Through the Years Anaheim’s fire and emergency services have been there for us Things started to evolve in the 1870s with volunteers who served as Anaheim’s first firefighters, using buckets and other gear on wagons. We took a big step forward in 1915 when Anaheim bought our first ladder truck and hired full-time firefighters. Our first professional firefighters were on duty around the clock and lived at Anaheim’s first fire station at City Hall. But those initial days were still nothing like today. Our first fire chief, appointed in 1926, not only oversaw firefighting but also handled trash collection. The department is made up of more than 200 sworn firefighters and paramedics, with more than 50 engines, trucks, ambulances and other vehicles (including our antique engine!). Our fire department is nearly as old as Anaheim with a fascinating and sometimes funny history. There was no city fire department in the earliest days of young Anaheim in the late 1800s. Our German American homesteaders would rely on each other when a house, barn or business caught fire. Our city’s newest fire station is going up just across from Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The station, our 12th, will house a new fire company to serve the growing area around the stadium, which will bring help even faster and ease reliance on existing stations. Our newest station will also honor Anaheim’s fire history by housing our oldest antique fire engine dating back to the 1920s. Today, Anaheim Fire & Rescue is Orange County’s largest city fire, medical and emergency services department. 15 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Above: Our oldest antique fire engine: part of a rich history
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