Board of Trustees
Brent Burton, President
Kwame Cooper, Vice President
Javier Mosley, Secretary
Armando Hogan, Los Angeles City Stentorians
Daryl Osby, Los Angeles County Stentorians
Arnett Hartsfield, Historian
Jennifer McIntosh,Treasurer
Michelle Banks, President Emeritus
Akosua Hobert , Education Chairperson
THE HISTORY OF BLACK
FIREFIGHTERS IN
LOS ANGELES
The
facts of this timeline are presented as known by Fire Service Historian and African American Fire
Fighter Museum President, Brent Burton.
DATE
EVENT
1781 City of Los Angeles is founded.
1850 Los Angeles is incorporated as a city.
1857 U.S. Supreme court rules in Dred Scott vs. Sandford. A black man has no rights that a white man is bound to respect because blacks are not citizens.
1886 Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is organized as a paid Department.
1888 Sam Haskins, born a slave in 1840 from Virginia is listed in the census
as
an employed Fireman for the city of Los Angeles and assigned to LAFD Engine
Company #4.
1892 Sam Haskins is appointed as a LAFD Call Man and assigned to Engine 2, making him the first black man hired by the LAFD.
1895 Sam Haskins is fatally injured on November 19, while responding down First Street to a fire call. When the steamer he was riding on, hit a bump in the road, Haskins lost his balance and fell between the steamer’s boiler and the wheel. It took firemen and citizens ten minutes to remove the wheel. He was carried back to LAFD Engine 2’s quarters where he died that night.
1896 U.S. Supreme Court rules in Plessy vs. Ferguson that “Separate But Equal” is the law of the land.
1897 George Bright is hired as the second black fireman in the LAFD.
1900 William Glenn is hired as the third black fireman in the LAFD.
1902 George Bright obtains the endorsement of the Second Baptist Church and
is promoted to Lieutenant at . This makes him the first black officer at the LAFD All black firemen are segregated into LAFD Hose Company #4 on Loma Drive
near Beverly Blvd.
William Glenn leaves the LAFD and transfers to the Police Department making
him the third black policeman in Los Angeles.
1903 The Civil Service system is created in the city of Los Angeles.
1906 LAFD Fireman Ben Anderson is credited for responding to a major chemical fire alone while the others were away from the station on break. The Los Angeles Times writes a hero’s story for him.
1907 LAFD Fireman Ben Anderson retires on a disability pension when he is critically injured from an accident he sustained while responding to a fire.
1909 William Hall is appointed to the LAFD.
1910 As more black firemen are hired, they are assigned to LAFD Hose Company #2 under the command of Lieutenant Frank Leiva, a Mexican-American.
1911 The city of Los Angeles adopts the Fire and Police Retirement Pension System.
1912 LAFD adopts the two-platoon shift system. Firemen from Hose Company #2
and Hose Company #4 combine.
LAFD goes automotive with selective stations receiving automotive fire
apparatus.
The County of Los Angeles organizes the Forester and Fire Warden Office
protecting the county areas of Los Angeles.
1916 William Hall promotes to Lieutenant and becomes the first black officer
under Civil Service. He is assigned to command the “B” shift of LAFD Hose
Company #4 serving along with George Bright who is in command of the “A”
shift.
1918 Fireman Ben Anderson of LAFD Hose Company #4 dies from the injuries he
sustained from an accident that disabled him in 1907. There were no
provisions for widows and orphans at the time of his death. Anderson’s death
prompted city officials to create benefits for family members of all deceased
LAFD Firefighters.
LAFD Hose Company #4 gets an automotive fire engine eliminating horses.
1923 Lt. William Hall promotes to Captain at the LAFD.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) organizes the Fire Protection
Districts to protect unincorporated county areas.
1924 LAFD Hose Company # 4 becomes Engine 58 with a triple combination pumper.
Belmont High School is built across the street from LAFD’s Hose Company #4 /
Engine #58, causing the LAFD to move the black firemen to LAFD Engine #30 and
Truck #11 at 1401 Central Avenue. The outgoing firemen from LAFD Station #30
trash the kitchen in protest of being moved out of their station. The LAFD
Fire Chief orders all of the outgoing men back to clean up their mess and
they are seriously reprimanded.
Additional black firemen are hired to staff LAFD Truck Company # 11.
1927 LAFD eliminates the rank of Lieutenant and makes all station officers
Captains.
LAFD creates the rescue ambulance service.
1931 Captain Hall passes LAFD’s Battalion Chief’s Exam. He is told the following, “It’s a shame you are not a white man, but there is no place nor plan for a colored Battalion Chief”. Captain Hall retired from LAFD at the end of this year.
