ORGANIZATION HISTORY

The STENTORIANS organization was founded in 1954, by African-American firefighters of the Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County Fire Departments.  Their purpose and goals were to band together and address the discrimination and segregation challenges in the City's Fire Department.  The name STENTORIANS, was selected for its appropriateness from the word Stentor, a Greek Herald described in the Iliad as having the voice of fifty men,  extremely loud and powerful, audibly expressing a very forceful sound.

 The STENTORIANS began to gain members from the Los Angeles County Fire Department as African-Americans slowly began to be hired in the early 1950's.  Today, the Los Angeles County STENTORIANS membership consists of over four hundred men and women both active and retired, sworn and non-sworn throughout the Southern California area.  The Los Angeles County STENTORIANS belong to the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, a National Organization in which the Los Angeles County STENTORIANS are charter members of.

 In 1990, the STENTORIANS re-structured and formed two chapters, the Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County Chapter.  This re-structuring was due in part to the increased involvement of each organization with their respective Departments.  Both organizations still remain close and continue to perform their community service endeavors jointly.

 Today, the STENTORIANS function as a community based and social organization for their membership and their families.  Many of the traditions that started over forty years ago are continued today: functions such as the Annual dinner and dance, promotional and recognition luncheon, annual bar-b-que and Christmas toy drive.  Over its forty-year history; the STENTORIANS have progressed into a well-noted and respected Firefighter association in the greater Los Angeles area community.

 The STENTORIANS occupy as its office and training facility, old Los Angeles City Fire Station #46, one of the very first stations integrated by the City Fire Department.  This facility is now named in honor of Arnett Hartsfield and Van Davis.  Both former firefighters from the City and County fire departments respectfully.  These men were truly pioneers during the civil rights era for fairness and equality in the fire service.

The STENTORIANS Junior Fire Cadet Program

The Junior Fire Cadet Program is one of many community-based programs the STENTORIAN organization so proudly sponsors.  The program, created by Captain Kwame Cooper of the STENTORIANS of Los Angeles City, was very successful from the inception. We can attribute its success to the dedicated support and generous contributions of a team of professionals consisting of Principal Anna McClinn of the Marvin Avenue Elementary School and the members of Los Angeles Fire Department’s Fire Station 68.

In 2001, the STENTORIANS of Los Angeles County, inspired by Captain Cooper’s creative brilliance, spearheaded the evolution of the program to the “Junior Fire Cadet Program” of today. With Captain Brent Burton of the Los Angeles County Fire Department at its helm, the program now, a nonprofit organization, uses many L.A. County & City Fire and STENTORIAN resources to successfully execute the program and accomplish its many goals.

Today’s “Junior Fire Cadet Program” made its inaugural appearance at the Tom Bradley Elementary School, with the support of Mrs. Sharon Dean, Healthy Start Program Coordinator.  September 2002, brought a change of a venue for the program again.  The STENTORIANS unveiled the enhanced motivational program on the campus of the Woodworth Elementary School in Inglewood, California, sponsored by Ms. Cherryene Lue-Sang, Acting vice Principal, and under the tutelage of Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Fire Station 170-B shift personnel.  In March of 2003, Mrs. Camile Dunbar of the Normandie Avenue Elementary School partnered with the Stentorians to introduce this program to a group of eager students.  In April 2003, the STENTORIANS collaborated again with the Bradley Elementary School and in 2004, the STENTORIANS joined Mrs. Claudia Armstrong of the Birdie Lee Bright Elementary School to launch the program there.

The “Junior Fire Cadet Program” is a six-week program that meets weekly for an hour on the campus of the participating elementary school.  This program targets fourth & fifth graders.  These youngsters learn about fire department operations, fire safety education, discipline, and the value of exercise and staying in shape.  Students receive a Cadet notebook and Blue Fire Department T-Shirt.  Guest speakers are also featured in a forum designed to highlight personal development and successful basic life skills.

At the conclusion of the six-week program, the students have an understanding of basic fire safety principles, how a fire department operates, how to avoid self destructive behavior, how to be more focused and goal oriented and the value of physical fitness.  The students are also presented certificates of completion and given special recognition for their efforts and hard work.

For more information about the program, please contact Captain Brent Burton at the Stentorian Center office at (323) 296-4690, or by e-mail at biburton@sbcglobal.net.  The Junior Fire Cadet program operates under the Stentorians’ Junior Youth Firefighter Foundation, a 501c(3) non-profit organization.  The Junior Fire Cadet program also has a vendor number on file with the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

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 The STENTORIANS are proud of its organization and vow to