Early 1900's

Here is the information included in the letter that accompanied the helmet upon its donation to the Museum:

To the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum
Date: 10/25/2009
Subject: Forker Helmet, Engine #43
From the Hennings Family

"This helmet was found in the garage when we moved into our South El Monte house in early January 1957. Dad, Bernie Henninges, was a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, hired in 1947 soon after being discharged from the Navy in World War II. He retired in 1975 as an Engineer. Dad had bought this house from another LA County Firefighter, Osmand Stevens, Captain Stevens at the time.

The helmet seems to have quite a bit of history with a second coat of paint. The original shows that it came from Engine 22 prior to being painted. You can still see the outline of the number. At the time, District 22 was discontinuedbecause the area became a city. It was re-stenciled with Engine 43. The district was east of El Monte, at Five Points.

I believe this was worn by Firefighter Stevens when this style of helmet was retired from service and before Five Points became part of the City of El Monte. As children, my four brothers and I often played fireman using this helmet. After I became a firefighter for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, in Pierce County, Washington, I asked Dad about the helmet. After rummaging through the shed, he brought the old helmet out and he gave it to me. For years, my children would play with this same helmet. It has seen more years of service in the Hennings Family, than it saw in the fire service!

My brothers and I would like to donate this helmet to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum on behalf of our father, Bernard Andrew Hennings, for his years of service in the Department.

Signed Edwin Hennings and brothers, Charles, Robert, David, and Timothy Hennings"

The District 22 that was mentioned in the letter relates to the early 1920's Los Angeles County Station 22 in in the city of Gardena. It was called Monita Gardena Fire Protection District. The city of Gardena was formed, and Station 22 became a Gardena City fire station. The number 22 would again appear in the East Los Angeles area of Belvedere Gardens. So this helmet would have served either in the Monita Gardena Fire District or the East Los Angeles District.

It was more likely that it served in the East Los Angeles District, because the Monita Gardena District existed very early in our District history, and it is not believed the Forker helmets were produced during that period of time. We are continuing to research this fact.

Station 22, in East Los Angeles, is still in service today, being one of the oldest Los Angeles County Fire Stations in continuous service. These types of helmets are very rare, they are always something we try to seek out and find for our Museum. We are very happy, and grateful to the Hennings Family for thinking of us, and donating this piece of Department history back to us.

Assistant Chief Helmets are white. This particular one is from...coming soon.

1950s

James O. Page was key in developing the paramedic program we know today. He was out of Engine Company 11 in the 1950s. This helmet honors Jim and his work. It is displayed inside Rescue 11. See the Rescue 11 page for more information on Jim and the Rescue 11 apparatus.

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