The year was 1869. The Civil War had ended four short years before. The assassination of President Lincoln and the abolition of slavery was still discussed in parlors and saloons across the country.

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed with the driving of the golden spike at Promontory, Utah. Almost unnoticed amidst other events, William H. Spurgeon founded the Village of Santa Ana among vast mustard fields in Central Orange County after purchasing seventy acres of land from the Yorba family.

From 1869 to 1883 the Village of Santa Ana grew steadily and by May 1883 civic leaders had fully recognized the need to establish a fire department. An election was held, and the residents of Santa Ana approved a tax of ninety cents per $100 of assessed valuation for the support of a fire department (net $2,000).  Under the provisions of Chapter XIV, Title VII, and Part 3 of the Political Code of the State of California, the Santa Ana Fire Department (SAFD) was organized on November 1, 1883.

The first SAFD roster showed the Chief as C. E. Berry, the first Assistant Chief as D. C. Lyon, and the second Assistant Chief as Theo Cobler. Thirty-two additional members were listed. The first fire house was erected on the west side of Sycamore Street, between Third and Fourth Streets.