African American Firefighter Museum - Los Angeles

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Entering the African American Firefighter Museum, located across the street from the historic Coca Cola Building on South Central Avenue in Los Angeles, California, is like taking a step back in time. The museum is located at the historic Fire Station #30, which was one of two segregated firehouses in Los Angeles between 1924 and 1955.

Museum President and Firefighter, Brent Burton, shared numerous stories of African American firefighters while taking FDNNTV on a tour of the museum's displays. "When the fire department integrated, blacks were forced to sleep in the same bed, in the same location, and the other black firefighter on the other shift, slept in the same bed. White firefighters refused to sleep in the same beds that black firefighters had slept in," Burton explained.

According to Brent Burton, prior to building Belmont High School in Belmont, California in 1824, the city was a very deserted place. However, when the school was built, the department, community and school district became concerned about school children looking at African American firefighters in positions of authority; therefore, they relocated the African American firefighters to other stations, including Station #30. The particular area where the station is located happened to be where many blacks were beginning to segregate towards when they migrated to Los Angeles.

When the stations became integrated in 1955, firefighters from Station #30 were transferred to other stations and were met with extreme hostility. Museum Historian Arnie Hartsfield, also known as "The Rookie," expressed, "I complained about being segregated. When I was integrated, they called it integration, I called it isolation."

On display in the museum is a plaque that reads "Colored Served in Rear." Brent Burton explained, "When the black firefighters were integrated, they were not allowed to eat with the white firefighters, and when they did eat, they had to eat by themselves, bring in their own utensils - pots, pans, plates, cups, to eat on and eat with. They were forced out of the kitchen while the white firefighters ate."

In June of 1955, firefighter Ray Lopez submitted a picture of a sign reading, "White Adults", to the media. This photo exposed the racism within the fire department and lead to more equal rights in the fire service. Unfortunately, change did not come quickly.

Firefighter Burton told a particular story of an African American firefighter named Ernie Roberts, who entered the service around 1947. When Roberts was integrated in 1955, he was amongst the first group of black firefighters to be sent from Station #30 to another location. When Firefighter Roberts was attempting to settle into his new station headquarters, a group of white firefighters took Ernie's pillowcase while he was out, used it as toilet paper in the restroom, replaced it on his bed, and turned the lights out. "The whole practical joke and prank was for them to come back, get in bed and lay their head in it," added Burton.

The museum's purpose is to promote diversity and to stand up for inequality against all races and genders. Burton said that while great strides have been made, inequality is still present. He claims that in present-day there is a decrease in the hiring of African Americans in the fire service. Burton continues his recruiting efforts and visits South Los Angeles schools to speak about firefighting to students.

The African American Firefighter Museum is open to the public, with free admission, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:0 p.m." The museum is completely run by volunteers and also completely driven by donations.


Author:Deanne Goodman - Video, Renée Marquart - Text