On the evening of September 11, 1861, a group of concerned citizens met at the San Mateo County Courthouse to organize the Redwood Hose Company to provide fire protection for the small settlement of Mezesville and the lumber shipping port at Redwood Landing. Since that day, the members of the Redwood City Fire Department have protected the lives and property of the citizens of Redwood City from fire and other disasters, marking 150 years of service to the community.