Firefighters are known to be guardians of their city, each one with a duty to put themselves in harm’s way to keep people and property safe. That sentiment holds steady in San Marino, where members of the Fire Department are not only considered fierce protectors, but also family to the residents who live there.
Likewise, the SMFD feels the same way about the residents they serve. Fire Chief Mario Rueda said the SMFD treats the community like family, which has built a mutual bond over the years.
“The San Marino Fire Department has a true culture of treating residents with care and compassion,” Rueda said. “It is tangible, taught to new employees, and fostered. In my career, I have learned that those that reach out to public safety on the worst days of their lives because of a tragic situation always remember how they were treated and how they were made to feel. They never forget. I hear from residents each and every week that San Marino firefighter/paramedics made them feel special, like family.”
The San Marino Fire Department, a treasured institution, is steeped in community pride, with its deep roots dating back 100 years. As the department celebrates its centennial year, much has changed in terms of its growth; however, at its core, the commitment of the SMFD has remained strongly intact.
When the city of San Marino was incorporated in 1913, there was no fire department of its own to speak of. Instead, for the first decade, the city relied on neighboring Alhambra to provide fire safety. It wasn’t until 1923 that Chester Copley was hired by the city to organize its own fire department and was appointed as the city’s first fire chief. During this time, members of the San Marino chapter of the Boy Scouts of America assisted the city as volunteer firefighters.
On call 24 hours a day, Copley and his family lived at the fire station, which is still located at the corner of San Marino Avenue and Huntington Drive. In 1923, the first fire engine arrived — a 1923 American La France, with a 750-gallons-per-minute pumper. How the fire engine originally came to be is a bit of a mystery, with some historical records indicating it was purchased by the city after San Marino voters, all 57 of them, approved a special election in 1922 and other records noting that W.L. Valentine purchased the engine and donated it to the city. Regardless, today the fire engine is affectionately called “Old No. 1.”
Following the arrival of the first fire engine, the San Marino Fire Department continued to expand in size and complexity through the century. A brand-new 1935 Mack pumper and a 1951 Seagrave fire engine joined the team. As newer technology and equipment emerged, the San Marino Fire Department was always in the forefront. Currently, the department has a front line fire engine — a 2018 Piece Arrow XT, with 505 hp diesel engine capable of producing 1,750 pounds of torque, and a centrifugal pump with the ability to pump more than 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
In 1972, the city sent its first firefighters to emergency medical technician class. This medical training upgraded the Fire Department’s basic first aid knowledge to being able to offer citizens a higher level of care.
Also around this time, the department sent its first firefighters to an organized fire academy for training. Until this point, all training was held at the station and received on the job. This academy training further professionalized the department and enhanced its ability to serve the public.
Then, in 1984, with the help of then Mayor Lynn Reitnouer and the City Council, the Fire Department’s paramedic program was developed. Because of this program, all members of the fire department are paramedics and are experts in advanced lifesaving skills, such as starting IVs, administering pharmaceuticals, and performing electronic cardiac monitoring, defibrillation and emergency airway techniques.
The fire station was upgraded in 1995 with a new apparatus floor. Today, the old fire station still stands and the garage door that housed “Old No. 1,” although no longer operational, can still be seen next to City Hall.
In 1996, the Fire Department joined the Verdugo Fire Communication Unified Response system, which enhanced the SMFD’s 911 dispatch capabilities and improved its auto-aid agreements with surrounding cities.
In 2023, Verdugo dispatches for 13 fire departments, which covers more than 134 square miles and serves a combined population of more than 837,000 residents. The auto-aid agreements also give the Fire Department access to more than 180 emergency response vehicles and specialty units such as hazmat, air resources, and an Urban Search and Rescue team.
To honor its rich history, the SMFD recently held a centennial celebration event that welcomed more than 250 attendees for an open house and tour of the fire station, historical exhibits, emergency preparedness, first aid training and a live fire extinguisher training.
Vice Mayor Steven Huang, who attended the event, said the commitment of both firefighters and residents alike do not go unnoticed.
“This centennial celebration is not only a testament to the endurance of the San Marino Fire Department, but also an opportunity to express our profound gratitude,” Huang said.
“We must remember the countless individuals, past and present, who have committed themselves to this noble cause, including those elected officials who, in 1923, had the foresight to organize a city of San Marino Fire Department. That foresight and unwavering commitment carries over to current residents who continue to support both the Fire and Police departments through our public safety tax.”
Revenue from the Special Public Safety Parcel Tax is specifically dedicated to pay for paramedic services, fire protection and prevention, and police protection in San Marino. The revenue is deposited into the Public Safety Fund, and the Police and Fire budgets are charged to the Public Safety Fund.
San Marino values public safety, firefighters and police officers, Rueda said. In return, he said they feel appreciated in the community.
“Our firefighter/paramedics and police officers are aware, and are honored that residents choose to pay a public safety tax for this premium service,” Rueda said. “It makes for a special bond with our city’s residents.”
City Manager Philippe Eskandar told the Tribune that the public’s support of the Special Public Safety Parcel Tax shows just how much San Marino values the work its fire department does on a daily basis.
“We as a city, and particularly the Fire and Police departments, know that it’s not an easy ask of our community to contribute to a special tax for these services, but the fact that the community continues to support it, serves as a mandate to our teams to make sure that they show the community that their getting service that is unmatched in any other city,” said Eskandar, who added that the community’s support is seen by members of the SMFD and uses that as fuel to continue their good work.
“Beyond this, being a ‘small town’ fire department means that we only have a handful of firefighter/paramedics, individuals that our community can come to know on a first name basis, which many of them do. This connection to the community makes it evident to me that our city team, especially our firefighter/paramedics and police officers, have an incredibly deep passion for serving San Marino.”
Eskandar also noted that the City Council builds on this assistance by making sure the Fire Department has the people, tools and training they need to meet the community’s expectations year after year, helping them feel the “love and support each and every day.”
The core values of the SMFD — integrity, quality, safety and a relentless commitment to caring — have guided its team to where it is now, Rueda said. These values, he added, have not only saved lives, but also strengthened the connection with the community.
“Over the past 100 years, the San Marino Fire Department has been a beacon of hope in times of need,” Rueda said. “Firefighters have rushed into danger, and protected families, homes and our community. Their selflessness, courage, caring and compassion for residents have been the bedrock of this department.”
Eskandar said that although San Marino’s Fire Department is smaller than some other cities’, it is “hands down one of the best in the business.”
“Special doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of how meaningful it is to me to have such a storied fire department as a part of my team,” Eskandar said. “In learning more about each of the department’s members, I hear so many stories of how ingrained they are with our community, some of them having served here for several decades. Their commitment to our community and this organization gives me the peace of mind as a city manager, that regardless of the issue at hand, we have the most committed team that will always be there at a moment’s notice for this community.”
Looking toward the future, Rueda said he looks forward to seeing the department serve another 100 years.
“As we embark on the next century of service, let us renew our dedication to safety, community, and excellence,” Rueda said. “The Fire Department trains and prepares for the next challenge that faces our city, whether it be a serious medical incident, a fire, a trapped victim in a vehicle, windstorms, earthquakes, or God forbid, a criminal act. … May the San Marino Fire Department continue to be a beacon of hope, a source of pride and a symbol of pride and unity for our city.”
First published in the Nov. 23 issue of the San Marino Tribune
