Healdsburg's First Volunteer Fire Department

photo: Members of the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company in front of the New Healdsburg City Hall Circa 1887. Photo courtesy Bob Taylor, former Healdsburg Fire Chief

The Healdsburg Fire Department had its incipience in the year 1858 in the shape of a Hook and Ladder Company, which was established, with Henry D. Lee as Foreman, by a subscription raised among the members. (History of Sonoma County, 1880) The hand pulled Hook and Ladder Company under the direction of Henry Lee was similar to the one shown in the picture. It carried ladders, water buckets hooks for pulling down burning walls and ceilings. The apparatus shown was purchased in 1882 for $325 and was housed in the City Hall on the Matheson St. side where 2 large doors appear on the left side of the picture. The City hall contained two stalls for fire equipment and there was space on the second floor for an office and crews quarters. It was the only Healdsburg Fire Department Station to have a fire pole.

Instructions for Fire Bell: Paste this in Your Hat or Some Other Conspicuous Place

The following fire alarm and signals for meetings have been established by the department

District No. 1 - One tap after rapid ringing. Bounded on the north by North street, east by East street south and west by railway track. District No. 2 - Two slow taps after rapid ringing. Bounded on the north by city limits, south by North street, east by Johnson and East street, west by railway track. District No. 3 – Three slow taps after rapid ringing. Bounded on the north by city limits, south by North street, east by city limits, west by East and Johnson streets. District No. 4 - Four slow taps after rapid ringing. Bounded on the north by North street, south by railway track, east by city limits, and west by East Street

Signals for fireman’s meetings are as follows:

Alert Hose company, two taps of the fire bell.

Rescue Hook and Ladder company, three taps

Alert Chemical Engine, four taps

Department meeting, five taps

(Healdsburg Tribune January 18, 1900)

The fire bell in front of the fire station was used to alert the fireman of a fire or meeting. The above signals were used so that the hand drawn equipment could be brought to the vicinity of the alarm. Either smoke or residents then directed the companies to the scene. The current bell is the second one purchased by the city. The first bell was destroyed in 1881 when the building adjacent to the bell tower caught fire and the fire exposed the tower. The original bell shattered when the tower collapsed and a new bell was purchased in 1882. The second bell served as the fire alarm until 1925 when it was replaced by a siren. (Healdsburg Enterprise August 21, 1925)