1932 LAFD eliminates the separate designations of its Truck Companies and renames them after the Engine Companies they are housed with.
Truck #11 becomes Truck #30.
1936 LAFD Engine #14 at 3401 Central Avenue is open to black firemen creating two additional captain and engineer positions along with ten additional firemen positions.
1940 Black firemen no longer replacing each other on a one for one basis.
Arnett Hartsfield is hired and reports to the LAFD Station #30 without going
through the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy started training recruits on a
24-hour schedule; it was ruled unacceptable to have a black recruit stay
overnight with the others.
1947 The “A” shift members of the LAFD Stations #30 and #14 start the annual holiday party at Wince King’s home. This gathering has never ceased and continues to this day.
1948 James Shern from Kansas is hired by the LAFD. He has a degree in
chemistry and is later known as an innovator.
U.S. Supreme Court rules in Shelley vs. Kraemer that a court may not
constitutionally enforce a “restrictive covenant” which prevents people of a
certain race from owning or occupying property.
1949 New LAFD Station #14 is opened next door to the old Station #14. Additional apparatus is housed at Station #14, including a Wrecker (Heavy Utility) and a Salvage Unit.
1952 The Fire Prevention Bureau and the Supply Shops are open to black firemen at LAFD. Garfield Tucker, James Shern and Earl Young are the first black Inspectors.
1953 Ed Garrison is the last LAFD black fireman hired prior to integration
James L. Garcia and Van Davis are hired as (LACoFD) Los Angeles County Fire’s
first “Black Firemen”.
1954 U.S. Supreme Court rules on Brown vs. Board of Education that “Separate
But Equal” is no longer the law of the land.
The Stentorians are organized at Stations #30 and #14.
1955 The Fire Chief is ordered by the Mayor to integrate the LAFD.
Problems occur in the city’s fire stations with black and white firemen
working together. Black firemen are subjected to second class treatment and
are ostracized from station activities including:
Not allowed to eat with the other firefighters
Not allowed to drink coffee or read the station newspaper
Not allowed to fraternize with the other firefighters
Must stand four human spaces away from the other firemen during line ups and
inspections
Not allowed to use the “little grape” or Grapevine, the station pay phone for
personal calls
Not allowed to use the station dishware or utensils
Must sleep in the same bed designated for “Blacks Only” usually in the corner
near the locker room door
Locker is usually placed near the toilet
Subjected to cruel jokes, harsh pranks with safety equipment, in addition to
being subjected to verbal and physical harassment
At times, not allowed to respond to calls or participate in fire prevention
activities
Constantly ignored by the other crew members
Persistently referred to as “Nigger”
1955 cont.
Arnett Hartsfield earns a law degree from U.S.C. and leads the effort to
integrate the LAFD.
Fireman Reynaldo Lopez takes a picture of the “White Adults” sign placed on
the kitchen door of Station #46. This pictured is aired on the Channel 2 News
by anchor Bill Stout. This causes an unfavorable light on the LAFD.
Ernie Roberts now assigned to Station # 10 has human excrement placed in his
bed as a cruel and humiliating joke and he unknowingly lays his head in it.
LAFD Fire Chief Alderson orders all blacks back to Central Avenue. He advises
the LAFD Fire Commission that he cannot guarantee the safety of the black
firemen in these [hostile] stations.
1956 The LAFD Fire Chief is fired for his lack of commitment to integrate the
Department.
Bradley Garret and Tolbert Young are the first blacks hired at LAFD after
integration. Both are terminated unfairly during their academy training.
1957 Paul Orduna, a fireman from Omaha Nebraska is hired at the LAFD. He is the first black fireman to pass his probation after integration in the LAFD.
1961 Arnett Hartsfield retires from the LAFD.
James Shern promotes to Captain at LAFD. He becomes the first Black Captain
to be promoted since 1944.
1963 Mayor Sam Yorty issues a formal order to the LAFD to “Act like a grown up Fire Department and start eating together.” The “Organized Mess” rule is placed into effect at LAFD that states all members shall eat together unless there is a medical condition that states otherwise.
1965 The Watts community of Los Angeles erupts in violence and fire as the
Watts Riots commence. LAFD’s Bob Craig, Cecil McClinn, George Crommel and
another black fireman commander a rig and go into certain hot areas to fight
fire.
Frank Harrison receives the Medal of Valor for saving the life of another
firefighter trapped under a block wall. Harrison is the first black
firefighter to receive the Medal of Valor.
