Bakersfield Fire Department - BFD History

BFD History

The Bakersfield Fire Department has its earliest origins back to 1868. During this time, Colonel Thomas Baker (founder of the City of Bakersfield) kept wooden buckets full of water to fight any fires that threatened the area of Bakersfield.

In 1872-1873, after numerous conflagrations that had very costly outcomes, the citizens of Bakersfield felt that a permanent fire protection agency was needed. In 1874, the Bakersfield Fire Company was organized with a small number of Firefighters, who would often sponsor events in the area to raise money for needed fire equipment and apparatus. On May 13, 1877, the Bakersfield Fire Department was formally established. This agency has been in continual operation since that date, and currently serves the City of Bakersfield today.

In the year 1890, Bakersfield acquired its first horse-drawn steamer (1890 Clapp and Jones). This steam-powered, coal-fired engine was considered to be the latest in fire fighting technology, and decreased response times to incidents in the city. In 1904, a fire at the corner of 20th and K Streets destroyed Fire Station No. 1, the only fire station in the city at the time. The fire completely destroyed the station and a newly acquired steam pumper.

In 1910, Kern City merged with Bakersfield, giving the City of Bakersfield an additional fire station, BFD Fire Station No. 2. In 1913, Bakersfield constructed two additional fire stations, BFD Fire Stations No. 3 and 4. The cost of construction per fire house was estimated at $8,000.00. In 1914, the Bakersfield Fire Department was one of the first fire agencies to be completely motorized.

In 1939, the BFD Central Fire Station (Station No. 1) was constructed at 2101 H Street, at a cost of $94,000. Fire Station No. 1 is still in operation to this day at the same location, and is co-located with BFD Fire Headquarters. In 1956, the Bakersfield Fire Department was named the highest rated Class 1 Fire Department in the United States.

Today, the Bakersfield Fire Department is a Class 3 Fire Department, with 14 Fire Stations located throughout the city, and three planned for construction in the future.