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Seattle Fire Department History Station 21 Headquarters / Station 10 App. 125 inside Station 20 Fireboat "Snoqualmie" Engine room of fireboat "Duwamish"
On this page, we will attempt to chronicle the history of the fire stations and apparatus of the Seattle Fire Department, beginning with the "volunteer" department, progressing through the establishment of the "paid" department in 1889, continuing through the horse-drawn era and onto the motorized apparatus, eventually ending with the newest rig on the SFD roster. The LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT is in possession of hundreds of photographs, documents, and historical data that we've collected and preserved over the last 40-plus years, which we hope to include on this page. With the possible exception of some temporary structures in the early days, our plan is to include photographs of every fire station that has existed in the city of Seattle, with accompanying street locations, in-service dates, and any noteworthy data. We also intend to include photos of every piece of fire apparatus the S.F.D. has had on its roster from the beginning of the "paid" department in 1889, to the present, including pre-1889 volunteer equipment, and apparatus acquired through annexations, with appropriate captions for each photo. For those rigs and stations that underwent major modifications, we will attempt to include photos of each configuration. In addition to the dozens of motorized apparatus the SFD has purchased since 1910, we will attempt to include all 19 horse-drawn steamers, the 3 chemical wagons, the 9 ladder trucks, and hopefully, the 35 horse-drawn hose wagons . . . and the water tower, the chief's buggies, and all the fireboats. Developing this page will be a huge job, and we will work on the project as time allows. We suggest you check this page from time to time to see our progress. The photos below are a "sampling" of what we hope will be a comprehensive photographic history of Seattle Fire Department stations and apparatus. All photos on this page, and on this website are the property of the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT, unless otherwise noted. Photos and information contained on this website may not be reproduced in any form without express permission from the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT or the owner of the photo as listed in the photo credits.  We are still in the beginning stages of creating this page, but eventually you'll be able to navigate directly to all the categories below. We will be continuing with the "fire stations" and "motorized" sections soon. It's a large page, so it may take a few moments for all the photos to "load". MAIN MENU: FIRE STATIONS HORSE-DRAWN APPARATUS: Steamers Ladder trucks Chemical engines Water tower Hose wagons Chief's buggies Miscellaneous MOTORIZED APPARATUS: 1910-1919 1920-1929 1930-1939 1940-1949 1950-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 FIREBOATS Fire Stations of the Seattle Fire Department Total of 97 stations beginning in 1890 + Volunteer Stations, Temporary Quarters, Alarm Centers, Sub-Stations, Annexed Stations, Fireboat Bunk Shacks, Medic Quarters, Training Facilities & Maintenance Shops Primary Stations Numbered 1 thru 41  SFD Temporary Headquarters (1889-1890) 3rd Ave & University St Photo taken: 1890 Temporary canvas-roofed structure was built after Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889 Occupied until Nov 1, 1890 when SFD moved into new Headquarters shown below Torn down: 1890 Current use of property: Commercial structure - Central Business District Station 1  SFD Headquarters (1890-1903) / Fire Station #1 (1890-1937) 7th Ave & Columbia St Photo taken: 1910 This structure served as Headquarters until 1903 at which time Headquarters moved to Station 10 Station 1 continued to remain the quarters for several companies until it finally closed for good in 1937
NOTE: The bell in the top of the hose tower is currently on display at the Museum of History & Industry - Seattle WA The "1890" granite block seen above the two center bay door openings has been preserved by the LRFD - Seattle WA
 SFD Fire Station #1 (1890-1937) 7th Ave & Columbia St Photo taken: 1916, after station reconfigured due to Columbia Street re-grade in 1913 After the fire department moved out in 1937, the building was used by the Office of Civilian Defense until it was demolished for construction of the freeway Torn down: 1961 Current use of property: Freeway onramp
Photo taken: February, 1961 - showing original "front" of station
Photo taken: February, 1961 - showing detail of "1890" granite block
Photo taken: February, 1961 - just prior to demolition
Station 2
SFD Fire Station #2 (1890-1906) 3rd Ave & Pine St Photo taken: 1901 Torn down: Approx. 1907 Current use of property: Macy's Department Store
SFD Fire Station #2 (1906-1921) 3rd Ave & Pine St Photo taken: 1907
SFD Fire Station #2 (1906-1921) 3rd Ave & Pine St Photo taken: 1916 after addition of 5th bay Current use of property: Macy's Department Store
SFD Fire Station #2 (1921-present) 4th Ave & Battery St Photo taken: 1937 
SFD Fire Station #2 (1921-present) 4th Ave & Battery St Photo taken: 1989
Chemical 2
SFD Chemical Engine House #2 (1890-1904) Broadway & Terrace St Photo taken: 1890
SFD Chemical Engine House #2 (1890-1904) Broadway & Terrace St Photo taken: 1901 Torn down: Approx. 1910 Current use of property: Landscaped triangle bordered by Boren Ave, Broadway & Terrace St
Chemical 3
SFD Chemical Engine House #3 (1893-1903) 1st Ave W & W Lee St Photo taken: 1901 Current use of property: Saint Anne's School
~ MORE STATIONS COMING SOON ~
Fire
Apparatus of the Seattle Fire Department
Total of 19 purchased between 1878 & 1909
 ~ End of an era ~ The last run of a horse-drawn rig in the Seattle Fire Department Engine 35 - June 6, 1924 (Replaced by 1924 Seagrave 800 GPM Triple Combination Pumper) Photo Credit: Pemco Webster & Stevens Collection - MOHAI
