Company 4’s
Engine 4, Truck 4, Battalion Chief 2, Dispatch 4
5525 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95207
Company 4’s Research
The first Firehouse 4 was constructed in 1908 for $20,000 and first occupied on August 1 of that year. The house was located on the west side of Pilgrim Street between Main Street and Weber Avenue. Company 4’s building was walled with an ornate burnt brick exterior, with swing out recessed doors and balcony above. A spiral staircase ascended to the upper floor dormitory and a brass pole could be used for quick exist to the ground floor. A pistol range for police officers was located in the basement area, with mounded dirt surrounding the target to prevent scattering of lead into the structural walls. Entry to the range was provided by an exterior stairway on the South-West corner of the building. The horse stalls were located in a separate building in the rear of the house. The first engine to occupy the house was a American La France steam engine. The accompanying hose wagon was typical to others (unnamed) located in the department and both were horse drawn apparatus. As the department modernized in the teens, the four house was one of the first to receive new motorized apparatus in 1913. As the city grew in population between the boundaries of what was known as East Street (Wilson Way), North Street (Harding Way), West Street (Pershing Avenue) and South Street (Charter Way), it became necessary to build two new stations and relocate two existing ones.
Company 4 was relocated to 27 East Rose Street on November 27 1915. In the years after, the city grew north to the Calaveras River, the business district expanded (now known as Miracle Mile), and the city supported a growing College of the Pacific (now University of the Pacific). A new house was built at 2630 Bonnie Lane and became new Company 4 in March of 1942. The city continued to grow north over the next two decades and the house was relocated again. Because of an expanding shopping mall on northern Pacific Avenue, and the relocation of Stockton College (now Delta College) from Mendocino Street and Kensington Way to across the street from the newer mall area; the city needed to provide additional ladder company services and built the new location as a double house.
Fightin’ Four’s
The new house was occupied on December 1, 1967 by Engine and Truck 4 at a location on Burke Drive just south of Robinhood Drive (now known as 5525 Pacific Avenue). This house was dedicated on May 11, 1968. Paramedic Unit #4 was stationed at this location on April 17, 1976 to respond to calls requiring advanced medical services, but was taken out of service once the company was assigned a Medic and all firefighters were trained to assist as EMTs. (L. Peterson’s Research, D.O.T.)