Newport Beach Fire Department
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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.
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Newport Beach Fire Department - Michael J. Novak
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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.