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The territorial section
maps of Sacramento County refer to Arden as “Rancho Del Paso.” Early 1940
records describe it as undeveloped and sparsely populated. Basically an
agricultural area with a population of approximately 2,000 people, it
contained two stores, one school, two service stations and three large hop
ranches and comprised nine square miles.
Evolving from the efforts
of a close-knit group of citizens calling themselves the “Sierra Oaks Fire
Protection League,” a “petition for formation of a fire district” was
submitted to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on January 4, 1943.
With the unanimous Board approval of County Resolution #5783, and the
appointment of F. McElwain Howard, A. J. Argante and Crawford Cox as the
first Board of Fire Commissioners, the Arden Fire District was born.
One of the first actions
taken by the newly appointed Commissioners was to appoint Dwight Robert
Jerauld as the District’s first Fire Chief. Chief Jerauld’s career began as
a part-time Fire Chief on June 22, 1943. On October 1, 1953, he became the
first full-time Fire Chief.
The first “formal” budget
was approved, June 19, 1943, in the amount of $5,000. Also in June, the
District was able to purchase its first fire engine through an auction
process from the City of Sacramento for $550. It was a 1924 Reo chemical and
water wagon with a front-mount rotary gear pump. It carried 265 gallons of
water and was nicknamed “Asthma” due to its continuous “coughing, wheezing
and sputtering.” The District also purchased a retired school bus from the
Arden School District for $1. The body of the bus was removed and a
700-gallon tank with a 500 GPM Chrysler pump was installed. The engine was
nicknamed “Herk.”
On July 12, 1943, Arden
took its first steps towards preventing fire with the adoption of its first
ordinance. The ordinance outlined the requirements for burn permits within
the Arden Fire District. Later in the month, on July 26, Arden responded to
its first major fire. It happened to be located in the Arcade Fire District
but “mutual aid” was as important then as it is now. The fire consumed 75
acres of grain, three sheds and a barn. The Arden units were personally
credited for saving two houses. On July 29, 1943, Arden formally adopted its
first volunteer program.
In December 1943, Arden
purchased a plot of land at 2691 Northrop Avenue, which became the first of
three stations for the District. The Commissioners authorized $650 for the
purchase. During the first year, the Arden Fire District and its new
volunteers responded to a total of 16 fire calls –– seven of which were
caused by careless smokers, two by illegal burning of trash and one by
children playing with matches. The cause for the remaining six fires was not
determined.
In 1945, Arden
experienced a major conflagration at the Horst Hop Ranch, south of Fair Oaks
Boulevard. Arden received mutual aid from 11 other county fire departments.
In 1946, Arden bought its
first “custom-built” fire engine. In May 1946, a fire engine was built to
Chief Jerauld’s specifications on a one ton Ford Chassis. It carried a new
style “high-pressure” pump, 500 gallons of water and 400 feet of hose. The
high-pressure pump operated at 800 pounds of pressure. This was the
beginning of Arden’s reliance on the use of high-pressure fog in its
firefighting strategy.
In June 1948, Ed DeLeon
was hired as Arden’s first full-time paid employee. DeLeon is also credited
as being Arden’s first full-time officer as he was hired as a Captain.
The early 50’s saw an
increase in the number of fire stations. Station 2 was constructed at 970
La Sierra in 1950 and a third fire station was built at 2437 Avalon Drive in
1952.
On July 1, 1952, the
Arden Fire District purchased an 1863 Douglas hand pumper for $350 from the
Sacramento Brick Yards. The purchase was intended to preserve a piece of
fire service history and provide a social boost to the many functions and
events the Arden firemen and their families attended off duty. The Douglas
Pump Company of Middletown, Connecticut, built the hand pumper “Pegasus” in
1863. The men of the Arden Fireman’s Association restored it to its original
condition.
On April 1, 1953, Ed Burt
became Arden’s first Assistant Fire Chief and was placed in charge of the
Fire Prevention Bureau.
On October 15, 1954, the
“H Street Corridor” was annexed by the City of Sacramento.
The late 50’s ushered in
improvements in communications. The District purchased 60 Fyrcall radios
(later known as plectrons) to improve the means of alerting off-duty
personnel. Prior to the radio alert system, the men were summoned by two
blasts of an air-raid type siren mounted atop the stations. Later, the
number of the blasts of the siren indicated which zone the fire was in.
During 1957 telephone fire alarm boxes were installed throughout the
District.
On September 1, 1958,
Norman Farmer was appointed as the District’s first Battalion Chief and
assigned as Director of Training. Another first in 1958 was the purchase of
the District’s first aerial ladder truck. It was a 1958 Ford with a 1,250
GPM pump and a 75’ aerial ladder built by American LaFrance. It cost $40,000
new and was designated “Ladder 10” (in 1980, it was reclassified as “Reserve
Truck 5”). It also carried 500 gallons of water.
On October 1, 1958,
Captain Floyd Hill developed Arden’s first formal medical emergency training
program. Hill will always be considered the “father” of Arden’s first aid
program.
In September 1961,
Section 13801 of the Health & Safety Code of the State of California was
amended and designated as the “Fire Protection District Law of 1961.” As a
result of this amendment, Arden was required to change the designation of
its Governing Board from that of “Commissioners” to “Directors” and to
change the District’s designation from “Arden Fire District” to “Arden Fire
Protection District.”
