Early History:
Founded in 1781, Los Angeles began as a small pueblo under the auspices of the King of Spain and flourished as an agricultural community. Buildings of adobe and tile, were practical and resistant to fire but the storage of large quantities of hay created hazardous conditions which resulted in large fires. Neighbors would rush to assist in saving the property by forming “bucket brigades.” Since no fire bells or alarms existed, the person discovering the fire would shoot a pistol into the air repeatedly, followed by the similar action of others until most of the town was alerted. This alarm system was common into the 1880’s.
Volunteer Fire Department
In 1850, the City Council was authorized to create a Fire Department, but took no action until 1871 when the Volunteer Fire Department was organized. Prior to this, Los Angeles did not have a firehouse or professional firefighters. In 1869, during a meeting held at Buffums’ Saloon, an informal volunteer organization was created made up mostly of young businessmen and civic leaders.
An inadequate water delivery system was a major problem until the turn of the century. The City Council, as a result of feuds with the water company, authorized the use of police to keep the water flowing in the event of a fire. The Volunteer Fire Department faced other difficulties in obtaining support from the City Council. For example, in 1874, they had agreed to authorize two horses to pull an otherwise hand-drawn piece of equipment. But when they reconsidered, the volunteer company temporarily disbanded in anger. The problem was resolved in 1875 when City Council voted to appropriate funds to purchase a pair of horses for the express purpose of pulling the engine.
The volunteers began a campaign to win recognition of their status, but their efforts to raise money to buy a steam fire engine were unsuccessful until ample contributions were made by “miners, saloon keepers, and members of the underworld.” The fire company also won the right to collect fines from individuals violating City ordinances. Residents were prohibited from storing more than three tons of hay, 50 pounds of gun powder, or 150 gallons of kerosene.
First Engine House
The first engine house, erected adjacent to City Hall on Spring Street for $665, was an adobe structure which remained in service until 1884. The apparatus consisted of an Amoskeag pumper and hose cart, manufactured in Massachusetts and shipped to San Francisco by train. Since railway facilities did not exist between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Amoskeag was transported by boat along the California coast. It was equipped with a 100-foot hose with a one-inch nozzle and could throw a water stream approximately 100 feet in the air.
Positions and Salaries
In 1872, the City Council appointed an Engineer to operate the steam pump. He was the first and only paid employee of the volunteer company, and earned a salary of $100 per month. Charles E. Miles was elected to the position of Chief Engineer for one year by all members in good standing. This did not become a salaried position until 1884 when Walter S. Moore received $125 per month. Chief Moore served a total of four separate times. During an interim period, he was elected President of the City Council, where he was able to recommend items that were advantageous to the Fire Department. Moore was later elected as the first Fire Chief of the paid Fire Department. His accomplishments include the passage of a bond issue for the construction of 12 municipally-owned fire stations and plans for a Firemen’s pension system.
Official Fire Department- The LAFD 1886
The history of the Los Angeles Volunteer Fire Department was climaxed by the completion of the Plaza Firehouse on rented property in 1884. Expenses for that year totaled $11,500, including salaries of Engineers and Drivers. The Plaza Firehouse still stands on the southeast corner of the Los Angeles Plaza and currently houses a museum administered by the “Box 15 Club.”
Under the Charter of 1850, and after 35 years of development from a small pueblo to a flourishing City, the City Council moved to finance the first fully paid Fire Department in December, 1885. The LAFD officially went into service on February 1, 1886, with four fire stations. To distinguish the members of the Department, uniforms were a standardized navy blue with brass buttons imprinted with “F.D.” and hats made of black felt and gold cord with a wreath centered on the front.
1887 marked the date of the first City-owned fire station, Engine Company No. 1, the expanded site which currently serves as the Supply and Maintenance facility. Engine Company No. 1 housed the first hanging horse harness which was developed by a uniformed member of the Department, Edward R. Smith, who later became an Assistant Chief.
Horses played an integral part of the operation of the Fire Department. Into the early 1900’s, they were stabled inside the firehouse and, at the sound of the fire alarm, were trained to leave their stalls and walk to a point directly beneath the harness. The Firefighters were then able to fasten the collars and the bridles to the horses.
The first drill tower, at First and Hill Streets, was erected for the purpose of training both permanent and volunteer firefighters. The tower housed a 2,000-pound bell which served as an integral part of the Department’s fire alarm system. With a goal of increasing the efficiency of skills learned on the job and broadening the knowledge of fire fighting, a new wooden drill tower was constructed in 1911 adjacent to Engine Company 1.
Attempting to deal with the problem of an inadequate water supply, the Department purchased two chemical engines in 1891. The chemical engine company, capable of controlling small fires without the use of large amounts of water, utilized two 50-gallon tanks containing a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water, activated by a chemical reaction when adding sulfuric acid. The level of success was so great that three additional chemical companies were added in 1895.
From the 1920s to Pre-World War II
It was not until the 1900’s that the Department began to fully expand its operations. Included in this expansion were improved benefits to its members, use of motorized apparatus, creation of the Mountain Patrol, and implementation of a response system for certain types of medical emergencies.
Pension System
In 1901, the first Fire Department pension system was established for members injured in the line of duty. Prior to this, firefighters with job-related injuries were not compensated. Several years later, in 1913, the pension fund was expanded to include service retirement, disability benefits, and assistance to widows and orphans.
