Annual Report of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Chief Engineer, and Fire Alarm Superintendent of the San Francisco Fire Department for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1886.

San Francisco: Wm. M. Hinton & Co., Printers, 1886 Book. Very fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. Octavo. 8 ¾ x 5 ½ inches. [2], 91pp. Title page vignette of a horse-drawn engine. Original blindstamped dark blue cloth lettered on front cover in gilt. Light wear to spine ends and corners, else a very fine copy. An annual publication, but very scarce. OCLC only indicates that five institutions have physical copies of any of the reports, and while approximately one dozen of the annual reports have been scanned and digitized, we have been unable to locate this year as a digital offering online. Among statistical information, officers, employees, etc. of each of the engine companies, this important work lists every fire in San Francisco from July through June of the following year. Listed is the exact date and time of the fire, alarm box signal, location, how the building was occupied, style of building, cause of the fire, owner or occupant of the building, the dollar loss, the insurance dollar figure, and the insurance amount paid. Causes included everything from children with matches to the explosion of coal oil lamps. Not surprisingly, there were plenty of fires caused by fireworks each July 4th! Also included is a Report of the Superintendent of the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph, with listing of the location of each signal box within the city. "Compliments of David Scannell, Chief Engineer" slip tipped in at title page. "Frank G. Edwards" printed on front cover. Edwards was an importer, publisher, and civic leader, and had worked in the carpet and wallpaper business. He was a member of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee and was President of the Board of Fire Commissioners at the time this report was published. .