Horse-Drawn Steamer #1 1878 Gould 550 GPM (3rd size) "Seattle One" in Volunteer Department (Served at Engine 1 & 4) Shown here in Reserve Photo taken: 1900 at Station 4 - 4th Ave & Battery St Sold after 1900 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #2 1882 Gould 350 GPM (4th size) "Washington Two" in Volunteer Department (Served at Engine 2, 3 & 6) Shown here as Engine 6 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 6 - 23rd Ave S & E Yesler Way Sold after 1909 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #3 1889 Ahrens 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 1, 9, 7, 25, 12 & 13) Shown here as Engine 7 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 7 - 15th Ave E & E Harrison St Sold after 1918 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #4 1889 Ahrens 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 2, 3, 11, 17 & 35) Shown here as Engine 3 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 3 - 8th Ave S & S Main St Sold after 1924 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #5 1893 Waterous 700 GPM (2nd size) Rebuilt in 1900 with "LaFrance" 2nd size boiler (Served at Engine 3 & 4) Shown here as Engine 4 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 4 - 4th Ave & Battery St Sold after 1908 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #6 1899 American "Metropolitan" 900 GPM (1st size) (Served at Engine 2) Shown here as Engine 2 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 2 - 3rd Ave & Pine St
Horse-Drawn Steamer #6 1899 American "Metropolitan" 900 GPM (1st size) (Served at Engine 2) Shown here as Engine 2 Photo taken: Schwabacher Fire - February 11, 1905
Horse-Drawn Steamer #6 1899 American "Metropolitan" 900 GPM (1st size) (Served at Engine 2) Shown here in preparation for SFD Centennial Celebration Photo taken: 1989 at Last Resort Fire Department Shop/Storage Facility Current status: On display at SFD Museum
Horse-Drawn Steamer #7 1900 LaFrance 900 GPM (1st size) (Served at Engine 1, 9 & 18) Shown here as Engine 2's alternate before going into regular service at E-1 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 2 - 3rd Ave & Pine St Sold after 1921 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #8 1902 American "Metropolitan" 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 6 & 23) Shown here as Engine 23 Photo taken: 1916 at Station 23 - 18th Ave & E Columbia St Sold after 1921 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #9 1903 American "Metropolitan" 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 8, 28 & 15) Shown here as Engine 8 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 8 - Warren Ave N & Lee St Sold after 1920 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #10 1904 Nott 900 GPM (1st size) (Served at Engine 1 & 10) Shown here as Engine 10 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 10 - 3rd Ave S & S Main St Rig motorized in 1916 with Seagrave Two-wheeled Front Drive Tractor Tractor removed in 1921 and steamer scrapped Tractor installed on Steamer #14 in 1921 (See App. 30 below)
Horse-Drawn Steamer #11 1905 LaFrance 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 4, 2 & 18) Shown here as Engine 18 Photo taken: 1909 at Station 18 - Russell Ave NW & NW Market St Sold after 1918 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #12 1906 Ahrens "Continental" 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 3, 4 & 35) Shown here as Engine 4 Photo taken: 1908-1917 at Station 4 - 4th Ave N & Thomas St Sold in 1924 - On display in city park - McCleary, Washington
Horse-Drawn Steamer #13 1907 Nott 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 1 & 21) Shown here as Engine 1 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 1 - 7th Ave & Columbia St Sold after 1915 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #14 1907 American LaFrance "Metropolitan" 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 14) Shown here as Engine 14 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 14 - 1st Ave S & S Holgate St Rig motorized in 1914 with Christie Two-wheeled Front Drive Tractor Christie tractor removed and scrapped in 1921 Seagrave Two-wheeled Front Drive Tractor removed from Steamer #10 and installed on Steamer #14 in 1921 (See App. 30 below) Current status: On display at SFD Museum as "motorized" App. 30
Horse-Drawn Steamer #15 1907 Ahrens "Continental" 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 3 & 19) Shown here as Engine 3 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 3 - Terry Ave & Alder St Sold after 1921 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #16 1907 Nott 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 6) Shown here as Engine 6 Photo taken: 1907 at Station 6 - 23rd Ave S & E Yesler Way Sold after 1920 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #17 1909 Ahrens-Fox "Continental" 700 GPM (2nd size) (Served at Engine 19 & 3) Shown here as Engine 3 Photo taken: 1916 at Station 3 - Terry Ave & Alder St Sold after 1918 - Current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Steamer #18 1909 Nott 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 7 & 21) Shown here as Engine 21 Photo taken: 1916 at Station 21 - Greenwood Ave N & N 73rd St Sold after 1922 - Current status unknown We are searching for a better photo of Horse-Drawn Steamer #18
Horse-Drawn Steamer #19 1909 Nott 550 GPM (3rd size) (Served at Engine 8 & 11) Shown here as Engine 11 Photo taken: 1916 at Station 11 - Densmore Ave N & N 45th St Sold after 1921 - Current status unknown We are searching for a better photo of Horse-Drawn Steamer #19
Fire
Apparatus of the Seattle Fire Department
Total of 9 purchased between 1884 & 1907
Horse-Drawn Ladder Truck #0 1884 Babcock Village Service Truck Originally purchased by the Volunteers in 1884 - Hand-Drawn Strengthened & arranged for horses in 1890 (Served at Truck 1 & 3) Shown here as Truck 1 Photo taken: 1900 at Station 4 - 4th Ave & Battery St Sold in 1910 - current status unknown
Horse-Drawn Ladder Truck #1 1889 Preston 65' Aerial Ladder Truck &nbs |
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