As of the last blog we did not have a name of the convict who was killed while fighting the huge Jute Mill fire at San Quentin in 1909. Thankfully, through further research by retired Larkspur Chief Bill Lellis, we have his name. See the first entry in the Line of Duty Deaths menu, and also visit the More>Major Fires, Incidents >Structure Fires>1909 Jute Mill Fire page for that fire story. Thanks Bill!
This kind of research would not have been possible just a few years ago, but with the wonders of the internet and the ever-increasing volume of old newspapers that have been digitized - success! We still hope to get much more information about this through the historical collection at San Quentin, but getting permission to access those records has proved difficult. We do have a letter in to the 'powers that be' in State Corrections. Stay Tuned.... Also this week, we are pleased to publish Chief Ronny J. Coleman's Thesis completed for his Master's Degree at the California State University at Long Beach in 1994. Titled "The Evolution of California Fire Service Training And Education." You can read the entire thesis through our scrolling reader by going to the More>California State Fire Training page. In addition, Ronny has shared more photos of Ed Bent, go to More>Special Recognition & Award Recipients>Edward W. Bent page to see those. Thanks Ronny! We are sad to report the discovery of another Death in the Line of Duty. Thanks go to retired Marin County FD Senior Captain Pete Martin, who came across a brief mention of this death as published in a Eureka newspaper, while he was reading a page on a California fire lookout history website.
Marin County Fireman Paul W. Hogancamp suffered a heart attack while working on the Mt. Barnaby Fire Lookout in West Marin on May 30, 1961.He fell down the stairs and was later discovered by a fellow fireman who worked at the Mt. Tamalpais Fire Lookout. Sad on the one hand, and pleased on the other, since we'll now be able to share the memory and story of Paul Hogancamp. Once forgotten, now remembered. Read what we know so far under the Line of Duty Deaths menu, scrolling down to 1961. We hope to find a photo of Paul, and some photos of the lookout as it existed at that time. |
AuthorOur Blog announces new site content, and gives the context of the topic and it's relationship to fire service history. Written by Bill Lellis & Paul Smith Archives
August 2022
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