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George
Hall
Below
is a gallery
of George Hall's photo chronicle of San Francisco fires in the
Eighties.
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During
the 1960’s through the 1980’s, the San Francisco Fire
Department experienced the highest fire activity in their history.
San Francisco
is less than 49 square miles in size with a population of 800,000.
The incoming rush of commuting workers more than doubles its
daytime population. The city is protected by 42 firehouses (42
engine companies, 19 ladder companies, two rescue companies and a
fireboat) organized into nine battalions and two divisions. During
those busy years, it was not unusual to average 125 greater alarm
fires per year. That does not even consider the daily single-alarm
fires.
Around 1980, a photographer by the
name of George Hall obtained permission to ride with some of the
busier companies. The purpose of this endeavor was to compile fire
photographs and information for a pictorial book about the San
Francisco Fire Department. George was not the first photographer
to be granted permission to ride with the fire department nor was
he to be the last. What we soon found out was that George was not
like the rest.
I entered the San Francisco Fire
Department in 1978 and was fortunate to have been assigned to some
of the busier companies. As a result, I had the distinct honor and
privilege to meet George and spend considerable time with him
during the many months he spent at the firehouse. George was
generous, funny, a gentleman and friend, a true class act. His
acceptance by virtually everyone in the fire department was
complete. He was one of us, a brother. I know of no other civilian
who was ever granted this degree of approval and recognition.
We all knew George was outstanding
at what he did, but many of us had no idea just how good he was
until his untimely death in April of 2006. George was a very
humble man and did not like to talk about himself. It was at his
memorial service, that was attended by celebrities and famous
photographers from all over the world, that I learned just how
good he was. George was an internationally renowned photographer
and author. He was a mentor to many of the “big names” who
rock the world of photography today. He was best known for his
innovations and prowess in aviation photography and won the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of
Aviation. He published a number of books and founded two stock
agencies, Check-Six, specializing in aviation photography, and
Code Red, specializing in fire and rescue photography. Among the
books about the fire service he published was Working Fire: The
San Francisco Fire Department; FDNY, New York's Bravest;
and Firetrucks In Action, to name a few.
In 2000, when my friend and
co-publisher Paul Schuller began to put Fire Nuggets
together, I contacted George with the hopes he could help us out
with a few photographs. In his infinite generosity, George
provided a stack of photographs at no cost. He wouldn’t think of
taking a dime. He was happy to help a friend. Over the years
George would stop by the firehouse from time to time. It was
always good catching up. About a month before his death, George
called to say he wanted to stop by the firehouse; he had something
for me. After a good firehouse dinner, he produced a box of fire
photographs he had taken during those days of riding along with
the San Francisco Fire Department in the eighties. When he handed
them over to me, I was stunned and moved by this incredible
gesture. As I reflect, it almost seems he had a premonition and
wanted to make sure the photos were left in good hands.
The photographs you see here are
just a sampling of those days in the Eighties. I will always
remember George as a decent and kind human being, one who made a
difference in the lives of all he touched. To those who were not
fortunate enough to meet George, let these photos serve as a
reminder of what a great photographer he was.
Ted Corporandy
Fire Nuggets co-publisher
San Francisco Fire Department (retired)
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