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The Beginning
Back in the fall of 1888, the only firefighting organization in Fallbrook
was a bucket brigade. The only water supply was from well windmills and
tanks. When a fire was discovered, a church bell rang out the alarm and
everyone within hearing distance would join in to fight the fire.
Unfortunately, in 1890 the second block on main street burned completely
to the ground.
In 1921, Mr. John Clark became the first California Division of Forestry
Fire Warden assigned to the Fallbrook area. When a fire occurred, Fire
Warden Clark would hand out canteens, wet sacks, shovels and other
miscellaneous equipment to anyone in sight and direct them to fight the
fire.
Equipment In Place
The first piece of firefighting equipment, a hose card, was acquired in
1926. It was pulled to a fire by available manpower and used in
conjunction with the newly installed water system on Main Street. Water
for the new mainline came from a reservoir located on what is now the east
end of Dougherty Street.
In 1928, a county owned Model "A" ford fire truck was stationed in
Fallbrook under the auspices of the California Division of Forestry
(C.D.F.). It was stored on the Tax May's Fallbrook garage. Vic Westfall
was Fallbrook's first volunteer Fire Chief.
Volunteer Fire Department
In 1931 the Model "A" truck was relocated to California Conservation Corps
Camp and a replacement 1930 dodge fire truck was stowed at Marr's Garage.
Carl Palm was then the Volunteer Fire Chief and the Assistant Chief was
William G. Thurber.
In 1934, the C.D.F. station was constructed at Red Mountain and the fire
truck moved to that location . About 1942, the town of Fallbrook received
a 1941 pumper trailer, fire hose, ladders and a pump kit from the office
of Civil Defense. A 1938 V8 Ford Chassis, donated by the Fallbrook High
School, was converted into a fire truck at the high school bus barn by
volunteer firemen under the direction of then Volunteer Fire Chief, Bob
Aaberg. About 1945, Carroll Huscher became the Volunteer Fire Chief and
later that year Assistant chief Bill Thurber left for two years of Army
service. During his absence, the volunteer fire department fell apart and
the pumper was sold.
Upon his return, Bill Thurber organized the Fallbrook Volunteer Fire Department by a certificate signed by thirteen volunteers and recorded with the County Recorder's Office on April 26, 1947.
In May of that year, a war surplus General Detroit triple combination fire truck was donated by the Chamber of Commerce and the Fallbrook Rotary Club.
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Chief Thurber
1930-1977
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| The Volunteer Department received continual support by donations
from clubs, citizens and by fund raising activities put on by volunteer
firefighters.
In April 1948, the E & J resuscitator became available and the towns
people were asked for donations to purchase one. When donations fell short
of the purchase price, the Rotary Club made up the difference.
By July 1948, Fallbrook was one of the first fire departments to use
short-wave radio between units, from units to station, and from units to
aircraft. Chief Thurber and several volunteers had an old Waco biplane
that was used for aerial survey. Formation of Fire Protection District
Beginning in 1949, Chief Thurber let the department use his one ton 4x4
military truck which was converted onto a water tanker.
Also in 1949, a financial committee was set up with the chamber of
commerce asking each club in town to have a representative on this
committee. Four people attended the meeting and the decision was made to
educate the public about the advantages of becoming a local fire district.
The Fallbrook Local Fire District was formed in 1953. A change on the
state law made it more advantageous to become a fire protection district,
so the Fallbrook Local Fire District under the Fire Protection District
Act of 1961, was reorganized as the Fallbrook Fire Protection District.
The First full time paid fireman (Ralph Lash) was hired on August 13,
1957. New Headquarters and Growth
In 1947, the fire department was located at Bill Thurber's welding shop at
1019 South Main Street. In December 1963, the department through federal
matching funds constructed a new headquarters at 315 E. Ivy Street and a
new substation at 2180 Winterwarm Drive (station 2).
In 1976, Andy Vanderlaan became the Fire Chief, replacing Chief Bill
Thurber, who retired and resided in the town he helped grow until he
passed away in 1996.
Station 3 opened in 1976 to serve the Olive Hill area. In 1979, Station 4
opened in the Monserate Mobile Home Park to serve the Pala Mesa area.
Station 5 opened in 1982 in the Bonsall area.
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Chief Vanderlaan
1976-1996
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In 1987, the Fallbrook Fire Protection District reorganized with the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Department (CSA-7) to form the North County Fire Protection District.
In 1989, the district implemented the Emergency Medical Defibrillator
Program. The District implemented its Alternate Advanced Life Support
Program in 1990 with the first single paramedic program in San Diego
County.
Chief Vanderlaan retired from the District in 1996 to head up the Western
Fire Chiefs Association, now also located in Fallbrook. Chief Ed Burcham
took over and is the current CEO. Emergency Services Today
The district currently has 6 fire stations, 5 of which are staffed with
full paid personnel supplemented by reserve Fire Fighters and one of which
are all volunteer. The district's primary service area is approximately 90
square miles with an estimated population of 45,000 people. The department
also provides emergency medical services for 40 additional square miles
outside the primary service area. There are 60 full time emergency
services personnel, 14 support personnel, 20 reserve firefighters and 33
volunteer firefighters. The district is made up of 2 divisions, Fallbrook
and Rainbow. The North County fire Protection District Board is the
governing body for both divisions. The Rainbow Divisions has a local
advisory board who coordinates the operational activities and make recommendations to the North county Fire Protection District Board.
The North County Fire Protection board consists of 5 members elected at
large. They serve 4 year staggered terms which begin in December.
The communities of Fallbrook, Rainbow and Bonsall are considered to be one
of the most desirable places to live in Southern California. The current
population growth and district expansion is resenting many new challenges
and opportunities for the district. |
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