Truckee's First Steam Powered Fire Engine -
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Hand pulled steam fire engines were a great help in quelling Truckee's many fires. This engine was similar to the Washoe that was brought to Truckee in 1877.
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The new town of Truckee was built, but it too suffered many fires. For a decade the main method of firefighting was by using bucket brigades to suppress the flames. Efforts were made to build fire cisterns and hydrants to control fires and early primitive fire extinguishers were also employed. A fire hose cart, staffed by volunteers was put into service, but it relied on an insufficient water system to quell fires. Fire still damaged major portions of the town at least seven times in the first decade.
The Central Pacific Railroad suffered many fires in the wooden snow sheds and buildings. The first roundhouse burned in April of 1869, and other fires threatened the replacement several times. The railroad responded by stationing the first fire train with the engine "Samson" in Truckee in May of 1872. For the next five decades, the railroad's fire engine responded to both railroad and town fires. The townspeople were barely satisfied with these arrangements until 1877.
In March of 1877, the Truckee Republican cajoled the townspeople into donating enough money to buy the first fire engine. A citizen's meeting attracted about a hundred persons, principally businessmen and property owners to discuss the most practical way of protecting the town. Produce store owner Hamlet Davis was elected Chairman, with newspaper editor William Edwards, Truckee Lumber Co. owner Edward Brickel, and tin shop owner Frank Stevens rounding out the executive committee.
In the next week the executive committee sent lumberman George Schaffer to Virginia City, Nevada, to investigate a steam powered fire engine that was for sale. The committee also started work on enlarging the spring that fed the water tank, thereby ensuring a better water supply.
Schaffer reported back quickly that the engine was worth the price, and the committee decided to purchase the engine at once. A joint promissory note for $4,000 was signed by twelve citizens, and Justice of the Peace Thomas Plunkett was sent to bring it to Truckee.
Arrival of the Steamer
The steam powered engine named "Washoe #4" was unloaded off of a railroad flatcar on March 28, 1877, decked out with flags and banners. Several members of the old Virginia City Volunteer Fire Department that was selling it, came along to train the Truckee Hose Company members in its use. The Washoe was notable because its bell was reported to be the same one that was rung to call the San Francisco Vigilantes together in 1856.
A large crowd gathered and in a short time it was unloaded and wheeled up to Irwin and Rosseau's stable at Bridge and Front Streets. The railroad provided the use of its water cars, and after a great deal of preliminaries and speeches, the fire was lit. The engine was a wood fired boiler producing steam to turn a water pump which pressurized the hose. It was light enough that men rather than horses were the motive power to move it to a fire.
The first time it was fired up it took fifteen minutes to get the steam up, and a full stream of water flowing from the hoses. There was disappointment that it took so long to get the steam up, but that was due to green wood being used. Railroad engineer Thomas Forsythe was appointed Chief Engineer due to his experience in steam boilers. He pronounced that it was a first class engine.
The engine had 350 feet of carbolized rubber hose, and it threw a stream 200 feet, which was considered a good showing. There was concern that the draft portion of the pump wasn't working right, but the Virginia City firemen who accompanied the Washoe asked for patience and another trial. The cisterns on Front street were insufficient to provide enough water at that time.
A day later a second trial was held with the Samson providing the water supply. A group of men and boys hauled the engine from the Irwin and Rosseau stable, and seven minutes after the boiler fire was lit, two streams of water over 150 feet long were shooting skyward. After a half an hour, one hose was taken off and the other was extended to double its length. From 200 feet of hose, a 200 foot stream was produced. So much hose was extended and so much pressure was used that the hose broke at the engine.
The general opinion was that it was a good fire engine, but needed adequate training and good maintenance to keep it in top condition. It required plenty of good hard coal and pine pitch to keep up steam. A group of volunteers were recruited to train to be firemen and maintain the Washoe.
The problem of paying for it still remained. In another citizens meeting, a vote was taken to tax the property owners, who would benefit the most from the increased fire protection. The Central Pacific Railroad allowed free use of its water system for fire suppression, provided that it would not be subject to the fire tax.
Since Truckee was not yet an incorporated town, the tax was more voluntary then mandatory, but few property owners failed to pay their share. Charles F. Byrne was appointed tax collector and assessor, and he reported that $250,000 of property were to be taxed in Truckee. Fireman's ball were also held regularly to defray cost of maintenance.
By April 18, a new engine house was under construction on the upper end of Front Street. It was one story and 18 wide feet by 52 feet long. Two new water tanks were also quickly constructed.
In May a bonfire was built up on High Street to test the speed of the Washoe and crew. As soon as the fire was lit, the Samson shrieked a fire alarm and a dozen volunteer firemen men came running, pulled the engine up the hill with muscle and ropes, lit the boiler, and once steam was up, shot a 90 foot stream over houses and trees to douse the fire. A large crowd gathered to watch and were impressed with the speed and gave three cheers for the men.
The men drilled constantly to become as proficient as possible. The hose couplings burst a few times, the air chamber failed once, and one of wheels was damaged on a rock during the May training sessions.