Arden purchased its first
manifold engine in 1963 built by Maxim. The 1963 Ford had a 1250 GPM Hale
pump, a portable manifold system and carried 2,000 feet of 4” hose. The
basic principle for its operation was an innovative new approach to
firefighting. The intent was to provide a large source of water at the scene
of any fire. The engine would respond to the fire, drop the “portable
hydrant” at the scene, and lay a 4” line to the nearest available hydrant.
The advantage of this system was speed and simplicity coupled with the
delivery of large volumes of water at relatively low friction loss.
In June 1965, the City of
Sacramento annexed the Hop Ranches, reducing a large area of protection for
the Arden Fire District. Today, this area is a highly developed section of
land including the residential “Campus Commons” and many large office
complexes.
On January 1, 1968,
Assistant Chief Burt was appointed Fire Chief for the Arden Fire District.
On July 1, 1968, the work
hours of the shift personnel were reduced from 72 hours per week to 67. In
shift-cycle terminology, that meant the men went from a 7 and 1 to a 4 and
1.
In June 1969, Arden
purchased a 1969 Mack Engine. It was the first diesel engine, a 672,
6-cylinder Mack and our first automatic transmission, a Spicer Turbomatic.
The pump was a 1,250 GPM Waterous with a 500-gallon tank. It was purchased
for $42,000 and designated as Engine 7. Captain Bernal Cook is credited for
the innovative design specifications.
In January 1971, property
to the rear of Country Club Centre was purchased (2200 Park Towne Circle)
for $80,000, with the assurance that Butano Drive would soon extend through
to Cottage Way. The station opened in October 1972. The station was
originally designated as Arden Station 3, later becoming American River
Station 6, and finally re-designated as Station 106.
On March 21, 1972, the
Directors approved Ordinance 11, adopting the Uniform Fire Code and
officially establishing a Fire Prevention Bureau.
February 1, 1973, Chief
Edwin Burt retired and Assistant Chief Patrick Parker was appointed Fire
Chief.
On February 1, 1974,
Arden hired its first professional, full-time dispatchers. Prior to this
date, firefighters were assigned to alarm watch.
Effective January 1,
1975, the working hours of shift personnel was reduced from 62 hours per
week to 56 hours per week.
The new station on La
Sierra Drive was dedicated in August 1976. The lot cost $15,000 and the
construction cost was $190,099. Many of the design features used were as a
direct result of input from the department personnel.
In January 1977, Arden
took possession of its first elevating platform, a 1977 Firebird built by
Calavar. The articulating boom had a reach of 90’. It was a “sister” to the
Firebird owned by the City of Sacramento. It was originally designated as
Ladder 11 and then redesignated as Truck 106.
On March 1, 1977, the
Sacramento County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) conducted a
feasibility study on the consolidation of Arden, Arcade, Carmichael and Fair
Oaks Fire Districts. In the final analysis the consolidation of these
Districts was proven not to be a cost effective or efficient move.
On May 16, 1978, the
Arden Fire District joined 16 other county fire departments and formed the
“Fire Districts Insurance Group of Sacramento County,” thus becoming
self-insured for Workers’ Compensation. An approximate $450,000 savings was
realized after the first year of operation.
In 1978, the
effectiveness of fire department operations was greatly improved. In
September the first of several important department operations functionally
consolidated with Arcade and Carmichael under a “Joint Powers Agreement.”
This first step was to blend three existing dispatch systems into one,
highly sophisticated computerized communications center. George Appel,
Communications Supervisor, was soon to become Arden’s first Joint Powers
employee. The new system was to be located at Arcade’s Station 1 (3000
Fulton Avenue).
In October 1978, the
Board of Directors authorized a “Joint Powers Agreement” which effectively
created a “boundary drop” between Arden, Arcade and Carmichael. This action
provided for the best utilization of each district’s personnel and equipment
and insured that the closest engine available would be dispatched.
In light of the
importance placed upon the training of firefighters to facilitate immediate
and skilled response for fire suppression and emergency medical services,
the Board of Directors of the Arden Fire Protection District entered into an
agreement with the Boards of Arcade and Carmichael in December to create a
Joint Powers Training Division. Arden’s Station 6 (2200 Park Towne Circle)
was chosen as the site of the new training facility.
As with any organization
dedicated to the protection of the community, continuing to make
improvements was a top priority. The 1980’s were no exception as changes
occurred on many levels. In January another giant step was taken for
efficiency and overall cost reductions. The Joint Powers Fire Prevention
Bureau was born. Located in the administrative offices of Carmichael’s
Station 9 (5634 Robertson Avenue) the consolidated bureau conducted all fire
prevention activities: inspections, plan checking and enforcement for Arden,
Arcade and Carmichael Fire Districts.
On July 28, 1980,
Assistant Chief James Aalgaard was appointed Fire Chief. In 1983, the
District’s resources included three fire stations, six initial response
engines, 45 full-time firefighters, one secretary, and 25 volunteer
firefighters. On August 1, 1983, the Arden and Carmichael Fire Districts
consolidated, creating the American River Fire Protection District. |
