......... News & Information Digest LA Fire Department celebrates 125 years of service ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At All Times,
Service Above Self
News and Information Digest LA Fire Department celebrates 125 years of service
Regarding the year of our founding, former LAFD Chief Engineer William L. Miller once noted ...
"The year 1886 - was a period of great advancement for the City of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles had been an incorporated city under laws of the State of California for 36 years. It had a population of some 35,000, with three good hotels, 27 churches, an adequate number of saloons and 350 telephone subscribers. Main, Spring, Fort and Hill Streets were paved that year, and the street car system was double-tracked.
A new City Hall had just been occupied at the corner of Second and Spring Streets, which was previously the site of the first public school.
The City Fathers determined that it was high time to have an organized and paid Fire Department to replace, in part, the volunteer fire companies that had served on an intermittent basis since 1869, with apparatus provided principally by public subscriptions.
The ordinance directed that the department consist of a Chief Engineer, two steamer companies, one hook and ladder company and three hose companies. Two of the hose companies were to remain as volunteer companies.
The Board of Fire Commissioners, consisting of Mayor Spence as ex-officio President and Councilmen H. Sinsabaugh and J. Kuhrts, came into existence on January 18, 1886, in the City Council Chamber of the new City Hall. There the members took the oath of office, elected Walter S. Moore as their secretary, and adjourned, subject to the call of the President ... "
Though much has changed in Los Angeles since, the devotion and commitment of your Los Angeles Firefighters remains inspired by those who have proudly protected our City for the past 125 years.
We encourage you to join LAFD members past and present throughout the coming year, as we celebrate the quasquicentennial of our agency. For more information - including some facts that may surprise you, we encourage you to visit:
