1975 to 1999

In 1979, the City replaced the '64 Ford with a new Seagraves 1250 GPM class "A" Pumper with a 1000-gallon booster tank. This engine remains in service today.

In 1980 Cornelius firefighters started an attempt to purchase a new Rescue. The goal was to raise all of the money by donations. The volunteer firefighters went door to door throughout the City and the Fire District twice, held dances, donkey basketball, and many other fundraising efforts. The firefighter raised $22,000, and in 1983 the City of Cornelius contributed the remaining $20,040 necessary to purchase the new Rescue unit.

In 1982 the Cornelius Rural Fire Protection District purchased a Ford delivery truck from Portland Wheel, and the volunteer firefighters converted it into a mobile cascade unit using money from both the City and Rural Fire Districts' budgets. This vehicle was equipped with a 2500 PSI Cascade system capable of filling 125 plus 2216 PSI SCBA bottles. This vehicle also was equipped with a 5500 Honda generator, portable lighting, fireground rehabilitation supplies, and a 12-foot awning on the driver's side.

The year 1984 proved to be a very exciting year. The second, and newest version of Rescue 8 went into service in January. That vehicle, the current Rescue 8, is a Wheeled Coach custom-built unit with exterior compartments and an 8000-pound Warren winch. This rescue unit, which is capable of transporting patients, has been in service since January 1984. The department replaced the 1954 Dodge fire engine with a 1965 GMC 900 GPM water tanker unit with a 3000-gallon tank. In October, Chief Asanovic became the first paid employee of the fire department. The Fire Chief's position became a part-time, 20-hours-a-week position. This year the department also added hazardous materials response to the list of services it provided.

In 1986 the City of Cornelius and the Cornelius Rural Fire District entered into a new contract. The Fire District would contract a service from the City and all capital projects would be split 50/50. At that time the City paid for 75% of all operations and the District, 25%. Currently, the ratio is 82%/18%.

In 1988 the Cornelius City/Rural Fire Department purchased a Ford pick-up complete with a 150-gallon tank and a 124 GPM pump. This vehicle serves as the Fire Chief's Command vehicle.

In 1991 the City and Rural District replaced the 1966 Ford with a Western States Fire Pumper with a fully-enclosed Spartan cab and an intra-cab 1500 GPM pump and 1000-gallon booster tank at a cost of $174,000. By 1993, an American General 6 by 6 and a '77 Dodge pick-up, converted to brush fire apparatus by the volunteer firefighters, served the City and the Rural District for wildland interface fires.

In 1993, the 1965 GMC 3000 gallon tanker was sold to the City of Joseph. This vehicle was replaced by a newly built 1000 GPM water tender with a 3000-gallon tank, built on a 1988 White Volvo chassis. This vehicle was built by Western States Fire Apparatus in Cornelius, Oregon.

In 1996, the department wanted to update the cascade unit. The Cornelius Fire Department approached each fire department in the county and asked for monetary support. In trade for support, the Cornelius Fire Department would build and maintain the vehicle and make it available county-wide. Each department (Forest Grove Fire and Rescue, Gaston Rural Fire Protection District, The City of Hillsboro, Washington County Fire District Number 2, Tri-City Rural Fire District, and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue) donated $2,000 each. The department asked Stewart Stiles Trucking Lines to donate a truck with a 20' box, and they donated a 1986 Volvo delivery truck. The department had help from many businesses which donated materials or labor at or near cost to them. This project took a year to complete. The final product is a multi-purpose support vehicle capable of filling Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA's) with 16 by 4500 PSI air cylinders plumbed through a high-pressure manifold. The cascading air system is capable of filling 6 by 2216 to 4500 PSI SCBA bottles at a single time. The vehicle has HAZMAT decontamination showers, a 5500-watt generator supported by three 1000-watt portable generators and lighting, 25 gallons of potable water, rehabilitation supplies, and an onboard bathroom. This vehicle was built by members of the Cornelius Fire Department at a cost of $18,500.

In 1996, the City of Cornelius built the Public Safety Building, a 14,000 square-foot, 2-story building that houses both the Police and Fire Departments. The Fire Department wing of the building houses a receptionist's office, a fire prevention office, a training office, a Chief's office, emergency medical storage, locker rooms for both men and women, dormitories for both men and women, a fitness room, a training room, and a dayroom complete with kitchen, dining area, and TV viewing area. Attached to the building is an apparatus storage area that includes four 2-vehicle drive-through bays, 3 single-vehicle bays, an alarm room, a storage room, a tool room, a turnout room, an evidence room, an SCBA room, and a bio-hazard area that includes a turnout washer. The original fire/city hall building was converted into the Council Chamber building and now also houses the Building and Planning Departments. At the base of the flag pole at the east entrance of the Public Safety Building is mounted the original bell that called the firefighters into action, serving as a memorial to all who responded to save lives and property in the Cornelius community.

In 1997 the fire department acquired a trailer-mounted light rig from the Oregon Department of Forestry Military Surplus program. This unit has a 20-foot telescoping mast with 4 by 1000-watt lights and a 6000-watt generator. This unit is capable of being towed by the Cascade unit or one of the small brush rig units.