MORE THAN A MUSEUM: KEEPING LONG BEACH FIRE HISTORY ALIVE
- LB908
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By Brittany Hart Scholten
Information provided by Images of America, Long Beach Fire Dept.
Ever wondered how firefighters raced into danger before flashing lights, sirens, and high-tech engines? The Long Beach Firefighters Museum at the historic Station 10 on Peterson Avenue in Cambodia Town has preserved the department’s past, from its perseverance to success. There, you can find everything from an antique 1907 steam engine to a revolutionary 1914 gas mask to old photographs of the rubble left by Long Beach Fire Station 1 after the 1933 earthquake.
The museum opened in 1983 out of the dedication and passion of the late Herb Bramley, retired Long Beach firefighter, and others who came together to conserve the history of the fire department through photographs collected since the department began in 1897.
“It all started with one fire truck - an Ahrens-Fox,” said Glen Goodrich, retired firefighter and current museum president. The truck belonged to the fire department but was no longer used in fires because it was outdated; however, firefighters used it for special appearances, such as parades. The collection has now grown to over a dozen antique firetrucks, hundreds of historical items, including leather water buckets and fire hose, dozens of antique fire helmets, vintage dispatcher equipment, black-and-white photographs, and a 1914 gas mask/smoke protector invented by Garrett Morgan.
The items throughout the museum help bring firefighting history to life, not just in Long Beach but across the world. From early tools to more modern equipment, visitors can see how people have been battling fires for centuries. One standout piece is a leather bucket from 18th-century Europe, offering a simple but powerful glimpse into how firefighting first began and how communities came together to protect one another long before modern fire engines existed.
To help bring firefighting to life for children, the museum features firetrucks for children to climb and fire uniforms for them to try on. “Children get bored when you’re just walking around and talking at them. Here, they are able to sit on the firetruck, ring the bell, and have a truly hands-on experience,” Glen shared. He can relate to the children’s delight. As a child, every drawing he brought home, starting at age three, was a firetruck (or so he would tell his mom, whether it looked like one or not).
Even though Glen was fascinated by firetrucks and becoming a firefighter from a very young age, he had several careers, including serving in the Air Force, before he became a Long Beach firefighter around the age of 30.
“After the Air Force, I became a firetruck mechanic and had many firefighter friends. One day, I realized ‘There’s gotta be a better life,’ so when the flyer came around to take the test for the department, I went for it,” reminisces Glen.
When visitors come to the museum, folks are led by knowledgeable docents who are retired firefighters, city workers, and mechanics. Glen says, “I like to touch on how we have progressed from the day of water buckets to half-million dollar firetrucks today.” Despite the modernization of the fire service, Glen likes to show how the principles remain the same: “We take water from over here and move it to put out fires and help people.”
The free museum is open to visitors on Wednesday mornings & the 2nd Saturday of every month. Local groups can contact the museum to arrange a special visit at: lbfdmuseum@verizon.net or call (562) 599-3985.
