WaSMAR2801_15 Guide to the Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records 1915-1993 Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records Finding aid prepared by Linnet Blumenthal Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Seattle Municipal Archives © 2010
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
Finding aid encoded by Julie Kerssen 2010 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
2801-15 Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept. Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records 1915-1993 1964-1993 4.4 cubic feet 13 boxes Records from the Seattle Fire Department's Public Information Office. Collection materials are in English Historical Note

A Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. It provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations and purchase of a fire boat. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg who served 1890-1892 and 1895-1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations, and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896. The position of Fire Marshall was established in 1901 with responsibility for inspecting buildings to insure they were in compliance the ordinances related to building construction and fire protection. The Fire Marshall also inspects all fires and reports on the causes. The Department's mission is to curtail loss of life and property by fire through inspection and certification of building safety systems, public education, regulation of hazardous material storage, and fire suppression.

Records from the Public Information Officer documenting the activities of the Seattle Fire Department from the 1960s through the late 1980s. The collection includes press releases dating from the 1960s through the 1980s, graduation ceremony programs and planning records, fire station dedication and rededication records, as well as memos from various fire chiefs, citizen complaints and responses, and information on fire safety films. Of particular interest are records pertaining to the investigation and subsequent arrest of Paul Kenneth Keller for various arson fires in 1992-1993. This series also includes promotional activity between the SFD and the Seattle Sounders soccer team from the early 1980s, as well as records from the Seattle Fire Buff Society, the Forward Thrust campaign and a letter from the public relations division to Mrs. Gordon Vickery, the wife of Chief Vickery.

Three early 20th century photographs (ca. 1915) are also included in the collection, showcasing apparatus and firefighters. One photograph is identified as having been taken on Third Avenue and Pine Street, near the Fischer Building. Also of interest are photographs of training activities, women in the fire department, photographic portraits of Chiefs Frank Hanson, Jack Richards and Claude Harris, construction of stations 19, 29 and 36, and fire boat photographs and negatives, as well as night inspections of downtown alleyways and business from the 1960s.

Records are open to the public.

[Item and date], Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records, Record Series 2801-15 . Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Publications were removed and added to the Published Documents collection.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept. Seattle (Wash.). Arson--Washington (State)--Seattle Fire engines--Washington (State)--Seattle Fire fighters--Washington (State)--Seattle Fire chiefs--Washington (State)--Seattle Seattle

