In the beginning

 There was a temporary station at the corner of Moraga and Hampton (now La Salle). Local builder Cos Williams, a local builder, donated the use of the land. 

An average day

Report at 9 am – They would report for duty at the station and 13th and Hopkins (now MacArthur) and drive the hook and ladder to Montclair. They did all their cooking on an outdoor camp stove

Off at 7 pm – At the end, they would pile onto the truck again and drive down the hill.

Lieutenant F.H. Waldron was the commanding officer. 

• L.W. Parks – driver
• E.E. Terrell – driver
• F.W. Cochran – hoseman
• C.A Stone 

They fought two fires on their first day.

Engine Company No. 24

In June 1926, $11,000 was appropriated for a new firehouse in Montclair. The city purchased the land from the school department in December 1926 for $4,500. The final construction cost was $18,900.

Construction of the new firehouse got underway in early 1927. Fire Commissioner Colburn officially accepted the firehouse in August of 1927.

The land that the firehouse is on was once the Hays Canyon School.

Eldred E. Edwards of the Oakland Public Works Department drew up plans.

The style of architecture is primarily Old English. The construction method was unique among firehouses at that time, being pre-cast of cement molded on the ground. All the plumbing fixtures, water pipes, and electrical wires conduits were cast in cement.

The roof consisted of 100 curved slabs of concrete set in grooved beams and held in place with slotted bolts.

Doubled copper strips run along the ridges, forming decorative motifs at the gable peaks. These decorations simulate fire, which follows along the peaked roofline and leaps into flames and gable corners. The copper has been painted white.

Fire Captain Killed in the Line of Duty

The injured firefighters were Patrick S. Doyle, John Baratini, and Ray O. Wells.

Oakland’s Best-Decorated Firehouse

In 1951 Engine Company No. 24 was awarded the first prize of $500.00 for being Oakland’s best-decorated firehouse. The Oakland Tribune also awarded the firehouse a perpetual trophy installed in the house.

The firehouse was an old church scene, with a “Surrey with a Fringe on Top” arriving. Animated choir boys, accompanied by an old pump organ, are shown singing Christmas carols.

In 1952 they erected an old-time country store with a pot-bellied stove, family photographs, and animated figures. Inside, a clerk shows a blushing customer, a lady, a pair of “long john” underwear. Nearby is a blacksmith shop. There was a large holly wreath on the front of the firehouse.

In 1953 the firehouse was decorated as a church with a choir loft and organ. A special merit award was given to the house by the S.F. Examiner.

Montclair Fires and Such

Teddy of Engine No. 24

Earthquake Hazard – 1960s

The Hayward Fault runs right down the middle of Moraga Avenue in front of the firehouse.

Because of that, the firehouse was determined to be an earthquake hazard and could not be repaired. The city hired Anderson, Simonds, Dusel, and Campini to provide architectural services for a new firehouse.

The city was prepared to tear down the Montclair firehouse and build a new one for $165,000. After an outside firm determined it was indeed unsafe to that day’s standards.

City Delays Replacing Firehouse

In October of 1962, Oakland’s City Council held up the money to build a new firehouse and wondered if the money could be used to “repair” it instead.

The firehouse is called ” the country club of the city” and “if it is unsafe so’s my house.”

Councilmember 1962

There was a dispute over the city manager’s report that the firehouse was damaged enough during a recent earthquake (??)to make it a hazard to its occupants. One architect said it could be repaired at little expense with some structural steel.

“two independent consultants said the building is unsafe and should be replaced.“

Oakland City Manager 1962

I can only assume that Oakland had money problems. They would no longer build a new firehouse. Instead, the council approved $22,000 for structural reinforcements, waterproofing, and more habitable.

Contract Awarded

In January 1964, a contract was awarded to M.W. Garing for $13,975 to repair the firehouse.

Loma Prieta – 1989

The firehouse was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. The house was decommissioned in 1991.

Oakland City Landmark #34

On March 18, 1980, the old fire station was designated as Oakland City Landmark #34 

Address: 6226 Moraga Avenue, Oakland, California

Firehouse Today

• Fire Station was decommissioned around 1993 due to concerns that a facility for first responders should not be located on an active earthquake fault,” a city report stated.

In 2018 City officials announced they were seeking development or purchase proposals for two parcels on Moraga Road. One is a vacant property totaling 24,000 square feet, and the other totals 16,000 square feet and contains the Montclair Fire Station, also known as Firehouse No. 24.

More Info:

• Firehouse For Sale – Loopnet 
• Montclair Firehouse – City of Oakland 
• Rumors abound about old Montclair Firehouse – Town Crier
• Montclair Firehouse –  Oakland Local Wiki
• Hobbit Habitats – Sam Whiting – S.F. Gate March 06, 2005
• Hill Fire House Asked – Oakland Tribune June 09, 1926
• Firefighters Get to Camp – Oakland Tribune July 16, 1926
• To Buy School Land – Oakland Tribune December 08, 1926
• Crash Kills Fire Captain Pg 1 – Oakland Tribune January 22, 1946
• Crash Kills Fire Captain Pg 2 – Oakland Tribune January 22, 1946
• 2 Firehouses Spruce Up for Yule Contest – Oakland Tribune December 14, 1951
• Rebuilding the Firehouse – Oakland Tribune May 19, 1962
• New Firehouse – Oakland Tribune May 23, 1962
• Architect Authorized – Oakland Tribune October 03, 1962
• City Delays Replacing Firehouse – Oakland Tribune October 26, 1962
• Structural Reinforcements – Oakland Tribune September 06, 1963
• Bids for Work on Firehouse – Oakland Tribune December 27, 1963

You can view the set of blueprints here:

Montclair Firehouse Blueprints – Dropbox

The End