Burbank - Historic Photographs

Two photos of the Burbank station, on Wabash north of San Carlos, which served from Jul 1925 - Feb 1974. This building was demolished in 1974 to make way for expansion of the Burbank School. Photo taken 4 Feb 1974.

left: Official Photograph Santa Clara County

Then and now: The house which served as the Burbank Station from 1974 until it was closed in 1978 when the Zone 1 territory was contracted to San Jose. The house is located at Scott St and Flagg Av, near Highway 280 and Bascom Av. It still has the oversize garage and a flagpole. Photo on left is from the late 1970s. The photo on the right is from 2002.

Wayne Sorenson Collection

Three shots of Burbank Fire District's 1924 Seagrave. It had a 500gpm pump, and a 200 gallon tank. In the two color photos, the engine is marked up, perhaps for a fundraiser, advertising "75¢ pitchers" and "hay-ride to the 'Awful' Saloon".

Wayne Sorenson Collection

Burbank Fire District's 1925 Ford Model T/American LaFrance, with twin 35 gallon chemical tanks.

Wayne Sorenson Collection

Two 1920s Model T Fords owned by the Burbank Fire District.

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

1936 Dodge, Burbank Fire Protection District No. 1. Photo taken after 1947.

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

1936 Newspaper article showing delivery of the 1936 Dodge. This digitally processed photo was taken of a framed enlargement of a microfiche photo of the original article clipping, so the quality is not great. The caption reads,

"?? 20, 1936; Burbank Gets Modern Fire Equipment; Burbank is now equipped with a modern fire truck, shown here. John C. Erhard, truck manager of Osen Motor Sales Company which furnished the chassis, is shown congratulating J. N. Hedberg (left) who equipped it with fire apparatus. The new truck cost $1500. - Lomar Engraving Service Photo"

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

This rig was a 1947 GMC/Van Pelt. This rig was inherited by County Fire in the Burbank Fire District consolidation. Photo date unknown, probably circa 1970. A classified ad in Western Fire Journal, February 1972, shows this photo with the following text:

FOR SALE One 1947 GMC 500-GPM pumper, 350 gal. tank. Vehicle in reserve but in "first-in" condition, maintained daily. Equipped to Pamphlet 19 and sold with radio if public fire agency. $2,500.00. Submit bids to: Central Fire Protection District, 528 Tully Rd. San Jose, Ca 95112. Attn: Harry Goertz (408-294-2234). Brochure listing equipment available. Terms considered.

Note that this rig had a squirreltail hard suction hose wrapped around the front, an unusual cabinet along the side where hard suction hoses or ladders would normally hang, and it's bubblegum light is mounted on a pole in front of it's twin hosereels because there is no roof on which to mount it.

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

This 1953 GMC/Van Pelt was Reserve Engine 102. It had a 750gpm pump. It was inherited in the Burbank Fire District consolidation.

left: Wayne Sorenson Collection

right: Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

This 1954 or 1956 (sources conflict) Peterbilt/Coast was owned by the Burbank Fire District No.1, prior to it's merging with County Fire. It was then acquired by County fire during the consolidation, and served as Reserve Engine 103, as indicated by the "R" below it's unit designator number, under the driver's seat, in the later black & white photo above. It had a 1000gpm pump, a 500 gallon tank, and a Hall-Scott Motor. This rig also had it's warning light mounted on a post. Photo dates are unknown, but color photo is pre-consolidation (1970) and black & white photo is post-consolidation.