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

2801-15 Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Records 1915-1993 1/1 Applicants 1969 1/2 Apparatus Display Memos 1988-1989 1/3 Arson 1992 1/4 Arson 1992 1/5 Arson 1992 1/6 Arson 1992 1/7 Arson 1993 1/8 Arson 1993 1/9 Arson - Newspaper Clippings 1993 1/10 Arson - Seattle Magazine Article 1993 2/1 Arson - North End 1987 2/2 Arson - Paul Kenneth Keller 1993 2/3 Arson - View Ridge 1987 2/4 Bic, Inc. - Windsurfers 1985 2/5 Centennial Ball Program 1989 2/6 Central Heights Annexation 1984-1985 2/7 City University - Fire Service Administration Specialty Bachelor of Science 1984 2/8 Commendation and Appreciation Letters from Fire Chief 1986-1989 2/9 Complaints 1985-1987 2/10 Complaints 1986 2/11 Complaints 1987 2/12 Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) Materials 1987 2/13 Correspondence to Mrs. Gordon Vickery 1964 2/14 Environmental Coordinating Committee 1986 2/15 Environmental Coordinating Committee 1987 2/16 Environmental Coordinating Committee 1983-1987 3/1 Environmental Information Hotline 1985 3/2 Fire Department Inspection Questionnaire 1965 3/3 Fire Department Statistics 1988 3/4 Fire Safety Films/Photographs Correspondence 1964-1971 3/5 Fire Station #32 Dedication 1967 3/6 Fire Station #32 Dedication - Newspaper Clipping 1967 3/7 Fire Station #25 Dedication 1970 3/8 Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20 Dedication 1971 3/9 Fire Station Nos. 11 and 20 Dedication - Newspaper Clipping 1971 3/10 Fire Station #26 Dedication 1973 3/11 Fire Station #31 Dedication 1975 3/12 Fire Station #18 Dedication 1975 3/13 Fireboat Display Memos 1987-1989 3/14 Fireman's Appreciation Day - Kiwanis 1968 3/15 Forward Thrust 1967-1968 3/16 Forward Thrust - Newspaper Clippings 1967-1968 3/17 Frank Hanson Retirement Party 1973 4/1 General Correspondence 1965-1969 4/2 General Correspondence - Newspaper Clipping 1965-1969 4/3 General Correspondence 1970-1971 4/4 General Correspondence 1970-1971 4/5 General Correspondence 1970-1971 4/6 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1985 4/7 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1986 4/8 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1987 4/9 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1988 4/10 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1988 5/1 General Correspondence - Fire Chief 1988-1989 5/2 Graduation Ceremonies - August 19 1967 5/3 Graduation Ceremonies - February 3 1968 5/4 Graduation Ceremonies - July 13 1968 5/5 Graduation - January 11 1969 5/6 Graduation - April 12 1969 5/7 Graduation - August 1 1969 5/8 Graduation - January 17 1970 5/9 Graduation - July 18 1970 5/10 Graduation, 18th Class - January 16 1971 5/11 Graduation, 20th Class - May 22 1971 5/12 Graduation, 22nd Class - June 21 1971 5/13 Graduation, 22st Class - August 28 1971 5/14 Graduation Ceremonies - January 8 1972 5/15 Graduation, 23rd Class - April 22 1972 5/16 Graduation, 24th Class - July 29 1972 5/17 Graduation, 25th Class - Novemeber 18 1972 5/18 Graduation, 26th Class - April 21 1973 5/19 Graduation, 27th Class - June 16 1973 6/1 Graduation, 28th Class - September 1 1973 6/2 Graduation, 28th Class - September 1 - Newspaper Clipping 1973 6/3 Graduation, 29th Class - January 19 1974 6/4 Graduation, 30th Class - April 27 1974 6/5 Graduation, 31st Class - October 25 1975 6/6 Graduation, 32nd Class - October 2 1976 6/7 Graduation, 33rd Class - September 10 1977 6/8 Graduation, 34th Class - May 6 1978 6/9 Graduation, 35th Class - December 9 1978 6/10 Graduation, 36th Class - April 5 1980 6/11 Graduation, 37th Class - October 18 1980 6/12 Graduation, 38th Class - February 28 1981 6/13 Graduation, 39th Class - June 30 1981 6/14 Graduation, 40th Class - October 26 1981 6/15 Graduation, 41st Class - September 17 1982 6/16 Graduation, 42nd Class - May 6 1983 6/17 Hazardous Materials Information 1988 6/18 Hazardous Materials Unit Information 1982 6/19 Hazardous Waste Subcommittee 1987 6/20 International Associationof Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Correspondence 1970 6/21 John E. Philbin Retirement Party 1974 6/22 Letter Recommending Steven Sanislo for Elemetary School Name 1966 6/23 Marine Fire Protection Pilot Project 1974-1980 7/1 Marine Firefighting Materials 1988 7/2 Medic II 1973 7/3 Medic II 1980 7/4 Medic One 1976 7/5 Medic One - The First Six Years 1976 7/6 Medic One - Good Samaritan Law 1975 7/7 Medic One Film - "Second Chance to Live" 1976 7/8 Memos from Assistant Fire Chief - 7/9 National Articles 1965-1988 7/10 National Fire Protection Association - Magazine Clippings 1966 7/11 National Recruiting Brochures 1966 7/12 Northwest Burn Foundation 1986-1987 7/13 Northwest Burn Foundation 1987-1988 7/14 Northwest Burn Foundation - General Information 1987 7/15 Northwest Police and Fire