Pioneer Mutual Hook and Ladder Society

Flashback Friday While preparing this week’s FBF about the Bourke Eyeshield, I Googled the name of its inventor, Lester T. Bourke just to see if there was mor...e information that we didn’t already have. And there was one thingFirefighter Bourke passed away three weeks ago. So today, our Flashback is a tribute to him. Firefighter Lester Bourke was operating at a fire in an auto repair shop with his company, Engine 231 in 1964, when a piece of metal swung down from the ceiling and hit him in the forehead. The blow knocked him to the ground and he was blinded by the blood from the gash he received. Fortunately, the sharp metal did not hit his eye. But what if it did? At the time, FDNY members did not have any sort of eye protection, in fact most members didn’t wear breathing apparatus which would have had a mask. So Bourke decided to tinker around to see if he could come up with some sort of eye protection. And the rest is history for the FDNY specifically, and firefighting generally. An epiphany struck when he was looking at a speedometer cable, which gave him the idea to connect two lenses separated when at one angle, but joined when brought together. To facilitate that movement, he used clock springs. As with most inventors, after enough attempts, he got what he was after, attached it to his helmet, and applied for a patent. The Bourke Eyeshields were each hand-made and gained popularity with those who saw it. While doing some training at the Academy, it caught the attention of an instructor that had lost his eye as the result of an injury at a fire. Seeing the real value his invention represented, he presented it to the Chief of Safety, who set up a meeting for Bourke with the president of Cairns and Brother, Inc.; at the time the manufacturers of all FDNY helmets. Cairn’s loved them and made them a standard option on their helmets beginning in 1966. Bourke received his patent on May 14, 1968. His eyeshields are standard equipment on all FDNY helmets, and are used by fire services around the world. Thank you Firefighter Lester T. Bourke, for your service to the people of the City of New York and for your ingenuity that has improved the safety of your brother and sister firefighters. Your legacy lives on. Rest in Peace.

The late, great Battalion Chief Gene Dowling, "the Wizard" (retired out of B27). Back in 1967 while in L25, Dowling used a scaling ladder on top of a fully ext...ended 100' aerial ladder to make a rescue. Dowling received the prestigious Gordon Bennett Medal after he made this rescue. (Thank you FDNY firefighter Phil Gordon for finding this picture from Joe Collica, L85 retired). See more

Today we are reading A Day at the Fire Station, by Richard Scarry for our Friday Firefighter story time! Grab the kids and we’ll learn all about what does on at the Fire station!

Check in this Friday for another episode of Firefighter Story Time! This week we are reading A Day At The Fire Station by Richard Scarry! Check back Friday morning !

Station 20 Sacramento City Fire Around the horn clockwise; Rusty van Vuren, Al (Opie) Overholt, Steve (SA) Ayala, Mike (Uppy) Updegraph, Jay (Wishmeister) Wisham, Rob (Too pretty for a nickname) Marshall, and Jerry (Bo) Bolden. This was generally the view that Gilbert Luna had (if he could see over his pile of chips) when he'd join us for some late night cards between emergency runs out of Old Station 20 at Arden and Del Paso. Some GREAT memories outa that place!

The newest arrival at the Sacramento Regional Fire Museum came in today. A 1931 GMC/American LaFrance, Type 199 pumper provided by the Sacramento Fire Departme...nt. Originally purchased by Yuba City FD where it served for many years then eventually ended up with the owner of the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento. It was used by the resturant as a publicity vehicle before it was donated to the Sacramento Fire Department. We are still researching its history and trying to locate photo's. Besure to come by and check out this new exhibit when we reopen. See more