When the communities of San Pedro and Wilmington were annexed to Los Angeles August 28, 1909, the City inherited a minimum of land-based fire protection and 8 miles of water front fire hazards with no fire boat protection. The City immediately contracted for the services of two privately owned fire fighting tugs, the "Warrior" and the "Falcon," from the Wilmington Transportation Company on a monthly rental basis. No firemen were assigned regularly to these two vessels, but fire fighters from land-based stations went to work aboard them at the scenes of fires. This contract arrangement was used until the "Falcon's" services were discontinued in 1915, and the "Warrior's" services dropped in 1917.
Los Angeles leased these steam and sail equipped tugs, the Warrior and the Falcon, shortly after the city annexed San Pedro and Wilmington August 28, 1909, and the fire department assumed waterfront protection responsibilities.

TROUBLES PILE UP RAPIDLY
AT SAN PEDRO FIRE

Troubles piled up rapidly for firemen at San Pedro yesterday afternoon, when fire was discovered by a watchman in the shaving bin of the mill of the San Pedro Lumber Company. For a time the entire plant was threatened. Here is what happened:
A low bridge compelled the harbor fire company to make a long detour to reach the scene.
Then the water pressure was so poor that the stream scarcely reached the blaze.
The fire tug Warrior arrived, stretched a line of hose across the railroad and just got the water flowing when a switch engine came along and cut the hose.
Then the Southern Pacific tank car equipment got to work, but in a few minutes the tank was drained.
A hose was stretched to the Kerchkoff-Cuzner mill on Smith Island, but something went wrong with the pump on the fire engine.
Finally the water pressure, fire tug, S.P. tank equipment and fire engine all "came back" and the fire was soon subdued. It caused damage estimated at $2500 to the brick and corrugated iron building, to which it was confined.

Newspaper Article, May 1, 1916

The Fire Tugs

Source: Captain Duane Warth Collection


A N N U A L  R E P O R T

 

--OF THE--

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

--OF THE--

 

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

 

CALIFORNIA

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30th, 1911

 

City Fire Department Report

For Year Ending June 30th, 1911


Office of Fire Department, 217 S. Hill St.

                                                    Los Angeles, CAL., June 30th, 1911

To The Honorable, the Mayor, the City Council and the Board of
     Fire Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles.

Gentlemen:

SAN PEDRO.

    Two Tug Boats equipped with Underwriters Fire Pumps, capable of delivering 750 gallons of water per minute, through three 1 1/8 nozzles, and also equipped with monitor deck nozzles, have been leased from the Wilmington Transportation Co.  One of these boats is under steam at all times day and night, ready for immediate use in case of fire.  These boats have been equipped by the Department with 2000 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose on each boat, also deluge nozzles, three-way siamese, fire extinguishers, ladders and all necessary fire fighting appliances.

 

Respectfully,                                             

ARCHIE J. ELY,                     

Chief Engineer.            

 
 



TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT

 

OF THE

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

OF THE

 

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

CALIFORNIA

_________
_______________
_________

 

FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1912


Fire Department Report

For Year Ending June 30th, 1912


Office of Fire Department, 217 S. Hill St.

                                                    Los Angeles, CAL., June 30th, 1912

To The Honorable, the Mayor, the City Council and the Board of
     Fire Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles.

Gentlemen:

    Extension was made to the Salt Water Fire Service line at present installed in San Pedro, and telephone service was installed at both San Pedro and Terminal Island in connection with the Fire Tugs, a box being placed in close proximity to each salt water hydrant with terminals at the siamese inlets of salt water mains and on the Fire Tugs in order to give efficient service at fires.

 

Respectfully,                                             

ARCHIE J. ELY,                     

Chief Engineer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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