Source: The FIREMAN'S GRAPEVINE, March 1964

Fireboat No. 4 on the ways in Seattle.
1961

The Story of Fire Boat Four
By Bethel F. Gifford, July 1961

PDF Version

Source: Bruce Norman Collection

Boat 4 off Palos Verdes
February 22, 1962

Los Angeles purchased Fireboat No. 4 as a part of a master plan for long-range port protection. The $639,000 boat is rated at 9000 gpm at 150 psi and carries 550 gallons of foam solution for petrochemical fires. Its super maneuverability features includes the capability of moving side-to-side and back-and-forth by means of jet-stream nozzles. The boat, commissioned in 1962, was later renamed the Bethel F. Gifford in honor of the late LAFD battalion chief whose research and efforts were primarily responsible for the fireboat's innovations.

                               FIREBOATS by Paul Ditzel.

 

LAFD-PRESS RELEASE
February 22, 1962

F R O N T C O V E R

L..A.'s brand new fire boat leads her elder sisters, Fire Boat #2 and Fire Boat #1 up the main channel as she arrives in the Port of Los Angeles on February 22, 2962

The New Girl
By Lee Zitko, April 1962
PDF Version

F R O N T   C O V E R
IN
M E M O R I A M

   Assistant Chief Bethel F. Gifford, Division III, L.A.F.D. passed away on January 18, 1964 while on active duty.

   Chief Gifford was recognized as a dedicated, sincere and progressive public servant throughout his career of 35 years as a fireman. He was admired by his fellow workmen and highly respected for his opinions and suggestions by every major manufacturer of fire fighting apparatus and equipment.

   This month's "Portrait of a Fireman," is dedicated to Chief Bethel F. Gifford.

Portrait of a fireman-Bethel F. Gifford
March 1964
PDF Version

F R O N T C O V E R

   Fireman Edward F. Weaver holds a model of the 1 1/2 inch nozzle float that members of Fireboat 4, "A" Platoon, are currently experimenting with. The article, "A Look at Our New Underwharf Firefighting Equipment," that appears in this magazine, discusses some recent improvements in the Department's 2 1/2-inch floating monitors.

                     ---Photo by Chuck Peterson

A Look at Our New
Underwharf firefighting Equipment PDF

F R O N T  C O V E R

   Adorned bye beautiful Fire Service Day Queen Margaret Mason (and their respective crews), L.A.F.D.'s Fire Boats 2, 4 and 1 display the gold-lettered names newly affixed to their bows (see the story in this issue).
                                         ---Photo by Lyons.

 

Three Fire Boats are Christened
May 1965
PDF Version
Source: The FIREMAN'S GRAPEVINE, March 1988

F R O N T   C O V E R

Major Emergency in Harbor

    It took 26 Los Angeles City Fire Companies and 5 Fire Boats over two hours to extinguish this difficult fire in the San Pedro area. First arriving fire units reported 300' of Berth 77 on fire and spreading to adjacent boats. Loss estimated to be over $1,500.000 to the wharf and six boats. No injuries were reported and the fire is under investigation.

March, 1988 Photo by Mike Meadows

Wharf Fire

1968

Source: Battalion Chief Larry Schneider

November 1974

Source: Battalion Chief Larry Schneider

Captain Brown

November 1974

Source: Battalion Chief Larry Schneider
Wharf Fire
1974
14 Additional Photos

Source: Battalion Chief Larry Schneider

April 19, 1982

Source: Battalion Chief Larry Schneider

April 19, 1982
 
LA's Fireboat 4 celebrates
50 years of service to the
port of Los Angeles

By Captain Henry J. Amparan,
Fire Boat 4, "C" Platoon

 

 

PANORAMIC PHOTO COLLECTION
of
F I R E  B O A T  4

By Bruce Ecker
November 2013

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