Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department

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In 1911 Blue Lake was an active center of commerce and activity for this inland valley and the surrounding mountain regions. The millions of feet of timber logged and milled in the vicinity supported hundreds of woodsmen and saw mill workers. The ranches and farms supplied meat, produce, and dairy products. The link to the coast was the railroad running though town, which made this an important business center. Blue Lake was incorporated as a city in 1910, reflecting the stability of the residents and businesses. December 5th, 1911 fire swept the business District of Blue Lake and destroyed a full square block, before being halted with the assistance of Korbel, Glendale, Arcata, and Eureka. This event was the catalyst for organizing our own Fire Department The City Board of Trustees immediately got underway establishing Blue Lake Fire Company, and installing a water system consisting of 12 hydrants and a 2 water main. The Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department was formally organized December 28, 1911, with 30 charter members ; Charlie Crowden, the Conductor of the Arcata and Mad River Railroad, was chosen as the first Chief. With a water system established, the City Trustees purchases the first piece of fire-fighting apparatus- a hose cart. This was later supplemented with another hose cart and a hose wagon, all hand drawn. In 1941, the firemen voted to sell the older hose cart to the Arcata Fire Department for $20. The first motorized apparatus was a new 1929 Chevrolet chassis. Charlie Crowden appeared before the City Council in February 1929 and asked for the Chevrolet chassis with a pump installed, agreeing that the firemen would equip the chassis. The council ordered a petition be circulated showing a majority of property owners in favor. In April 1929 the city took delivery of a bare Chevrolet chassis from Gustafsen-Jensen Chevrolet for $725.00. The siren on the truck was also purchases for an additional $40.00. This truck served the city well into the 1960's. The formation of the Blue Lake Fire Protection District in 1952 allowed the purchase of the next apparatus a new 1953 Ford Pumper. It's interesting that the city and district assets remained separate, the old Chevrolet belonging to the City and the new Ford serving the newly formed 16 square mile Fire District. Even the hose and equipment was kept separate. The 1953 Ford served us well ; it was sold to the Korbel Volunteer Fire Department in 1988. We've come a long way from the ringing of the fire-bell to a radio dispatched pager system. In the earliest days of the Department, firemen were alerted to fire calls by the ringing of the fire bell.