Motorized Vehicles
The first motorized vehicle purchased by the Department was a seven-passenger automobile used by the Board of Fire Commissioners. This was followed by a 1908 Haynes roadster used by Chief Engineer Walter Lipps with a fireman driver. The first call for the new rig was a small blaze at First and Broadway. According to the paper the Chief was at the scene before the alarm had stopped tapping.
From Chief Lips came this declaration: “We expect to do great things with this car. I can cover about three times as much territory and have my eye on the entire department. It is dangerous to take a horse hitched to a light wagon through the crowded section of the business district. The animal knows he is expected to cover ground, and he does it regardless of obstacles.”
This period ranks the eventual changeover from horse-drawn apparatus to motorized equipment. 163 horses, the largest number owned by the Department at any one time, were in use in 1912. They were gradually phased out and, in 1921, were completely replaced by automotive apparatus.
Annexed Areas
In 1909, LA annexed the communities of San Pedro and Wilmington and their eight miles of waterfront. Two private fire-fighting tugs were used through 1917. The City’s first fireboat was a small wooden vessel purchased in 1916. Three years later, Boat 1 was purchased and put into operation at a fire station located on the Main Channel.
In 1910, the Hollywood area was annexed, giving the LAFD its first motorized apparatus, an auto chemical hose vehicle. Over the years, many other areas were annexed, eventually increasing the size of the City from 29 square miles in 1880 to its present 464.5 square miles.
Platoon System
In 1915, the Department changed over to a two-platoon system. Until then, members worked full-time with one day off per month. Because of their full-time status, firefighters lived in the engine houses. These working conditions were not conducive to good morale or a happy home life, so most of the members were unmarried. Officers and members agreed that the implementation of a two-platoon system was the most humane act ever experienced on the Department. The two-platoon system required members to work a 12-hour day or night shift for a total of 72 hours per week. The 24-hour platoon-duty system was instituted in 1929 while the current system of three platoons went into effect in 1961
Fire Prevention Bureau
As the Department’s responsibilities continued to expand the need for a Fire Prevention Bureau was recognized, resulting in its creation in 1916. Members worked to reduce fire hazards in industrial and commercial occupancies, ordered safety improvements in passenger elevators and later were involved in lectures on fire prevention to schools, motion picture studios, and other business establishments. Several years later an Arson Squad was created consisting of two firefighters whose efforts resulted in a 90% conviction rate of apprehended arsonists.
Mountain Patrol
In 1924, the Mountain Patrol was created to improve fire safety in the hillside communities of the City. The area extended from the Santa Monica Mountains to Griffith Park and to Topanga Canyon. Two fire stations were built on Mulholland Drive to handle these areas. Because it was often impossible to get equipment and an adequate water supply into remote sections, firefighters were occasionally forced to improvise by using wet burlap bags to “beat out” a fire.
The Mountain Patrol enforcement function has since evolved into the Brush Clearance Unit. This operation enforces the removal of hazardous brush conditions in the Mountain Fire District and Buffer Zone areas through property owners or a contractor compliance program.
Fire Boats
With the annexation of the LA Harbor in 1909 came the responsibility of protecting the port from the land and from the sea. The City immediately contracted for the services of the “Falcon” and the “Warrior,” two privately owned firefighting tugboats. Although no firemen were assigned regularly to these two vessels, during emergencies, firefighters from land-based fire stations would board the tugs and go to work.
Los Angeles purchased its first fireboat, the “Aeolian,” in 1915. This 20-foot long, wooden fireboat, believed to have been built in Seattle, went into service in 1916. Considered “one of a kind,” the “Aeolian” derived its firefighting capability from a 60-gallon bicarbonate of soda and sulphuric acid chemical supply. Just last month the LAFD Historical Society was able to purchase what is thought to be the siren from the Aeolian.
Single-Alarm System
1933 marked a turning point in the Department’s alarm system. Prior to this time, all fire stations received all alarms simultaneously, and it was the responsibility of members to determine whether that alarm applied to their area. The “hold out” system was the first of its kind in the country. This made it possible for only the appropriate stations to be alerted to an alarm of fire.
New Apparatus
As the City grew, the department augmented its fleet of apparatus with Seagrave and American LaFrance pumps. In 1937, the LAFD purchased its first closed cab rig, an American La France engine referred to as the “Lulubell.” Fire Chief Scott provided a unique approach to fire suppression in the industrial and built-up areas of the city with the manifold and duplex pumper combination capable of pumping 3,000 gpms through a number of 2 1/2 inch handlines. A Seagrave 100 foot steel aerial ladder truck was put into service in 1938 with an enclosed cab.
LAFD Historical Society Volunteers of the Year 2015
Each year the Board of Directors select Society volunteers who have made a major contribution in support of our mission and goals. The 2015 Volunteers of the Year are: Don Nash and Alan Berta for their technical expertise at the Hollywood Museum, Gordon Briggs for his work restoring the “Ralph J. Scott” fireboat, and me, Frank Borden, for volunteer work at the Harbor Fire Museum. Our Society is totally managed and operated by a small group of hard working volunteers with many different skills and interests. We do need more volunteers to continue our work in the future.
Submitted by Frank Borden