"Burnaby Fire Department" found 222 records

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…

1 audio

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

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3

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.

North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription124

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]-[1958]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual r…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]-[1958]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2005-08

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual reports, a map, and photographs of Burnaby parks, schools and neighbourhoods.

History: The Burnaby Board of Trade formed on September 4, 1926 and registered with the province December 14, 1926. George Conway Brown was elected as Secretary. On May 30, 1927, The Governor General officially granted the Board to change its name to the North Burnaby Board of Trade. The Board's boundaries, under Secretary Thomas B. Blake, were changed from "the Municipality of Burnaby" to "that portion of the Municipality of Burnaby which lies north of Still Creek, Burnaby Lake and Brunette River" British Columbia. On April 26, 1932, the North Burnaby Board of Trade Constitution and Bylaws were adopted with A.G. Kidd as Secretary. Membership was open to all persons directly or indirectly engaged or interested in the trade and commerce or the economic welfare of the district of North Burnaby. The Secretary was the executive officer of the Board, ordered to keep the books, conduct the correspondence, preserve official documents, take minutes at all meetings, have custody of the seal and be in charge of all funds and accounts held by the Board. The North Burnaby Board of Trade was involved in many historic municipal decisions including the development of Barnet Park and establishing a unified Fire Department under one Fire Chief.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: North Burnaby Board of Trade

Notes: PC476, MSS118; Title based on contents of subseries

Burnaby Garage

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1473

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1922

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Banks' "Burnaby Garage" at Britton and Kingsway. A large store front sign reads, "W.M. BANKS. PROP./ Phone 1605/ BURNABY GARAGE/ SERVICE CAR/ REPARIS OILS GREASES/ TIRES & TUBES." Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fir…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Material Details: Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Banks' "Burnaby Garage" at Britton and Kingsway. A large store front sign reads, "W.M. BANKS. PROP./ Phone 1605/ BURNABY GARAGE/ SERVICE CAR/ REPARIS OILS GREASES/ TIRES & TUBES." Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fire truck and drive it to emergencies on an on-call basis.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations

Names: Burnaby Garage

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Accession Code: BV999.55.22

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: 1922

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 08-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in blue ink on recto of photograph reads: "1922"

Images

Converted Fire Truck

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35334

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Packard 12-cylinder limousine converted by Bill Banks (Burnaby Fire Department District Chief) into a fire vehicle for Burnaby Fire Department. The limousine was rumoured to have been owned by wealthy Vancouver bootlegger, Joe Martin.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-191

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Packard 12-cylinder limousine converted by Bill Banks (Burnaby Fire Department District Chief) into a fire vehicle for Burnaby Fire Department. The limousine was rumoured to have been owned by wealthy Vancouver bootlegger, Joe Martin.

Subjects: Transportation - Fire Trucks; Transportation - Automobiles

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Converted Fire Truck, 1923 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

South Burnaby's first fire truck

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1301

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1923 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.5 x 13.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of South Burnaby's first fire truck, a Model T Ford hose truck.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.5 x 13.5 cm print

Material Details: Copy print is of poor quality

Scope and Content: Photograph of South Burnaby's first fire truck, a Model T Ford hose truck.

Subjects: Transportation - Fire Trucks

Names: Burnaby Fire Department

Accession Code: BV998.31.16

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1923 (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 02-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "South Burnaby's first/ fire truck. Model T/ Ford hose truck. 1923"; Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"

Images

South Burnaby's first fire truck, 1923 (date of original) thumbnail

Burnaby Fire Department papers

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64453

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1924-1943

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 1 file of textual records

Scope and Content: File consists of papers pertaining to the development of a unified Fire Department; including Bylaw 451, a letter addressing the unlawfulness of the previous system of fire protection from lawyer P. McD. Kerr and related correspondence between the North Burnaby Board of Trade and Burnaby Council.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1924-1943

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

Physical Description: 1 file of textual records

Description Level: File

Record No.: MSS118-003

Accession Number: BHS2005-8

Scope and Content: File consists of papers pertaining to the development of a unified Fire Department; including Bylaw 451, a letter addressing the unlawfulness of the previous system of fire protection from lawyer P. McD. Kerr and related correspondence between the North Burnaby Board of Trade and Burnaby Council.

Media Type: Textual Record

Notes: Title based on contents of file

Fire hall no. 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1296

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 ; 10 x 15 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of North Burnaby's first fire hall (the building was originally used as a pump house before it was converted).

1 image

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 North Burnaby's first fire hall (the building was originally used as a pump house before it was converted).

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls

Names: Burnaby Fire Department

Geographic Access: Carleton Avenue; Eton Street

Accession Code: BV998.31.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1925] (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Photographer: Blake, Frederick "Fred"

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Burnaby's first fire hall Carleton Ave. and Eton St. 290 N (1925)"; Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"

Images

Fire hall no. 1, [1925] (date of original) thumbnail

Firefighter Albert Killer behind the wheel

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1297

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 ; 10 x 15 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Firefighter Albert Killer behind the wheel of the second fire truck in North Burnaby. It was a 4 cylinder Dodge combination hose and chemical truck.

