Newport Beach Fire Department
5/5
()
About this ebook
Michael J. Novak
Using Newport Beach Fire Department archival photographs, author Michael J. Novak, a 29-year veteran of the fire service in Newport Beach, takes the reader on a 100-year journey from the department�s humble beginnings on the sand to its emergence as one of Southern California�s premier fire departments.
Related to Newport Beach Fire Department
Related ebooks
Where's the Orchestra? My Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGeneva: 1940-1970 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Westerns: Aspects of a Movie Genre Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A People's Guide to Orange County Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJohn Hughes FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man Behind the Movies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New York Subway Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConfessions of a Rock N Roll Name Dropper Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLove on the Rocks: Men, Women, and Alcohol in Post-World War II America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of P. J. O'Rourke's Eat the Rich Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFavorite Flies for Colorado: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mourning Bride: "Grief walks upon the heels of pleasure; married in haste, we repent at leisure." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Gregg Easterbrook's The Blue Age Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Haven Firefighters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Candy Men: The Rollicking Life and Times of the Notorious Novel Candy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPennsylvania Lighthouses on Lake Erie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGames of Persuasion: : Exercises in Media Literacy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsU.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Birth to the New Normalcy, 1939-2007 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Travis Club Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Fell's Point Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Please Walk Your Horses up This Hill: A Nantucket Boyhood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll I Needed to Know I Learned from Dragnet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBring Your Own God: The Spirituality of Woody Guthrie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Charlie & Me: A Memoir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBig Bear Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Orange County Fair: A History of Celebration Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAudacious at Any Age: Second Act Strategies from a Career Chameleon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHuntington Beach Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Naples Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSafe at Home Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Walking Tour of Norwalk, Connecticut Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Photography For You
Book Of Legs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Extreme Art Nudes: Artistic Erotic Photo Essays Far Outside of the Boudoir Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Betty Page Confidential: Featuring Never-Before Seen Photographs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The iPhone Photography Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Photographer's Guide to Posing: Techniques to Flatter Everyone Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Digital Photography For Dummies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Photography Exercise Book: Training Your Eye to Shoot Like a Pro (250+ color photographs make it come to life) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPhotography for Beginners: The Ultimate Photography Guide for Mastering DSLR Photography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bombshells: Glamour Girls of a Lifetime Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Exposure Mastery: Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO: The Difference Between Good and Breathtaking Photographs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Edward's Menagerie: Dogs: 50 canine crochet patterns Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cinematography: Third Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Collins Complete Photography Course Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Through the Lens of Whiteness: Challenging Racialized Imagery in Pop Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSee The Light Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Photograph Everything: Simple Techniques for Shooting Spectacular Images Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How the Other Half Lives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5David Copperfield's History of Magic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Humans of New York: Stories Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wisconsin Death Trip Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Humans of New York Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Photography 101: The Digital Photography Guide for Beginners Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Power to the People: The World of the Black Panthers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/59/11 THROUGH THE LENS (250 Pictures of the Tragedy): Photo-book of September 11th terrorist attack on WTC Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegendary Locals of Savannah Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Photography Bible: A Complete Guide for the 21st Century Photographer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Advancing Your Photography: Secrets to Making Photographs that You and Others Will Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jada Pinkett Smith A Short Unauthorized Biography Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Workin' It!: RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Newport Beach Fire Department
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Newport Beach Fire Department - Michael J. Novak
all.
INTRODUCTION
The city of Newport Beach, California, sits along seven miles of Orange County’s finest coastline, often referred to as the Gold Coast. Newport Beach is home to miles of white sand beaches, the finest small boat harbor on the West Coast, and some of the most expensive real estate in the country.
During the 1870s, Newport Bay was a difficult waterway to navigate. Intrepid pioneers established a boat landing beneath the Castaways Bluff, where supplies and building materials could be unloaded and transferred to wagons. The McFadden brothers took over the landing in 1875. Immediately, steamers began bringing in the lumber eagerly sought by builders in the growing city of Santa Ana a few miles inland.
