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- Buildings - Civic 2
- Buildings - Civic - Archives 1
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls 1
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls 1
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- Clothing - Uniforms 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs 1
- Emergency Measures 1
- Occupations - Fire Fighters 7
- Officials - Alderman and Councillors 2
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves 1
- Public Services - Fire Protection 4
![1925 Dodge fire engine, [1925] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2000/200200750002.jpg?width=280)
1925 Dodge fire engine
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1680
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1925] (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Burnaby Fire Department's 1925 four cylinder Dodge combination hose and chemical fire engine, the first of its kind to be used in North Burnaby. Commercial buildings are visible behind the truck and a sign on the window display reads, "Better and Better."
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Burnaby Fire Department's 1925 four cylinder Dodge combination hose and chemical fire engine, the first of its kind to be used in North Burnaby. Commercial buildings are visible behind the truck and a sign on the window display reads, "Better and Better."
- Subjects
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV002.75.2
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1925] (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Typed note on verso of photograph reads: "1925 4 cylinder Dodge/ Combination hose and/ chemical fire engine./ The first in North Burnaby"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Mr & Mrs F. Blake 4165 Pandora Street Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5C 2B2"
Images
![1925 Dodge fire engine, [1925] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2000/200200750002.jpg)
Burnaby Fire Department 2010 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport58067
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 90190
- Meeting Date
- 24-Oct-2011
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 90190
- Meeting Date
- 24-Oct-2011
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2011 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport58588
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 90910
- Meeting Date
- 17-Sep-2012
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 7
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 90910
- Meeting Date
- 17-Sep-2012
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 7
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2013 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport59665
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 99608
- Meeting Date
- 29-Sep-2014
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 99608
- Meeting Date
- 29-Sep-2014
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2014 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport60378
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 100686
- Meeting Date
- 14-Sep-2015
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 100686
- Meeting Date
- 14-Sep-2015
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2015 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport61132
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101231
- Meeting Date
- 19-Sep-2016
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101231
- Meeting Date
- 19-Sep-2016
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2016 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport81597
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101687
- Meeting Date
- 4-Dec-2017
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101687
- Meeting Date
- 4-Dec-2017
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2017 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport81860
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 92462
- Meeting Date
- 25-Jun-2018
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 7
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 92462
- Meeting Date
- 25-Jun-2018
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 7
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department 2018 Annual Report
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport82274
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 92877
- Meeting Date
- 24-Jun-2019
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 92877
- Meeting Date
- 24-Jun-2019
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Fire Department's first heavy stream appliance
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1683
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- January 16, 1956
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 12 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the demonstration of Burnaby Fire Department's first heavy stream appliance; a 1000 G.P.M. (gallons per minute) nozzle mounted on pumper truck. Fire Chief Menzies is standing on the running board, looking towards Deputy Chief G. Monk and Chief Training Officer Fred Blake who are on th…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 12 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the demonstration of Burnaby Fire Department's first heavy stream appliance; a 1000 G.P.M. (gallons per minute) nozzle mounted on pumper truck. Fire Chief Menzies is standing on the running board, looking towards Deputy Chief G. Monk and Chief Training Officer Fred Blake who are on the fire truck, holding on to the machinery (Blake is on the right). Councillor Fred Philps is standing on the ground, smiling, with his hand resting on the truck's ladder.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Officials - Alderman and Councillors
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Tools and Equipment
- Accession Code
- BV002.75.5
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- January 16, 1956
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2/12/2010
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed note on verso of photograph reads: B.F.D. First heavy stream/ appliance, 1000 G.P.M./ nozzle mounted on pumper./ Can also be removed and/ used from the ground./ Jan. 16, 1956"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "JAN. 16, 1956 / L to R. CHIEF MENZIES DEP. CHIEF G. MONK CHIEF TRAINING OFFICER FRED BLAKE COUNCILLOR FRED PHILPS"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Mr F. Blake 4165 Pandora Street Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5C 2B2"
Images
Burnaby Fire Department trainees at Confederation Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1537
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1956 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four unidentified Burnaby Fire Department trainees standing in front of a 1954 triple combination LaFrance fire engine at Confederation Park.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four unidentified Burnaby Fire Department trainees standing in front of a 1954 triple combination LaFrance fire engine at Confederation Park.
