Engine Company No. 48 - 1914
798 Wisconsin Street (mapped location)

Neighborhood: Potrero Hill

Company History:
1914   Engine Co. No. 48 organized and assigned to quarters
1918   August 15th, Battalion 10 organized and assigned to quarters
1926   Battalion 10 relocated to the quarters of Engine Co. No. 16, 909 Tennessee Street
1952   Auxiliary Engine Co. No. 25 organized and assigned to quarters
1961   May 2nd, Battalion 11 relocated from the quarters of Engine Co. No. 16, 909 Tennessee Street
1970   July 1st, Battalion District 11, deactivated and placed out of service, budget cuts
1974   Auxiliary Engine Co. No. 25 disbanded
1974   January 2nd, Company Number changed to Engine Co. No. 37 and continues to be in service to date

This beautiful two-story brick structure brought fire protection to the neighborhood known as Potrero Hill was also designed by John Reid Jr.  The company was organized to coincide with the opening of the firehouse; eleven firemen on duty.  Their first apparatus was a 1914 White Chemical and Hose Car, registry #94061, with a 4 cylinder 40 HP engine and two 35 gallon chemical tanks.  The White Hose Car pulled an 1894 Clapp & Jones, registry #2310, 900 GPM steam engine.  With an interior newly refurbished in 1996, this house merges the most modern fire apparatus with the style and workmanship of a facade embellished with intricate terra cotta detail used in by-gone days.  The firehouse is located atop Potrero Hill and has a fabulous view of downtown San Francisco.  On quiet summer evenings the sounds of the screaming faithful San Francisco Giant fans can be heard from Pac Bell Park.   On clear nights, when the San Francisco fog is not present, the company can watch the progress being made at 3rd or 4th alarms of fire in the Financial District.  If the Chief of Department would only pull a 5th alarm, then the crew of Engine 37 could get in on the action.