven day weeks, getting only 12 hours off during an entire week.