1966 The LAFD adopts a new concept called the Task Force. A Task Force is a combination of a two piece Engine Company and a Truck Company under the direction of one leader, temporarily assigned together, to accomplish a specific mission.
1968 James Shern becomes the first black to promote to Battalion Chief.
Fireman Robert Gladden dies of a heart attack while battling a fire in the
Pacific Palisades area. His son Robert Gladden Jr. will join the LAFD in
1978.
1969 Hershel Clady joins the LACoFD.
1970 LAFD Truck #30 moves to Station #14 and becomes Truck #14.
Ed Mcfaul is the first Black Firefighter Paramedic in the LACoFD.
The International Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF) is
organized in Hartford, CT, linking all black firefighter associations
nationwide. David Floyd from the FDNY serves as the first President. Floyd
was the first black fireman assigned to the elite Rescue 1 Squad Company of
the FDNY.
Fireman Tom Collier is killed in the line of duty when Snorkel 3 tips over at
a fire in downtown Los Angeles. He is fatally injured and two other
firefighters are critically injured.
1972 The television show “Emergency” debuts on NBC. It depicts the lives of
two LACoFD Firefighter Paramedics. Dispatcher Sam Lanier, known as the “Voice
of Los Angeles”, is shown each week dispatching Squad 51 to medical calls.
Actor Richard Roundtree known for his role in the movie “Shaft” portrays
fireman Shelly Forsythe in the TV movie “Firehouse”. Filmed in downtown Los
Angeles at old LAFD Station # 23, Forsythe is the lone black fireman in a
station where the tension is high because of his presence.
Battalion Chief James Shern retires and becomes the Fire Chief of the
Pasadena, CA, Fire Department.
LAFD adopts the rank of Captain II also known as the Task Force Commander. A
Captain II is assigned to the Truck Company and is superior to a Captain I,
who is assigned to an Engine Company. The first blacks to achieve the Captain
II rank are:
Grady Bryant, James Parker, Terry Addison Sr., and Willie Patterson.
1973 Jackie Evans and Ken Smith are hired as the first black single function paramedics for the LAFD.
1974 The city of Los Angeles adopts the consent decree that calls for the hiring of 50% firefighters of color in all entry-level recruit classes.
1975 Hershel Clady becomes the first back fireman to promote to engineer on
the LACoFD.
Chief James Shern is elected as the President of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs.
1977 Hershel Clady promotes to Captain. This makes him the first black captain in the LACoFD.
1978 The LAFD hires its first class of female paramedics. There were 6 in
total. Carlesta Wells becomes the first black female paramedic in the LAFD.
All LAFD badges change the wording from FIREMAN to FIREFIGHTER.
1980 The Stentorians acquire old Station # 46 at 1409 W. Vernon Ave. as their
office and training center. This is the same station that was the center of
controversy in 1955 when LAFD’s Fireman Rey Lopez took the picture “White
Adults” that was placed on the kitchen door to keep him out.
Davis Yost becomes the first black arson investigator in the LAFD.
LACoFD Fire Station# 30 closes.
1983 Jimmy Hill is the number one candidate on the Captain’s list for the LAFD.
1984 Congressman Agustus “Gus” Hawkins and political activist Adam Burton
address the LAFD’s hiring practices with Mayor Tom Bradley. It was discovered
that the LAFD was honoring the consent decree by hiring 50% people of color.
However, they were terminating 50% of those hired before the academy training
or their probation ended.
LAFD Fire Chief Manning was directed to do something about this. The LAFD
changed the training academy program and started a pre-training program for
female firefighters that eventually included all firefighters.
Robert Lee becomes the first black chief officer when he promotes to
Battalion Chief in the LACoFD.
d’Lisa Daives becomes the first Black female firefighter hired by the LAFD.
Michelle Banks becomes the second Black female paramedic for the LAFD. d’Lisa
Daives and Banks are both assigned to Fire Station #34 in the Jefferson &
Leimert Park sections of Los Angeles.
David Westfield becomes the first black arson investigator in the LACoFD.
1985 LAFD Fire Station # 30 becomes Cultural Historic Landmark # 289 on the City Registry.
A devastating fire in the Baldwin Hills area claims the lives of three people
and destroys fifty-three homes. One of the fatalities is the mother of
Firefighter Robert Gladden Jr.; the same firefighter that lost his father in
1968.
Brent Burton joins the LACoFD after three years with the LAFD’s Explorer
Program. Burton serves as the President of the African American Firefighter
Museum and the Stentorians of Los Angeles County.
1987 Captain Floyd Hoffman is placed in command of the LACoFD’s Recruitment
Unit. A high [record] number of candidates of color and females are hired
during his tenure.
