Marin Fire County Fire Chiefs Association

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Pictured: The Novato Fire Protection District staff in 1962. Chief George Cavellero is in the center in his white hat. Other names tbd.

Published on: October 24, 2015

Preserving Fire History Through Collecting

This week our new content includes a biography page on San Rafael's own Dr. Stephen Mizroch, M.D., an avid fire memorabilia collector and also a long-time San Rafael Fire Commissioner. Thanks go to Dr. Mizroch for sharing images of his collection and for also being a contributing member of our Marin County Fire History Committee. Fire Patch collecting is a very popular hobby, and especially with fire departments, who often have large displays of patches from other FD's in their stations. Dr. Mizroch also collects badges, fire speaking trumpets, antique photographs, and other documents like ID cards.

One of the largest fire patch collections in the fire world can be found at and near the National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition to patches at the NFA, the local Vigilant Hose Company VFD in Emmitsbug is known as the most visited fire house in America. Visiting firefighters often leave patches for their massive collection. Next door to the FD is the Ott House Bar and Grill, whose walls and bar tops are filled with thousands of fire patches from around the world. Enjoy some images of current and historical Marin County fire service patches on Dr. Mizroch's page. Also from his collection shown below is a membership card for Lorin Hall from the California State Firemen's Association in 1963. He was a Captain in the Marin County FD, and a volunteer fireman in Larkspur.

3 Comments

Greg Jennings - 11 years ago

Early in my career with MCFD had had several opportunities to work with Capt. Hall at the Marin City station. He, like many of his day, was a genuine character of his generation and always,in his distinctive way,made for some interesting shifts. He smoked a corn cobb pipe stoked with Indian tobacco, and in the evening after dinner would produce a large pot of popcorn and sliced apples which you ate whether you liked it or not. He was an easy going kind of guy as were most of those older fellows at MCFD. He and many of the others are in some of my fondest memories of that era with Co. Fire.

Pete Martin - 10 years ago

I was a volunteer in the Bolinas fire Department, the County fire Warden, Sherman Smith, announced his retirement. A few days later, he gave me a call and suggested that I might want to submit an application for a job with the Marin County Fire Department, which I did. Shortly thereafter I was called in to Woodacre for a Chiefs Interview with Louis Bloom. As soon as the interview was over, he called the Woodacre, Fire Captain, Loren Hall, in and asked him to take me out for a "road test." We went out and what in those days, was today's version of a Type-3, and drove around for 10 miles or so. When we got back to the station he reported that I was a good driver. I was offered a job on the spot. Loren Hall played a significant role in my being hired. My first day of duty was November 7, 1963.

I too, worked under Captain Hall in Marin City. Greg’s memories pretty much mirror mine. However, it was during turbulent times with lots of action.

Pete Martin - 10 years ago

I was a member of the Bolinas volunteer fire department, when the Fire Warden at the one-man station in Bolinas, his retirement. He put in a good word for me with then Fire Chief Louis Bloom. That led me to be called in for a "Chiefs interview." At the end of my interview, he called the Station Captain in and asked him to take me out for driving test. We went out in an engine that was the then version of a Type-3, and drove about 10 miles around the San Geronimo Valley. When we returned to Headquarters, he reported to the Fire Chief that he thought I was a good driver. Now you know that Captain Hall's approval of my driving, led to my being offered a job with the department. I started November 7, 1963. I later worked with Captain Hall, who was Station Commander, at the Marin City fire station. This was during the time of racial unrest around the country in protest of the (death) of a black man in the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles.

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Our 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

Preserving Fire History Through Collecting

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