Bay Area Firefighter

10/25/2025

The big game, UC Berkeley Bears and Stanford Cardinal Thanksgiving Day 1900, produced the greatest accident at a sporting event in US history. The game was played in San Francisco that year with 19,000 in attendance. Hundreds of those who couldn’t afford the $1 admission gathered on the roof of the newly built Pacific Glass Works building to watch the game. Twenty minutes into the game the roof collapsed and a hundred or more fell four stories to the factory floor. Sixty to a hundred more fell on top a furnace of 500 degree molten glass. Twenty-two were killed with another 100 injured.

The San Francisco Call referred to it as “perhaps the most horrifying accident that ever happened in San Francisco.

No physical memorial to the disaster exists.

10/25/2025

Yes. A cat rescue in action.

Good work today around 11:30am on Olive & Lewis

AdventureCat Howie survives on of his 9 lives on the Ventura Streets. Awesome Cat

10/25/2025

On Friday, November 7 at 11AM, we will gather at Sherwood Hall to honor and remember Engineer Joshua Hostetter — a devoted husband, father, firefighter, and proud union leader.

Josh wasn’t just a firefighter; he was a brother who stood up for others, fought for what was right, and led with integrity and heart. His love for the job and his commitment to our members and community will never be forgotten.

Join us as we celebrate his life, his service, and his lasting legacy.

10/24/2025

Gary Altenberg was a loving father and hardworking lieutenant. He led by example and made a positive impact wherever he went.

I am so grateful to have shared many memories growing up in the firehouse. I then followed in his footsteps and became an EMT for the same San Francisco Fire Department.

Everyone knew how much he loved classic cars. He even purchased a 1969 Camaro for us to tackle as a father daughter project.

Unfortunately, we never got to.

When he died, he left a lot behind. I have picked up that torch and am doing my best to carry on his legacy while creating my own.

In memory of my dad, I will finish and park my 1969 Camaro next to “The Altenberg” and collect toys for kids at the 2026 San Francisco Old Car Picnic.

Throughout the year, I’ll bring you along on this emotional journey. It’s a tall order… the car needs everything done. I know I can do it with the help of an amazing community behind me and I cannot wait!

Want to help?

🛠️ Buy a sticker
🧸 Donate a toy
🎥 Subscribe on YouTube

10/24/2025

10/24/2025

🚒👶🏼We are pleased to announce the newest additions to the OCFD family! Five of our members welcomed babies in 2025. Join us in congratulating these outstanding fathers!🚒👶🏼

10/24/2025

Thank you to everyone that has donated so far. This is my brother Felix. My fireman. I understand everyone has their own finances and their own immediate family to worry about. However I thank you.The firehouse is a brotherhood. We are going to beat this Cancer Brother Mercado. I thank the below organizations for their support. Regardless of location. Thank you to and your personnel for stepping up.
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10/24/2025

It is with deep sorrow that the Marin County Fire Department shares the loss of two cherished members of our fire family. Engineer Breanna Buchanan Brown and Fire Dispatcher Teresa Yamanoha. They both dedicated their lives to public service, leaving behind lasting legacies of compassion, professionalism, and strength.

Engineer Breanna Buchanan Brown will be remembered for her unwavering dedication, warmth, and leadership. She began her career with Marin County Fire in 1998 as a Seasonal Firefighter and went on to serve with distinction for nearly two decades, retiring as an Engineer in 2016. A proud C Shifter and Bolinas Volunteer, Breanna embodied the spirit of service, lifting those around her. Her impact reached far beyond the fire line through her work with the MCFD Health and Wellness Cadre, the Ron Thomas Memorial Golf Tournament in support of air tanker pilot widows and orphans, and as a Burn Relay Coordinator for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Her passion for firefighter wellness and community connection touched countless lives and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Thank you for your service.

Fire Dispatcher Teresa Yamanoha exemplified dedication and heart throughout her nearly three decades of service to Marin County. She began her career in September 1996 with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, where she was known for her calm presence and deep knowledge - traits that guided many through their own training and growth. In July 2024, Teresa brought her expertise to the Marin Emergency Command Center, where her caring and steady voice was invaluable to operations. Known for her humor, and unmatched loyalty, Teresa was the kind of colleague everyone relied on, and the kind of friend everyone cherished. She lived a life of service, deeply proud of her work, her family, and her role in keeping the community safe. Teresa is survived by her children and grandchildren, who carry forward her legacy of love and dedication.

Both Breanna and Teresa embodied the best of what it means to serve. Their legacies will continue to guide and inspire all of us who had the honor of working alongside them

10/22/2025

Sorry, sir, you can't park there. 🤣.sd The plane made an emergency landing in Mission Beach after an engine failure. No one was injured, and the pilot walked away from the scene! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
🎥:

10/22/2025

Every time the alarm sounds, our firefighters show up — ready to protect this community.
Now, it’s our turn to show up for them.
On October 21st @ 7:00 PM, the City Council needs to see that firefighters need binding arbitration for discipline and grievances — a fair process where an independent, neutral party helps ensure that every firefighter is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
This isn’t about avoiding accountability — it’s about ensuring it’s done the right way.
Let’s pack the room, fill it with red shirts, and show that Patterson stands for fairness, integrity, and its firefighters. 🚒❤️

📅 October 21st | 7:00 PM | City Council Chambers
👕 Wear your red shirts — your voice matters!

10/21/2025

Oakland Hills Firestorm 🔥🔥

34 years ago, October 19 - 21, 1991.
The Oakland Hills Firestorm began on October 19th, 1991, as a grass fire off Tunnel Road near the Caldecott Tunnel.

The Oakland Fire Department extinguished the blaze, but on the morning of October 20th, fanned by high winds, it re-ignited and quickly raged out of control.

The adjacent Parkwoods Apartment Complex on Caldecott Lane was among the first structures lost in the fire, which crested the peak of the Oakland Hills and raged through Hiller Highlands.

The Oakland Fire Department called in support from outside agencies while the fire raged out of control. Burning embers ignited new fires as the fire began generating its own winds, becoming a firestorm. The fire ultimately spread to 1,520 acres.

Before the fire was brought under control on October 21st, 3,354 single-family homes and 437 apartment and condo units were destroyed, 25 people died, and 150 were injured.