1988 Tonya Burns becomes the first black female hired by the LACoFD. Veronie Steele is hired in the next class during this same year.
1989 LACoFD eliminates firefighter dispatchers and hires civilian uniform employees. Clyde Taylor, Betty Parker, Cheryl Patterson-Simms and Helen Ross are among the first black dispatchers hired.
1990 Los Angeles County Fire union, Local #1014 accuses the Stentorians of cheating on the entry-level exam. The LACoFD Fire Chief throws out the exam causing countless candidates to fail the new exam. The allegations were false and the union and the Stentorians develop a strained relationship.
1992 Los Angeles erupts in civil unrest as violence and fires erupt in South
Los Angeles. Four LAPD officers were acquitted of beating motorist Rodney
King. The violence starts in South Los Angeles and travels throughout
metropolitan Los Angeles.
Tensions in certain fire stations are raised between some black and white
firefighters over the situation of the causes and effects of the Los Angeles
Riots. A black firefighter at LAFD Station # 9 alleges that someone placed
urine in his Listerine bottle. A black firefighter at LAFD Station #61 nearly
has an altercation over insensitive comments by some firefighters about black
people.
1995 Two LACoFD Chief Officers are the topic of controversy when they order a
picture of actor John Wayne removed from the wall of the office at a Carson,
CA, fire station. The Captain of the station challenges the order and sparks
a divide again between black and white firefighters.
Robert Lee becomes LACoFD’s first Black Deputy Fire Chief.
The Stentorians along with Attorney Melanie Lomax, hold a press conference in
front of old Station #30 protesting the racist and sexist practices of the
LAFD toward black and female firefighters.
A controversial video dubbed “female follies” is discovered and exposes the
LAFD to widespread criticism. Fire Chief Don Manning retires amid the
controversy.
1996 Jim Hill becomes the first black to serve as a Deputy Chief in the LAFD.
Firefighter Glenn Smith becomes the first Black helicopter pilot for the
LAFD.
Fire Chief William Bamattre is appointed as the LAFD’s new Fire Chief.
1997 On December 13, The African American Firefighter Museum opens.
Firefighter/lead Paramedic Michelle Banks serves as the first President.
On the opening day, Fire Chief Bamattre issues a formal apology to the “Old Stentorians” for what they were subjected to during the integration of the LAFD during the mid 1950’s.
2000 Veronie Steele-Small becomes the first Black female to promote to
Captain in the LACoFD.
The Inglewood Fire Department is annexed by the LACoFD. Firefighter Paramedic
Crystal Golden-Jefferson becomes Los Angeles County’s third black female
firefighter.
2004 Firefighter Jamie Foster dies in the line of duty from injuries suffered
during a vehicle accident. She becomes the first female to die in the line of
duty on the LAFD.
Los Angeles City and County Stentorians host the I.A.B.P.F.F. Convention and
the traditional “Memorial March”, makes its way down Crenshaw Blvd., creating
a truly historical moment in Los Angeles’ history.
Deceased LAFD’s Fireman Sam Haskins is finally given an honorable burial when
a headstone is placed over his unmarked grave in Evergreen Cemetery. For many
years, Haskins was buried in an unmarked grave. It was not known that he was
the first Black Fireman in Los Angeles until the Los Angeles Times uncovered
the story and informed the African American Fire Fighter Museum.
Firefighter Don Greene becomes the first black firefighter assigned to the
LAFD’s Tractor Company.
2005 LACoFD’s Firefighter Paramedic Crystal Golden-Jefferson dies of Lymphoma
Cancer. She contracted this disease while serving on the Inglewood Fire
Department prior to the LACoFD’s annexation of Inglewood, California’s Fire
Department.
Captain Kwame Cooper is the number one candidate on the Battalion Chief’s
list for the LAFD.
2006 A LAFD black firefighter alleges racial discrimination for a firehouse prank where his dinner was laced with dog food. The Los Angeles City Council originally agrees to compensate him $2.7 million. The Mayor vetoes the settlement after more information is revealed about the firefighter and his involvement in hazing incidents.
LAFD Fire Chief Bamattre retires after more firefighters come forward and make allegations against the LAFD’s response to other serious incidents.
Firefighter Kris Larsen becomes the first black female to promote to Captain in the LAFD.
2007 Genethia Hudley-Hayes
becomes the first Black Woman to serve as the President of the LAFD’s Fire
Commission.
Assistant Chief Douglass Barry becomes the interim Fire Chief for the LAFD.
Later on he is named as the Fire Chief of the Department. This is the first
time that an African American has been named to lead the LAFD.
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