The present location of Engine 18 is 2616 South Hobart Blvd., where it has faithfully performed its duties for the last 62 yeas, having been built in 1904.

In an attempt to relive a few of the memories of the company with the many men who shared in its history we consulted the City of Los Angeles City report of 1905 to see just what things were like in 1904 when the company was put in service.

The typical company personnel at this time was Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer, 2 Drivers and two Hosemen. At present, the company personnel is Captain, Engineer and 3 Firemen.

The salaries of 1904 were, for Chief Engineer $250 per month, for Battalion Chief $150, a Captain $115, Engineer $110 and a Hoseman or Ladderman was $60 to $80 per month based on 3 yearly steps.

Checking along a little further we figure out the costs of putting such a company into service. The lot cost was $900, structure $9234, of a pumper engine $4500, a hosewagon for $1650, horses cost $900 and the harness to outfit them $178, chemical hose cost $70 while 2 1/2 inch hose ran $1500. This made the total costs just under $20,000 to put a first rate company in use.

Looking a little further it shows what the taxpayer will spend to keep this company in operation for a year. Moneys for salaries was $7111, barley and bran cost $75, horse shoeing $60, veterinary $2, apparatus repairs placed at $37, coal oil $12, soda and acid $12, drugs $1.50, electric lights (Engine Co.18 and 19 were first complete electric houses) $84, furniture $52. Thus the total costs of just under $7500. While still on money it is interesting to note the Fire Department budget showed $176,235 paid for salaries, $9106 for horses, $9735 for hay and a credit of $1666 for horses sold during the year.

The Fire Dept. responded to 760 alarms during the year. The present company will match this number by itself. There were 688 actual fires with a property loss of $615,630. The classification of a large fire loss was $50 to $150,000 of which the City had two. Fires were extinguished in the following order by the methods of water, buckets of water, chemicals and smothering.
 

Cause of Alarms shows bonfires to be the number one cause but such humorous others as cigar butts, hot rivets, wool picker and smoldering ruins.

The Fire Department laid 272,750 feet of hose and raised 271 feet of ladder, very modest by today's standards. Typical of the new equipment ordered during the year was two Knot's steam engines, a Metropolitan engine 3rd class, six Seagrave combination wagons, a 85 foot quick raising spring ladder truck and of course, this was the year the Gorter Water Tower was purchased. It is still preserved by the Fire Department as it was only recently retired from service.

The hydrant office reports 700 hydrants in service. Compare this with the present number of more than 42,000.

The Fire Prevention Bureau (as of that day) inspected 2986 buildings. It abated the following hazards, wooden ash trays, loose stove pipes, dangerous lights and wooden cuspidors. They also provided 21 barrels and pails as auxiliary fire fighting units.

The City contained 44 square miles compared to the current area of approximately 464 square miles. The population was only 210,000 a far cry from the present 2 1/2 million people. The assessed value of property within the City at this time was $156 million, the tax rate was $1.20. There were 61 schools, 1550 manufacturing plants with 12,000 employees which produced $45 million worth of goods.

Reading the report from Civil Service it shows the examination for Fireman and Policeman were basically the same however, a Policeman had to demonstrate his ability to ride a bicycle. The required height was 5'6", weight 135 lbs. If the waist measurement exceeded the chest measurement it meant an automatic disqualification. The written portion of the examination was weighted 70% and tested ability at spelling, penmanship, arithmetic. The practical tested the ability to run, jump, climb and general strength, really not to far from the current type of entrance examination.