The Washoe Engine Company No. 1 included noted Truckee citizens such as sometimes lawman James Reed, Justice of the Peace Thomas Plunkett, railroad engineer Tom Forsythe, lumbermen George Schaffer, Warren Richardson, J.D. Parks, and Albert Brickel.
A young Charles MacGlashan was a member, so was newspaperman W.F. Edwards. Other members included later Justice of the Peace C. F. Byrne, liveryman William Irwin, butcher Joe Marzen, lawyer Thomas F. Ford, and other businessmen and laborers. A monthly fee of one dollar was required to be a member.
An Active Career
The rest of 1877 saw only a few small structure fires in Truckee, with the Washoe responding quickly and successfully. The first of the big fires that the Washoe responded to was the March 1878 blaze that burned seven structures east of Bridge Street including Stewart McKay's American Hotel (site of the present Truckee Hotel). The Washoe performed well, but a delay in the Samson's fire alarm allowed the fire to get a head start. A few weeks later the engine was instrumental in preventing a large structure fire in Chinatown from catching the rest of the town on fire. It was unable to stop all of Chinatown burning in December of 1878.
The Washoe played a major part of Truckee's fire suppression in the major fire of 1881, when a major portion of Front Street burned. The Washoe sprayed two streams of water on the fire, while hooked up to a water cistern at the lower end of town. Had it been stationed on Jibboom Street, it was thought that more buildings would have been saved.
Another major fire in 1882 burned Front Street again and the Washoe and it's crew served bravely in the face of intense flames. 1883 saw several moderate fires put out by the Washoe and the other two fire companies before they could make much headway. The block of River Street from the bridge west burned in 1885 and again the Washoe was prominent in suppression efforts. Commercial Row saw another major structure in 1893 and the Washoe was the lead responding engine for that inferno.
It wasn't always a well cared for fire engine. In May of 1882, it lay idle and rusting in the engine house with only a few men to operate it. The Republican asked for more volunteers and slowly the engine was restored. The Washoe was a four season engine. When snow covered the streets, runners were put on and it was pulled over the snow to fires.
The Washoe continued to perform her duties until it was taken out of service about 1905. It was sold to the Henry Ice Pond just east of Downtown Truckee, and used to pump water into pond. It was then sold to the Truckee Lumber Company, and was stationed at the sawmill for fire protection. James McIver then bought it and used it for a pumping station at his dairy ranch just west of Brickeltown.
The Washoe ended its days as a woodcutting machine for McIver, a far cry from its heroic battles with the demon fire. Truckee relied on the Truckee Lumber Company Fire Company and the railroad’s fire train until 1894 when the Truckee Fire Protection District was formed.
This article written by Gordon Richards originally appeared in the August 27, 2004 Echoes from The Past column in the Sierra Sun.
The Central Pacific Railroad suffered many fires in the wooden snow sheds and buildings. The first roundhouse burned in April of 1869, and other fires threatened the replacement several times. The railroad responded by stationing the first fire train with the engine "Samson" in Truckee in May of 1872. For the next five decades, the railroad's fire engine responded to both railroad and town fires. The townspeople were barely satisfied with these arrangements until 1877.
In March of 1877, the Truckee Republican cajoled the townspeople into donating enough money to buy the first fire engine. A citizen's meeting attracted about a hundred persons, principally businessmen and property owners to discuss the most practical way of protecting the town. Produce store owner Hamlet Davis was elected Chairman, with newspaper editor William Edwards, Truckee Lumber Co. owner Edward Brickel, and tin shop owner Frank Stevens rounding out the executive committee.
In the next week the executive committee sent lumberman George Schaffer to Virginia City, Nevada, to investigate a steam powered fire engine that was for sale. The committee also started work on enlarging the spring that fed the water tank, thereby ensuring a better water supply.
Schaffer reported back quickly that the engine was worth the price, and the committee decided to purchase the engine at once. A joint promissory note for $4,000 was signed by twelve citizens, and Justice of the Peace Thomas Plunkett was sent to bring it to Truckee.
Arrival of the Steamer
The steam powered engine named "Washoe #4" was unloaded off of a railroad flatcar on March 28, 1877, decked out with flags and banners. Several members of the old Virginia City Volunteer Fire Department that was selling it, came along to train the Truckee Hose Company members in its use. The Washoe was notable because its bell was reported to be the same one that was rung to call the San Francisco Vigilantes together in 1856.
A large crowd gathered and in a short time it was unloaded and wheeled up to Irwin and Rosseau's stable at Bridge and Front Streets. The railroad provided the use of its water cars, and after a great deal of preliminaries and speeches, the fire was lit. The engine was a wood fired boiler producing steam to turn a water pump which pressurized the hose. It was light enough that men rather than horses were the motive power to move it to a fire.
The first time it was fired up it took fifteen minutes to get the steam up, and a full stream of water flowing from the hoses. There was disappointment that it took so long to get the steam up, but that was due to green wood being used. Railroad engineer Thomas Forsythe was appointed Chief Engineer due to his experience in steam boilers. He pronounced that it was a first class engine.