1 image

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 Firefighter Albert Killer behind the wheel of the second fire truck in North Burnaby. It was a 4 cylinder Dodge combination hose and chemical truck.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Clothing - Uniforms; Transportation - Fire Trucks

Names: Killer, Albert "Abe"; Burnaby Fire Department

Accession Code: BV998.31.6

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1925] (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Photographer: Blake, Frederick "Fred"

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "First North Burnaby fire engine. Albert Killer on 1925 DODGE combination hose and chemical truck. 4 cyl."; Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"

Images

Firefighter Albert Killer behind the wheel, [1925] (date of original) thumbnail

Bill Banks in front of his garage

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1462

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1925]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of W. M. (Bill) Banks standing in coveralls in front of his garage at Britton and Kingsway. Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fire truck and drive it to emergencies on an on-call basis. An unidentified man in a suit is standi…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Material Details: Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto

Scope and Content: Photograph of W. M. (Bill) Banks standing in coveralls in front of his garage at Britton and Kingsway. Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fire truck and drive it to emergencies on an on-call basis. An unidentified man in a suit is standing on the left, smoking.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Occupations - Mechanics; Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations

Names: Banks, William "Bill"; Burnaby Garage

Geographic Access: Kingsway; Britton Street

Accession Code: BV999.55.11

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [1925]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 08-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Bill Banks in front of his garage, [1925] thumbnail

Burnaby Garage

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1463

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1925]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Banks' garage at Britton and Kingsway, with a sign at the edge of the driveway (to the left) which reads, "BURNABY GARAGE." Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fire truck and drive it to emergencies on an on-call basis.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Banks' garage at Britton and Kingsway, with a sign at the edge of the driveway (to the left) which reads, "BURNABY GARAGE." Bill Banks was a mechanic with whom the Burnaby Fire Department had an agreement to maintain the fire truck and drive it to emergencies on an on-call basis.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Occupations - Mechanics; Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations

Names: Burnaby Garage

Geographic Access: Kingsway; Britton Street

Accession Code: BV999.55.12

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [1925]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 08-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Images

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."

1 image

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

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1926-1927

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2255

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926-1927

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1926-1927.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926-1927

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4150

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1926-1927.

Media Type: Textual Record

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2256

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4151

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Media Type: Textual Record

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory466

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1927-1990

Length: 00:04:05

Summary: This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.

Date Range: 1927-1990

Length: 00:04:05

Names: Waddell, Gordon

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Buildings - Civic; Transportation - Fire Trucks

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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 three of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory471

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1928-1990

Length: 00:07:51

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the heritage home "Seven Gables" on Sullivan Street. He relates some childhood events, including the train wreck on Burnette Creek in 1936.

Date Range: 1928-1990

Length: 00:07:51

Historic Neighbourhood: Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lyndhurst Area; Cameron Area

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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 eight of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_8.mp3

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall 1931-1936

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2263

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4158

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Media Type: Textual Record

Receipt Book, Burnaby Fire Department

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription5789

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: One black ledger book with a label on the front reading "Instructions to Financial Secretaries" followed by two paragraphs of instructions as to how to make entries in the book. The financial transactions recorded on pages in the middle section of the ledger seem to be the receipts of initiation f…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 8740

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: One black ledger book with a label on the front reading "Instructions to Financial Secretaries" followed by two paragraphs of instructions as to how to make entries in the book. The financial transactions recorded on pages in the middle section of the ledger seem to be the receipts of initiation fees paid by members of the fire department. There is no written indication as to who kept this ledger, but by virtue of its location next to Burnaby Firefighters Association Local 323 bank book, it seems that this ledger served the same purpose and did belong to Local 323.

Media Type: Textual Record

Massey residence

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88827

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015

Collection/Fonds: James Massey family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015

Collection/Fonds: James Massey family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 581-015

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2014-34

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, the house was burned down by the Burnaby Fire Department during a fire practice.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lakeview-Mayfield Area

Images

Massey residence, [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015 thumbnail

Fire Department at Fire Hall No. 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35199

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1934 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1934 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-056

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Occupations - Fire Fighters; Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7252 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Research

Narrow Results By

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1

Audio Tracks

Fire Department fonds

North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

Burnaby Garage

Images

Converted Fire Truck

Images

South Burnaby's first fire truck

Images

Burnaby Fire Department papers

Fire hall no. 1

Images

Firefighter Albert Killer behind the wheel

Images

Bill Banks in front of his garage

Images

Burnaby Garage

Images

1925 Dodge fire engine

Images

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1926-1927

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

Audio Tracks

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall 1931-1936

Receipt Book, Burnaby Fire Department

Massey residence

Images

Fire Department at Fire Hall No. 2

Images