The Sacramento Fire Department records document the department's management and operations from 1876 to 2006. The records are representative of the day-to-day functions carried out by the fire department while playing a role in Sacramento's expansion in the mid-20th century. They include administrative and personnel documents, station records, logbooks and incident reports, emergency and hazmat planning records, city planning documents, technical reports, equipment records, records related to the Central Alarm Station, and alarm diagrams.

In 1872, the California State legislature enacted legislation creating a paid fire department in the City of Sacramento. On October 1 of that year, the newly created fire department replaced the volunteer fire departments that had existed since 1850. Beginning with two steam engines and one ladder truck, the Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) has grown to its present-day complement of thirty engines and ten trucks. This expansion reflects the increase in the city's size and population during the SFD's existence.

57.39 Linear Feet (62 boxes, maps and drawings in map case)

All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

The collection is open for research.