The engine had 350 feet of carbolized rubber hose, and it threw a stream 200 feet, which was considered a good showing. There was concern that the draft portion of the pump wasn't working right, but the Virginia City firemen who accompanied the Washoe asked for patience and another trial. The cisterns on Front street were insufficient to provide enough water at that time.
A day later a second trial was held with the Samson providing the water supply. A group of men and boys hauled the engine from the Irwin and Rosseau stable, and seven minutes after the boiler fire was lit, two streams of water over 150 feet long were shooting skyward. After a half an hour, one hose was taken off and the other was extended to double its length. From 200 feet of hose, a 200 foot stream was produced. So much hose was extended and so much pressure was used that the hose broke at the engine.
The general opinion was that it was a good fire engine, but needed adequate training and good maintenance to keep it in top condition. It required plenty of good hard coal and pine pitch to keep up steam. A group of volunteers were recruited to train to be firemen and maintain the Washoe.
The problem of paying for it still remained. In another citizens meeting, a vote was taken to tax the property owners, who would benefit the most from the increased fire protection. The Central Pacific Railroad allowed free use of its water system for fire suppression, provided that it would not be subject to the fire tax.
Since Truckee was not yet an incorporated town, the tax was more voluntary then mandatory, but few property owners failed to pay their share. Charles F. Byrne was appointed tax collector and assessor, and he reported that $250,000 of property were to be taxed in Truckee. Fireman's ball were also held regularly to defray cost of maintenance.
By April 18, a new engine house was under construction on the upper end of Front Street. It was one story and 18 wide feet by 52 feet long. Two new water tanks were also quickly constructed.
In May a bonfire was built up on High Street to test the speed of the Washoe and crew. As soon as the fire was lit, the Samson shrieked a fire alarm and a dozen volunteer firemen men came running, pulled the engine up the hill with muscle and ropes, lit the boiler, and once steam was up, shot a 90 foot stream over houses and trees to douse the fire. A large crowd gathered to watch and were impressed with the speed and gave three cheers for the men.
The men drilled constantly to become as proficient as possible. The hose couplings burst a few times, the air chamber failed once, and one of wheels was damaged on a rock during the May training sessions.
The Washoe Engine Company No. 1 included noted Truckee citizens such as sometimes lawman James Reed, Justice of the Peace Thomas Plunkett, railroad engineer Tom Forsythe, lumbermen George Schaffer, Warren Richardson, J.D. Parks, and Albert Brickel.
A young Charles MacGlashan was a member, so was newspaperman W.F. Edwards. Other members included later Justice of the Peace C. F. Byrne, liveryman William Irwin, butcher Joe Marzen, lawyer Thomas F. Ford, and other businessmen and laborers. A monthly fee of one dollar was required to be a member.
An Active Career
The rest of 1877 saw only a few small structure fires in Truckee, with the Washoe responding quickly and successfully. The first of the big fires that the Washoe responded to was the March 1878 blaze that burned seven structures east of Bridge Street including Stewart McKay's American Hotel (site of the present Truckee Hotel). The Washoe performed well, but a delay in the Samson's fire alarm allowed the fire to get a head start. A few weeks later the engine was instrumental in preventing a large structure fire in Chinatown from catching the rest of the town on fire. It was unable to stop all of Chinatown burning in December of 1878.
The Washoe played a major part of Truckee's fire suppression in the major fire of 1881, when a major portion of Front Street burned. The Washoe sprayed two streams of water on the fire, while hooked up to a water cistern at the lower end of town. Had it been stationed on Jibboom Street, it was thought that more buildings would have been saved.
Another major fire in 1882 burned Front Street again and the Washoe and it's crew served bravely in the face of intense flames. 1883 saw several moderate fires put out by the Washoe and the other two fire companies before they could make much headway. The block of River Street from the bridge west burned in 1885 and again the Washoe was prominent in suppression efforts. Commercial Row saw another major structure in 1893 and the Washoe was the lead responding engine for that inferno.
It wasn't always a well cared for fire engine. In May of 1882, it lay idle and rusting in the engine house with only a few men to operate it. The Republican asked for more volunteers and slowly the engine was restored. The Washoe was a four season engine. When snow covered the streets, runners were put on and it was pulled over the snow to fires.
The Washoe continued to perform her duties until it was taken out of service about 1905. It was sold to the Henry Ice Pond just east of Downtown Truckee, and used to pump water into pond. It was then sold to the Truckee Lumber Company, and was stationed at the sawmill for fire protection. James McIver then bought it and used it for a pumping station at his dairy ranch just west of Brickeltown.
The Washoe ended its days as a woodcutting machine for McIver, a far cry from its heroic battles with the demon fire. Truckee relied on the Truckee Lumber Company Fire Company and the railroad’s fire train until 1894 when the Truckee Fire Protection District was formed.
This article written by Gordon Richards originally appeared in the August 27, 2004 Echoes from The Past column in the Sierra Sun.
