San Diego Firehouse Museum

Camp Pendleton Fire School has been a San Diego tradition for decades. Unfortunately, it got cut short last week. Here are a few pictures from the past. For the past few years SDFD firefighters have been allowed to participate in this excellent initial attack and overhead training. But... a few SDFD personnel participated in the past as well. There's also at least one current SDFD member wearing a different uniform in these shots. And at least five future Type 1 or Type 2 IC's.

A little Friday tiller action for you!

EMS Week is wrapping up, so we wanted to take a quick look at the history of paramedicine in San Diego County. The first paramedics in SD County were in taught by UCSD back in 1974. They were all either Lakeside or Santee firefighters. Picture attached. Private medics came to the City of San Diego in 1979. SDFD entered the picture with the first firefighter/paramedics starting in 1991 -- including Fire Chief Colin Stowell.... As provider contractors changed, SDFD and Rural/Metro formed a unique first of it's kind public/private partnership to provide both engine company and transport medics. Many firsts for FD's in SD County!

Some of our older members may remember Kevin. Can you give him a hand?

HazMat training us a little more advanced than it used to be.

Your museum board has recently acquired a couple of nice photo collections of San Diego fire history. We'll be posting some from fire apparatus photographer Bill Hattersley first. These are all mid-late 90's apparatus photos.

Thanks to our friends at the San Diego History Center for recognizing the contributions that Black firefighters have made to our community.

Here is F01520, a 1992 Pierce Lance 75’ Snorkel. Powered by a Detroit 6V92, this rig served proudly as Truck 14 in North Park during its front line service. Side note, museum board member John Fisher and I drove this new truck back from St Joseph, MO to San Diego. Rig drove and handled great! KE

Well, how about a post for the first time in too long! Engine 18 (F01383), a 1985 Emergency One pumper, taken in front of old Station 18. Seventeen of these engines were purchased. Equipped with a Cummins Big Cam, these rigs moved out pretty well. Lots of issues over the years, but they served the department well. Taken in late 1986.

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate. Chag Sameach. We remember our friend Rabbi Gottesman!

All of us at the museum would like to congratulate former board member John Wood on his promotion to Assistant Fire Chief. He will be replacing soon-to-retire Assistant Chief (and current board member) Kevin Ester. Both great guys who serve the public well.

Definitely not old, but actually very new. A little look at what’s coming... mid-November.

Definitely not old, but actually very new. A little look at what’s coming... mid-November.

Great shot of the Mission Valley crews.

Marcus Tarver was born and raised in San Diego. He attended Crawford High School and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Mar...cus played professional football and was a free agent with the Denver Broncos. He eventually earned a degree in education. After graduating college, he returned to San Diego and joined the SD Fire Department. He served San Diegans for 28 years and retired as a fire engineer. Marcus‘ dream was to someday purchase land and retire in Texas. In 2017, he and his family moved to Lyons where they enjoyed their 11-acre property near Lake Somerville. Marcus passed away on July 8, 2020. This is a tribute to Marcus’ memory by the members of the SDFD 90th Basic Fire Academy. #firefighter #RIP See more

Someone was asking about the layout of the new canteen.

By now, I think most have seen the news about the ship fire in San Diego Bay today. We'll try to get some pictures soon. But.... a quick shout out to the museum volunteers who also staff a mobile canteen for San Diego Fire-Rescue. They responded today to help firefighters rehab in this heat. Not many know that Firehouse Museum volunteers do more than just give tours, so we thought we'd give them a quick shout out.

On June 26, 2020 shortly before 2 p.m., SD Fire-Rescue dispatchers received calls about a house fire on Branicole Lane in Rancho Peñasquitos. Fortunately, no o...ne was hurt. An American flag was spared by the firefighters working the incident and the homeowner was grateful and appreciative. One of the SDFD captains asked if a couple of the crew members could have the honor of folding the flag and the homeowner not only agreed but also saluted. This fire consumed a car parked in the garage and did damage to both levels of the home. It took nearly two hours to get the fire completely out. Three adults were displaced. Capt. R. Vigil (44/B) See more

Know your history; know your buildings.

Despite all of the COVID, your San Diego firefighters are still going to structure fires. This one was in La Jolla yesterday. Another one in Valencia Park right now.

Here's a great video from the San Diego City Clerk showing Adams Avenue in around 1973. Those who have worked Engine 18 will recognize many of the sights. One cool thing is that the Trolley Barn is still standing. https://youtu.be/kn7zTC3KN_4

The Firehouse Museum is being featured on Ken Kramer's About San Diego show May 3 at 4PM. Tune in and check it out! Here's a direct link to the original show from April 30: https://video.kpbs.org//episode-82-thursday-april-30-ayig/

Hoping everyone has a great Easter, even though they can't be together. Our thoughts are with those working this holiday, especially in these trying times.

As the sun set tonight, many families are unable to spend a Passover Seder with their families. This will all be over soon. From our family to yours, chag sameash.

It's not just all COVID, all the time these days.

A cool throwback from our friends at the San Diego Police Department Museum. Pirsch’s served the department into the mid 1980’s. One, Foam Tender 28, in service until just a few years ago, was donated to our museum and is currently under restoration.