San Francisco Fire Department (CA) (Images of America) [Paperback]

John Garvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2003

In San Francisco, history is as close as the sound of the fire engines and trucks racing by, sirens wailing. The San Francisco Fire Department took shape, as did the city, from the ashes and embers of the Great Fire of 1906. In the tumultuous seaport full of those seeking California's newly found gold, volunteer fire companies had to adapt to a teeming city full of canvas tents, wood shacks, kerosene lanterns, ocean breezes, and hilly winding streets. From a force that initially pulled hand-operated pumps and competed to be the first at a fire, traveling in horse-drawn equipment, the department has grown from a volunteer contingent of a few hundred to a company 1,800 strong and equipped to protect a city of 49 square miles, surrounded on three sides by salt water. The historic photographs of this volume document the establishment of the volunteer department on Christmas Eve 1849 and the inception of the paid force in 1866, as well as such colorful characters as Lily Hitchcock Coit, a belle who battled many a blaze with the volunteers and a portion of whose estate went to build the 210-foot Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. Striking images, many never before published, illustrate how the fire department was affected not only by the well-known inferno of 1906 but by the six blazes that leveled the waterfront in the 1850s and a number of other fires throughout the city's history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Native San Franciscan John Garvey is a local historian, champion discus thrower, Pioneer San Francisco Fire Department Museum volunteer, and City Guide docent. His work with the San Francisco Fire Department began when, at age six, he pulled a fire alarm and delightedly watched the fire engine arrive.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (November 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738520845
• ISBN-13: 978-0738520841
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,090,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed work, September 3, 2005

By 

historydigger "Tikker" (San Francisco,CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: San Francisco Fire Department (CA) (Images of America) (Paperback)

There is a lot of San Francisco history that is easily neglected and almost forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of the ever progressive and changing city by the bay.

The Images of America has helped correct this neglect with a series of excellent little picture books about some of the aspects of history that are fun and fascinating.

This book on the brave men and women firefighters starts out with the colorful private fire companies of the 19th century. Indeed, San Francisco being a wild and crazy place

it burned down a few times, a companies of fire fighters were essential. Later, when the 1906 earthquake and fire hit, they were mostly a city run organization, that did their heroic best to respond to the disaster.

Other famous fires are covered as well, such famous hotel fires, Sutro's Cliff House in 1907, Sutro baths and St. Mary's cathedral. Also covered are changes in equipment ,uniform and personel. And all of the pictures are excellent and some very rare.

A great addition to any library of San Francisco books.