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.19
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1956 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Trainees (1956) with 1954/ Triple Combination La-/ France fire engine at/ Confederation Park."
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 Pandora Street Burnaby BC Canada V5C 2B2"
Images
![Burnaby's first custom built fire truck, [1954] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199800310007.jpg?width=280)
Burnaby's first custom built fire truck
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1298
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1954] (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 13 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby's first custom built fire truck, an American LaFrance, twelve cylinder triple combination. It is stationed on a field with trees and mountains in the background.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 13 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby's first custom built fire truck, an American LaFrance, twelve cylinder triple combination. It is stationed on a field with trees and mountains in the background.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.7
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1954] (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 01-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Burnaby's first custom built firetruck. 1954 American LaFrance triple combination. 12 cyl."
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
![Burnaby's first custom built fire truck, [1954] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199800310007.jpg)
Burnaby's first ladder fire truck
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1300
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1956 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby's first ladder fire truck, a LaFrance, 100 foot aerial ladder quintuplet. The ladder is fully extended with a firefighter standing at the very top, operating the hose.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby's first ladder fire truck, a LaFrance, 100 foot aerial ladder quintuplet. The ladder is fully extended with a firefighter standing at the very top, operating the hose.
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.15
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1956 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- For another photograph of the same image, but cropped differently, see BV998.31.18
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 01-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Burnaby's first ladder truck. La France 100 ft. aerial ladder quintuplet. 1956"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
![Burnaby's new fleet of fire trucks, [1956 or 1957] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/205/226-001.jpg?width=280)
Burnaby's new fleet of fire trucks
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36138
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1956 or 1957]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the new fleet of Burnaby's 1956 American LaFrance pumper fire trucks lined in a row in front of the Municipal Hall. The fifth truck has its ladder extended. Reeve Charles MacSorley, Fire Chief William Menzies, and Councillor Fred Philps are standing in front of the second truck. There…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1956 or 1957]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 226-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1989-22
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the new fleet of Burnaby's 1956 American LaFrance pumper fire trucks lined in a row in front of the Municipal Hall. The fifth truck has its ladder extended. Reeve Charles MacSorley, Fire Chief William Menzies, and Councillor Fred Philps are standing in front of the second truck. There is snow on the ground and the three men are wearing winter coats.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls
- Officials - Alderman and Councillors
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Dominion Photo Company
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Other title info: photographer's negative no. 38487
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Burnaby's new fleet of fire trucks, [1956 or 1957] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/205/226-001.jpg)
Distribution of New Burnaby Fire Department Phone Number
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport44259
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 39285
- Meeting Date
- 16-Jan-1956
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 39285
- Meeting Date
- 16-Jan-1956
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
![Fire Chief William Menzies, [between 1954 and 1964] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-1156.jpg?width=280)
Fire Chief William Menzies
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46268
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 7.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Fire Chief William Menzies in uniform.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 7.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-1156
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Fire Chief William Menzies in uniform.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Fire Chief William Menzies, [between 1954 and 1964] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-1156.jpg)
Fire Department fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direct…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direction, coordination, training services, and planning, including daily record books, emergency preparedness pamphlets, a departmental practice manual, procedural directives, scrapbooks, and an orthophoto map (in 63 pieces) of the City of Burnaby.
