Photos

Original Morgan Hill Fire House

Historical Fire House
The original Morgan Hill Fire station 1930 to 1974

Left: The original Morgan Hill Fire station (1930-1974) located at the corner of West Main Avenue and Monterey Street. It was demolished 9 January 1975. This building also housed, simultaneously, Public Works, California Department of Forestry (CDF) from 1938-1953, City Hall, and the Morgan Hill Rural Fire District. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive) 

1926 Seagrave Model 6B Suburbanite
1926 Seagrave Model 6B Suburbanite
1926 Seagrave

Left: Morgan Hill's 1926 Seagrave Model 6-B Suburbanite with a 500 gpm pump and a 90 gallon tank. This engine was retired in 1957. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive)

Left: Morgan Hill's 1926 Seagrave. Black and white photo is pre-restoration. After retirement, this engine was used by the Public Works Department as a water tanker and finally restored by volunteer firefighters at Live Oak High School. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Sorenson Collection) 


Right: Personnel lineup circa 1946, in front of a 1946 Dodge Van Pelt fire engine. Chief Lee Rosa in white hat (front row, second from right). (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive)

Personnel lineup circa 1946 in front of a 1946 Dodge Van Pelt Fire Engine

Right: First Aid truck, 1940's. This Ford carried a stretcher and resuscitator. Chief Lee Rosa on left. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive)

1940's First Aid Truck
Informal personnel photo from 1948

Left: Informal photo of department personnel, 1948. Chief Lee Rosa at left (with uniform hat). (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive)

1956 Dodge Van Pelt Fire Engine

Left: 1956 Dodge/Van Pelt fire engine. It had a 750 gpm pump and carried 200 gallons of water. (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Sorenson Collection) 

Left: 1964 GMC Van Pelt fire engine with a 1000 gpm pump and a 300 gallon tank. Originally red, and without a roof, it served as Engine 1. Later equipped with a roof and painted yellow, it served as Engine 133. (Photos Courtesy of Chuck Madderom and Wayne Sorenson collections.)

Fire Drill in November 1965

Above: Live fire drill on the site of what is now Live Oak High School in November 1965. (Photo Courtesy of Santa Clara County Fire Department archive)

What is a fire fighter?

A fire fighter is your neighbor: one who has never gotten over the excitement of engines, sirens, and danger. A fire fighter is a person like all of us, someone with wants, worries, and unfulfilled dreams. Still, a fire fighter is a cut above, who puts it all on the line when the bell rings, and becomes at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of us. Fire fighters save lives because tragedy leaves its mark on memory. Fire fighters are gentle to keep the power of violence and chaos in control. Fire fighters appreciate the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of the brave - the peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all. Fire fighters don't preach selflessness, they live it.