FIRE Administration Chief's Message Department Info History Special Events Calendar Fire Station Tours Incident Reports Career Opportunities Operations Training Emergency Preparedness Inspection Fire Prevention CERT Program RETURN TO CITY SERVICES The City of San Gabriel can trace its history to the founding of the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in 1771 by Father Junipero Serra. In 1769 an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola discovered what is now considered The San Gabriel Valley. Under orders of the Spanish Viceroy the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel was founded five miles south of its present location in what is now the City of Montebello. In 1775 the mission was moved to its present location for better agricultural facilities. San Gabriel has often been referred to as the “Birthplace of the Los Angeles Region” as it was from the Mission San Gabriel, in 1781, the Pobladores left to found the Pueblo de Los Angeles at what is now known as Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. By 1852 San Gabriel became one of the first townships in the County of Los Angeles. The City was incorporated as a general law city on August 24, 1913 with a population of 1,500. In December of 1914, bids were requested for a “chemical apparatus to be placed on an automobile chassis of 40 horsepower to be used for firefighting”. One bid was received in January 1915 from A.W. Roe and Leo Davis of the Mission Garage for $925.00. On March 17, 1915 Mr. Roe was appointed Fire Chief and was authorized to form a volunteer fire department. In May 1915 the chemical fire engine was accepted and the city clerk was authorized to purchase the necessary hose and other equipment as required. In October 1917 a Model 12 American LaFrance fire truck was purchased for $6,500 with a $500 trade in on the old truck. It was about this time that it was decided to install fire hydrants. The Fire Department continued as a volunteer department until 1923 when a fire station was built and a man was hired to live upstairs with his family. In 1930 the department consisted of a Chief, one captain one engineer, and two hosemen who worked three days on and one day off. This continued until 1938 when two additional men were hired and the schedule changed to two days on and one day off. In 1943 the shift changed to 24 hours on and 24 hours off with a salary of $135.00 a month. Because a major railway bisects the city, a second fire station was built north of the tracks in 1949. In 1960 a new fire station was built to replace the south fire station and better serve the southern portion of the city. The City of San Gabriel Fire Department has provided emergency ambulance service to its citizens since 1944. This service started with basic first aid and progressed to EMT, EMT-D, and finally Paramedic level service. This is one of the longest continuous services of its type in the County of Los Angeles.