In the late 1880s, the McFaddens, frustrated with the unreliability of the inland waterway and lawsuits involving landowner James Irvine, constructed a pier on the Balboa Peninsula. A rail line was extended to the pier. Ships could now unload their goods in a few hours and be on their way. A small village, called Newport, developed around the wharf. A few miles to the south, Balboa Village began to grow around the well-known Balboa Pavilion, built in 1905. In 1906, these two villages were incorporated into the city of Newport Beach.
The Pacific Electric Red Cars made their way as far as Balboa in 1906, bringing vacationers and investors to the peninsula beaches. Across the bay from the pavilion, a real estate developer by the name of William Collins was building up a sandbar called Balboa Island and selling lots ideal for summer cabins.
In August 1910, fire damaged the meeting room of the Newport Beach City Trustees. Suddenly, the threat of fire was foremost in the minds of both local politicians and residents. On April 17, 1911, Ordinance No. 65, calling for the creation of a volunteer fire department, was passed by the trustees. A volunteer fire chief was appointed. Three hose reels were purchased, along with fire hose. A fire hall was soon built a block away from the pavilion. Many residents and local businessmen quickly joined the ranks of the new department. These volunteers would prove to be a lively bunch. Regular meetings were held, along with dinners and dances at local establishments such as the Balboa Hotel. Bake sales were held to raise money for needed equipment.
In December 1915, Chief Herbert Castle sent a letter to the Long Beach Fire Department inquiring about the availability of two of their used motorized hose wagons. These vehicles, each built on a Rambler chassis, were purchased and delivered to Newport and Balboa in 1916. The Newport Beach Fire Department now had its own motorized fire apparatus.
The best intentions of Newport Beach volunteers were often foiled by the lack of reliable equipment and a primitive city infrastructure. The following description of a typical fire illustrates the difficulties they encountered. In April 1918, several houses caught fire near Balboa Village, including the home of William Collins. An attempt to summon firefighters with the fire bell was thwarted when the bell’s rope broke. Attempts to call Newport Village for help failed when it was discovered that the only telephone line in the area had been damaged by the fire. Balboa volunteers laid out a hose line but found the water pressure to be inadequate. Here, at least, luck was on their side. A call had been put in to the pump house manager just before the telephones went dead. Pump for all you’re worth,
was the message. An eager resident jumped into his car and sped up the beach to sound the alarm in Newport, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Engine No. 1 arrived from Newport Village just in time to prevent an entire block of cottages from going up in flames. In the end, the zeal, dedication, and determination of the volunteers overcame all challenges and carried the day.
A pivotal year for the firefighters was 1920. A. W. Jackson was appointed volunteer fire chief. Chief Jackson would remain on as fire chief until 1927, giving the department much needed stability at the top. Jackson was committed to upgrading equipment and increasing the training of volunteers. He worked tirelessly at getting city trustees and residents interested in approving bonds that would provide funds for a new fire engine and fire station.
Nevertheless, bond measures continued to fail. Newport Engine No. 1 was destroyed in a fire in 1921. Several other destructive fires painfully highlighted the inadequacy of fire protection in the growing community. Ultimately, it was a mandated survey of the city’s firefighting capabilities that spurred the city into action. The abysmal grade Newport received jeopardized favorable insurance rates. Fearing a backlash of criticism from city residents, the trustees scrambled for a solution.
In March 1927, Ordinance No. 315, authorizing the creation of a paid fire department, was passed and adopted by the City of Newport Beach. An American LaFrance Type 75 fire engine was purchased. A new fire station was built and opened in June. A paid fire chief and a fire apparatus driver were hired.
These two individuals, Frank Crocker and Clinton Dickey, became the cornerstones of the present-day Newport Beach Fire Department. The NBFD, now numbering over 150 men and women, has grown into one of the finest fire departments on the West Coast. Over the last 80 years, generations of firefighters wearing the NBFD badge have built the department into the professional organization it is today.