- History
- Serving the City since 1911, the Burnaby Fire Department is committed to providing timely, professional, and effective fire-related emergency services to save lives, property and the environment. Their dedicated staff serves the City via seven fire stations located strategically across Burnaby. Each of our stations is equipped with up-to-date vehicles and equipment. Their highly skilled and trained team of men and women provide many services, including fire suppression and prevention, investigation, inspection, training, medical, vehicle extrication, technical and other speciality rescues, hazardous materials response and public education services. The following information pertains to the publication "Follow That Fire": Communities have always lived with the threat of fire. Early Burnaby residents banded together to extinguish out-of-control brush fires. In the 1920s, the Municipal Police were responsible for fire-related matters, earning three dollars for attending a fire. Donations to the Vancouver and New Westminster Fire Departments' Benevolent Funds brought the first fire engines to Burnaby's rescue. As the population increased, by-laws were enacted to develop a full-time fire service. Several members saw the value in jotting down recollections of their experiences as Burnaby firemen, which sparked an interest in completing the History of the Burnaby Fire Department. While researching this project, the author was fortunate in being able to draw from the resources of retired chiefs Fred Blake and Lewis Auvache, who were original members of the Department. The Department's progression includes heated and sometimes humorous debates regarding who should be responsible for fire protection, deciding if there was a need for a fire services, and how taxes would be levied to support the service. Photographs throughout the text represent stages of development which include a pictorial record of Burnaby fire trucks from 1923 to the present platform ladder trucks. From its humble beginning as two separate fire departments operating from a converted police horse stable and a water pumping station, the Burnaby Fire Department has developed into a professional organization serving its citizens from six fire stations.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Cartographic Material
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds.
![Fire Prevention Bureau car, [after 1955] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550046.jpg?width=280)
Fire Prevention Bureau car
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1497
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1955]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1955 Ford Meteor parked behind a house, near back porch and stairs. "FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU/ B.F.D. [Burnaby Fire Department]" is written on the Meteor's driver's side door.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1955 Ford Meteor parked behind a house, near back porch and stairs. "FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU/ B.F.D. [Burnaby Fire Department]" is written on the Meteor's driver's side door.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Automobiles
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.46
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [after 1955]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Fire Prevention Bureau car, [after 1955] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550046.jpg)
Fred Blake subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65815
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942- [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of an essay written by Fred Blake entitled "Growing Up in North Burnaby," a hand-drawn map of Gilmore School, an RCAF pamphlet, an Emergency Rescue Training Pocket Manual and a Handbook for Auxiliary Firemen.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942- [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Fred Blake subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS2003-15
- BHS2005-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of an essay written by Fred Blake entitled "Growing Up in North Burnaby," a hand-drawn map of Gilmore School, an RCAF pamphlet, an Emergency Rescue Training Pocket Manual and a Handbook for Auxiliary Firemen.
- History
- Thomas Blake and his wife Gertrude came to Burnaby in 1921 with their three children: Thomas "Tom", Susie and Frederick "Fred" (b. 1912). They lived at 4456 Pandora street, owning that lot and the adjoining 66 foot lot on the west. The Municipality cleared a trail, later putting down a one-plank sidewalk and bringing in a half-inch water line for the family. The Blake family lived in two wall tents for a few years while they cleared their land and built their house. In 1921 at the age of nine, Fred Blake attended Gilmore School where he learned about different woods and how to use hand tools. In 1927, he attended North Burnaby High School in a commercial course were he learned typing, shorthand, book-keeping a commercial law. Throughout his teenage years, Fred worked at Armour Photo Finishing, developing rolls of film and collecting and delivering the films and finished prints. Thomas Blake worked part-time for the Burnaby Advertiser and part-time for the Vancouver Sun to pay his way through university and become a Burnaby school teacher. In 1927, at the age of sixteen, Fred began his firefighting career as a volunteer, with the first major fire of his career taking place December 31, 1927 at the 4600 block of Albert Street. He continued as a volunteer until 1934 when he went to the logging camps as a steam fireman in the Queen Charlotte Islands and on the coast. In the early 1930s, Fred was a member of the Army of the Common Good, and with the falling crew cut second growth timber on Capitol Hill for firewood to be shared with other members. The Army also produced over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth who were near starvation from lack of adequate relief funds from the municipality. The Army was in operations for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. During this time, while on Relief (now welfare) Fred also worked for the municipality on the two projects of the clearing of Confederation Park and the clearing of Lougheed Highway. Fred re-joined the Burnaby fire department on April 1, 1939, as a paid member at No. 1 Hall. He came up through the ranks to become Training Officer for the department in 1949 and full time training officer with the rank of District Chief in 1952. Fred was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1966. He retired from service March 1, 1972.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Blake, Fredrick "Fred"
- Notes
- MSS150
- Title based on contents and creator of subseries
Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3