Olympics 1985 7/16 Northwest Senior Center Event Invitation 1986 7/17 Orthopedic Hospital Auction 1984 7/18 Ozark Hotel Fire 1970 8/1 Pacific Medical Center 1983 8/2 Parade Permits 1984 8/3 Parametrix, Inc. Study - Piers 90-91 (Navy) 1983-1984 8/4 Phone Book Collection 1983 8/5 PIO Quarterly Planning Program Memos 1985-1987 8/6 Poison Control Center 1985-1986 8/7 Polk Directory 1984 8/8 Post-Mortem Protocol 1982-1983 8/9 Press Releases 1964 8/10 Press Releases - Newspaper Clipping - Roosevelt High Students Rescue Child 1964 8/11 Press Releases 1965 8/12 Press Releases - Radio and T.V. Spots 1965-1966 8/13 Press Releases 1966 8/14 Press Releases 1967 8/15 Press Releases 1967 8/16 Press Releases 1968 8/17 Press Releases - Newspaper Clipping - Todd Shipyard Fire 1968 8/18 Press Releases 1969-1970 9/1 Press Releases 1970 9/2 Press Releases 1971 9/3 Press Releases 1971-1973 9/4 Press Releases 1974-1976 9/5 Press Releases 1977-1980 9/6 Press Releases 1981-1987 9/7 Project Seattle Outreach to Sudan 1985-1986 9/8 Raffle Request for Medic One 1983 9/9 Rainier Tower Sculpture 1983 9/10 Raquetball Tournament 1981-1984 9/11 Recruitment Materials 1964-1980 9/12 RIX Air Compressor 1965 10/1 Salvation Army - Emergency Disaster Service 1987 10/2 Savings Bonds 1982 10/3 Scout Show Pole Slide Tickets 1983-1984 10/4 Seattle Fire Buff Society 1984-1988 10/5 Seattle Fire Buff Society Handbook 1982 10/6 Seattle Fire Buff Society Handbook 1982 10/7 Seattle Housing Authority - Senior Housing 1983 10/8 Seattle Sounders - Fire Department Trading Cards 1980-1983 10/9 Seattle Sounders - Fire Department Trading Cards - Newspaper Clippings 1980-1983 10/10 Seattle University Students' Study - Organizational Behavior 1983 10/11 Senior Citizen Assistance 1983 10/12 Sign Amnesty Day 1982-1987 10/13 Small Business Administration Federal Disaster Assistance 1983 10/14 Stuart Bradley Company - Complaints re: "Fire and Home Safety Manuals" 1985 10/15 Suggestion Award Board 1984 10/16 Support-A-Child Auction 1983-1986 10/17 Toyota Pickup Program 1983 10/18 Washington Burn Fund 1984 10/19 Washington Burn Fund - Newspaper Clipping 1984 10/20 Water Department - Conservation Plan 1984 10/21 Waterfront Park Proposal 1984 10/22 Western Fire Journal - Seattle Fire Department Article 1982-1983 11/1 Prints - Air Room 1965 11/2 Prints - Apparatus Assembly - Kentworth Motor Truck Company 1967 11/3 Prints and Slides - Apparatus 1965-1986 11/4 Prints - Apparatus #322 - American La France Elevated Platform 1969-1970 11/5 Prints and Slides - Fire Boat 1965-1985 11/6 Prints - Correspondence with Photos from Venice, Italy 1987 11/7 Prints - Equipment 1968-1972 11/8 Prints and Slides - Firefighter Personnel 1965-1985 11/9 Prints and Slides - Firefighters at Work 1965-1983 11/10 Print - Fire Station #26 Dedication [Box 3] 1973 11/11 Prints - Fire Station #18 Dedication [Box 3] 1975 11/12 Prints - Fire Station Rededications, Nos. 6, 25, 31, 36 and 41 1965-1987 11/13 Print - Graduation, 37th Class [Box 6] 1980 11/14 Prints and Contact Sheets - Miscellaneous 1965-1989 11/15 Prints - Night Inspections - Identified 1968 11/16 Prints - [Night Inspections - Unidentified] 1965 11/17 Print - Northwest Burn Foundation [Box 7] 1986 11/18 Prints - Station #18 1971 11/19 Station #19 - Survey and Site Location 1969-1970 11/20 Prints - Station #19 Site Location 1969 11/21 Prints - Station #25 Water Leaks 1970 11/22 Prints - Station #25 Door Accident 1980 11/23 Prints - Station #29 Under Construction 1970 11/24 Prints - Station #36 1970-1972 11/25 Prints - Station #40 Interior 1965 11/26 Prints - Training 1964-1970 12/1 Negatives - Apparatus 1965-1986 12/2 Negatives - Equipment 1980 12/3 Negatives - Firefighters at Work 1965-1985 12/4 Negatives - Firefighter Personnel 1980 12/5 Negatives - Fire Station Rededications, Nos. 2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 28, 37, 38 and 39 1970-1989 12/6 Negatives - Miscellaneous 1965-1989 12/7 Negatives - Night Inspections - Identified 1967-1969 12/8 Negatives - Seattle Sounders - Fire Department [Box 9] 1980 12/9 Negatives - Station #19 Work Progress, Site Location 1970-1971 12/10 Negatives - Station #36 Work Progress 1970-1972 12/11 Negatives - Training 1968-1983 13/1 Command Car Lesson Plan 1970 13/2 Prints - Command Car Lesson Plan 1970 13/3 Emergency Breathing Air - NOAA Facility Operating Instructions 1984 13/4 Prints - Emergency Breathing Air - NOAA Facility Operating Instructions 1984 13/5 Ladder Nozzle, Elk 750 RC Instructions 1968 13/6 Prints - Ladder Nozzle, Elk 750 RC Instructions 1968 13/7 Mobile Air Station Operating Instructions 1980 13/8 Prints - Mobile Air Station Operating Instructions 1980 13/9 Recording - 4815 S. Graham Street 1989 13/10 Station 10 Air Room Operating Instructions 1980 13/11 Prints - Station 10 Air Room Operating Instructions 1980