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| LAFD Gorter Water Tower circa 1910 |
Despite earlier professing love for his "blind in-one-eye maneater" Skidoo, and less than 36 months after drafting specifications for equipping an equine-powered LAFD, Fire Chief Walter Lips took possession of a 1908 Haynes automobile purchased by the city for $3,300.
Yes, the glint in the eye of LAFD fire horses foretold the future of the 23-year old agency, which would two years later - under the command of a new Fire Chief, take delivery of its initial motor fire apparatus, with it's first motor pumping engine arriving a year thereafter.
Los Angeles Fire Department horse-drawn units remained in active service alongside motorized firefighting vehicles for eleven years. The era of the fire horse at LAFD came to a close in 1921, just thirteen years after Chief Lips was first seated in his "large red automobile, guaranteed to cut streaks through the air".
The last movement by fire horse of LAFD apparatus from a fire station took place on July 19, 1921 when the legendary 1905 Gorter Water Tower was moved from Fire Station 24 to the municipal shops to be motorized. Though it was proudly returned to service on October 13, 1921, it was without the familiar and in many ways beloved "clip-clop" of the faithful and bright-eyed fire horses that so proudly served our city.
The thoroughly restored Gorter Water Tower remains available for public viewing at the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum in Hollywood, where docents are pleased to explain the tower's operation and recount the fascinating history of fire horses at the LAFD, including Phil, Bingo and Jim pictured above.
To learn more, we encourage you to view an on-line historical archive, and to visit the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum on-line at:
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
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