Squad 51 & Engine 51 from TV’s “Emergency” in Bellflower, CA
Located just off Bellflower Boulevard in Bellflower, California, in a nondescript building with little-to-no signage, is the L.A. County Fire Museum. Even without the signs, it’s easy to spot by all of the fire equipment outside. It’s not in the greatest part of town, and parking can be a challenging, but once you get inside you’ll understand that this is a very special place. Admission is free (!), with a suggested donation of $5.
This is what we’ll call a ‘working’ museum, meaning, in large part it’s a garage. And some of the exhibits might be up on the lift getting some work done. In that way, it reminded me of the small air museum in Paso Robles, CA. I really like these kinds of museums, as it lets you get up-close with the subjects and exhibits.
“Station 51” helmets, signed by Kevin Tighe and Randolph Mantooth.
A collection of LA County Fire Department helmets.
At the entrance to the museum, there is a room jam-packed of fire uniforms, helmets, handheld equipment, etc. And I mean ‘jam packed’. They are a little tight-for-space, and they have a lot of artifacts.
A 40’s Ford ‘Rescue Wagon” restomod.
Once you get into the floor of the museum, I.E., the garage, you may be overwhelmed with the number, and variety, of firefighting apparatus on display.
An 1888, horse-drawn, Silsby rotary gear steam fire engine, “Neptune”.
A 1907 American-LaFrance horse-drawn steam fire engine.
A 1924 American-LaFrance Ford Model TT fire engine.
A 1927 Seagrave Triple fire engine.
The ‘dashboard’ on the 1927 Seagrave Triple.
The centerpiece to the LA County Fire Museum collection is, of course, the fire engines and rescue truck featured in the television show “Emergency!“. A few times, over the course of the first 2 seasons, Engine 51 was an old, open-compartment, 1965 Crown Firecoach Triple, seen with its counterpart from Station 36.
The original Engine 51.
By the third season, Engine 51 was upgraded to the 1974 Ward-LaFrance fire engine.
Engine 51, front view.
Engine 51, right side.
Engine 51, rear/left view.
And the crown jewel of the collection is Squad 51. Well, at least one of the three 1972 Dodge D300 trucks used while the series was being filmed. This model is in outstanding shape, the team did a wonderful job restoring it.
Squad 51’s rescue truck, from “Emergency!”.
Squad 51, front view.
Squad 51, rear-left view.
Squad 51, rear view.
Squad 51, interior.
The L.A. County Fire Museum is a real treat. If you are in the area, and are a fan of Emergency
As for Station 51, you can see that here!
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GREAT tour, however, a few corrections about the “Emergency!” rigs: The Crown Firecoach Engibne 51 was a 1965 open cab (not “open compartment” – compartments are where the equipment is storedJ), the Ward LaFrance Engine 51 was a 1973 model, not a 1974 and there were not three identical 1972 Squad 51 Dodge D300 rescues, there was a 1972 model (first two seasons), a 1973 (seasons 3 and 4) and a 1974 model (season 5). The one ar the museum is the 1974 D300.
The Squad 51 in the LA County Fire Museum is in fact a 1974 Dodge D300 Dual Truck Chassis. The serial number on the dash confirms this. The studio used three Dodge trucks (‘72, ‘73 & ‘74). during the nine year run of the TV show. The front grill and rear compartment box on the museum truck are the only parts that were actually on the original 1972 Squad.
Is there anyway I could order the Truck 51 and the Squad 51 truck models? From, the 1970’s TV show Emergency.
HI Romeo,
So far I haven’t had any luck tracking down a model kit from Emergency, of Squad 51 or Engine 51. The closest thing I’ve found are some Matchbox and Hot Wheels models on eBay, but no plastic or resin model kits, sadly.
If you do find one, please be sure to let me know!
great article, JAY LENOS GARAGE should do a segment on it for YOUTUBE
Thanks for the “tour” I’m planning a trip to the Museum and the Emergency! Landmarks this summer 2017. It’s great to know after 40s years of Emergency! ending it’s still a fan favorite and a cult classic.
Awesome!!! I will have to check it out this Year!!! I watch the show on Netflix a childhood favorite that I never missed one episode! Looking back now I understand why it was so important to Educate the public for the need of the Paramedical Rescue in our society. And today the Local Cities have adopted this as a normal way of City services to the growing masses of our the World!!
City of LA Employee.
thanks for the great photo. please post more