Nationality USA | Name Dennis Sullivan | |
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Known for Killed by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake Died 1906, San Francisco, California, United States | ||
Dennis T. Sullivan was the Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department in 1906. He was mortally wounded during the initial earthquake, when a neighboring building collapsed onto the fire station that housed the Chief's official apartment.
Sullivan was a Blacksmith when he joined the Fire Department at 25 years old. He was appointed the Department's Chief upon the death in office of his predecessor, David S. Scannell.
In 1903 Sullivan proposed an emergency water supply system for the fire department to use water from one or more reservoirs to be constructed on the city's high peaks. Construction began in 1909, three years following the quaked. Called the San Francisco Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS) was constructed and remains the backbone of the city's emergency water supply, its construction was completed in 1913.
Sullivan was mortally injured by the 1906 earthquake when an adjacent building collapsed onto his firehouse residence. His wife Margaret survived her injuries.
Legacy
In 1909 the city launched the fireboat Dennis T. Sullivan. When San Francisco built a new residence for its Fire Chiefs it was named after Sullivan.