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San Pedro Fire Department


The Companies

The Fire Houses

 San Pedro Volunteers
 San Pedro annexed by L. A.
.
 Hose Company No. 6
 Engine Company 36 in service
.
.
 Closed
 ENGINE COMPANY 36, RA 36

1889
August 28, 1909
.
1910 - 1915
1915
.
.
July 1, 1972
July 8, 2007

Sixth St., across from Crockers' Hall
.
.
630 Beacon Street (Wall & Beacon)
.
638 Beacon Street
.
Closed
1005 N. Gaffey Street

1889
.
.
August 1, 1910

Sept. 29,  1928
.
July 1, 1972
July 8, 2007


San Pedro Volunteer Fire Department
Wall and Beacon Street
630 Beacon Street
San Pedro

San Pedro Fire Department
Wall and Beacon Street
630 Beacon Street
San Pedro

August 29, 1909

Formed in 1895* with 65 members, three hose companies, one hook & ladder and a chemical rig - all hand-drawn.

*Some sources say 1889.


A BIG FIRE AND NO FIRE DEPARTMENT
By John M. Houston
The Shoreline, September 1977
The story of the "Fire of  1883" that lead
 to the organization of the San Pedro Volunteers

ALL FIRED UP IN 1889
By John M. Houston

    Back in 1883, Captain James, Editor of the Shipping Gazette, called for a volunteer fire department for San Pedro.  Apparently, such complicated matters take some time.  It was  not until early 1889 that news concerning the first San Pedro Volunteer Fire Department began to appear in the weekly newspapers.  The San Pedro Advocate noted with satisfaction on February  9th that it was glad to learn signals to be rung on the church bells" to get the volunteers out of their homes and down to the fire station on Sixth Street across from Crockers' Hall.

    Two fire companies had been formed -- a hose company and a hook and ladder company.  Each had its stout-hearted lads who reveled in rivalry.  Manning the fire engine pump, backbreaking  work after fifteen minutes, the Hose Company lads considered it great sport to direct a strong stream of water on the flames or blast out a window or two.  The Hook and Ladder men would wield an axe and envision the rescuing of damsels in distress.

    D. R. Clay was named as chief of the combined companies with attorney W. H. Savage appointed foreman. These two men seem to have been responsible for the alarm system.  They arranged for the church bells to be tapped rather than rung.  Continuous tapping, as loudly as possible, meant a fire.  Three taps and a pause, and three more taps and a pause meant the volunteers were to come to the fire house for a meeting.  Chief Clay warned home owners to wait and listen for the pauses before throwing their furniture out of their windows.

    In March 1889, the bells tapped continuously--FIRE!  The volunteers dropped their work and ran for the fire house.  Ladies shopping along Front and Beacon Streets, each thinking it was their own home burning, picked up their skirts and scrambled up Nob or Vinegar Hill to scan the sky for smoke.  The hand-drawn fire engine arrived at its destination in record time.  The destination was a vacant lot and the fire only a practice exercise.

   Angry citizens claimed the wrong signals had been given and the Editor of the Advocate agreed.  Clay and Savage were accused of playing a dirty trick on an unsuspecting community.

    All was forgiven in a few days, however, when the facts were made known.  It seems that men from the Board of Fire Underwriters had come into town unexpectedly in order to determine the effectiveness of the new fire-fighting facilities.  With a view to reducing the City's insurance rates the skill of the unsuspecting volunteers had to be tested.  The men from the Board were very pleased with what they saw.  "The boys got a stream of water going in six minutes," was the report.

    The managers of the California Fire Apparatus Manufacturing Company of  San Francisco, who no doubt sold equipment to San Pedro, sent a letter of commendation to the City Trustees.  Also with the letter were two gold badges which were presented to D. R. Clay and W. H. Savage for heading "the newly organized Fire Department of San Pedro."  Thus began a long and proud history of organized fire fighting in the port city.

The Shore Line, San Pedro Bay Historical Society, November 1977


San Pedro Fire Department - 1905 -

 


 

San Pedro Fire Department

Circa 1909
Photo taken shortly before San Pedro was
annexed by the City of Los Angeles.  This Volunteer
Company became LAFD Hose Company No. 6 in 1910.


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