Firefighters have long history protecting Newport Beach

Virginia E. Lopez

Newport Beach residents knew they had someone to count on to keep

them safe in case of fire or other safety situations from the very

beginning.

An all-volunteer fire brigade was the first group to watch over

the city, back before August 1910.

Then, when a fire broke out that year causing damage to the

meeting area of the City Council, the city decided it needed a

full-time crew and plans were put into motion for a new fire

department.

W.A. Cornelius, Newport’s first chief, had everything ready to go

by December of that year. The council approved a 15-member fire

department.

Newport, incorporated in 1906, also needed to consider the safety

of those who lived, played and visited the area beaches.

The responsibility of the beach and the safety of its visitors was

an addition to the fire departments’ duty.

In 1923 the city created the first City Lifeguard Service. In 1927

the department was reorganized and a new fire chief, Frank Crocker,

was appointed.

The fire and beach lifeguard duties were under the fire chief’s

direction for the next 30 years.

During Crocker’s term the city saw its fire defenses improved by

the implementation of fire codes, the addition of fire prevention

programs and a new communication system.

In 1956, with a growing demand from people on the beaches, a

separate lifeguard department was created.

The lifeguard department concentrated on beach and ocean-related

activities but also kept some ties with the fire department.

The first lifeguard headquarters was located on Newport Boulevard

in an old fire station. It was where the lifeguards and firefighters

practiced joint training activities.

The fire department also worked with the lifeguard department

whenever an ocean rescue reached the beach.

Before 1958 lifeguards average eight rescues per lifeguard each

year. That number has risen to more than 40 rescues per lifeguard

each year.

In the late 1960s the Marine Safety Department came into being

when the lifeguards were renamed and their focus turned to all areas

of the marine environment.

This included beach parking and tidelands operations, as well as

beach rescues and first aid.

Newport Beach grew to five stations and 40 full-time personnel by

1957.

As the city grew in population, size of buildings and area, so did

the fire department.

Throughout the ‘60s ‘70s, firefighters specialized in prevention

and suppression of fires. They worked on advanced emergency medical

aid responses, high-rise fire response, brushland and marine

firefighting, cliff rescue and other specialized assistance needs.

Newport Beach pioneered the use of two-way radio communication,

becoming the first department in Orange County to use it.

What is now known as the Emergency Medical Services was brought

about in the mid-1970’s. This included the 911 system,

firefighter-paramedic units and specially trained hospital personnel.

The paramedic program began in 1975 with eight firefighters

receiving training. Today, Newport runs three, two-person paramedic

units around the clock.

In the 1990s, city leaders brought the fire and marine departments

back together.

Today, eight stations throughout Newport Beach provide safety both

on land and in the ocean.

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