The 1950s

The 1950's were again a time for expansion. Chief John McMaster retired on January 18, 1950, and J.J Benner was moved up to acting Chief. He received his permanent appointment as Chief Engineer on May 8, 1951. Chief Benner had been a member of the department since September 5, 1927 and would serve as chief until October 31, 1966. The call men of the department were phased out by the end of 1951. The Torrance Fire Department was now a fully staffed, fully paid, fire department consisting of 58 men. On May 9, 1952, land was purchased for a new Headquarters Fire Station. The site was located at the town's edge in order to stay off the major streets. By September 12, 1955, the old downtown fire station was vacated and torn down. It had been in use for 20 years. The present day Headquarters building, located at the corner of Carson Street and Crenshaw Blvd., was dedicated on October 28, 1955.

Station 3 on Artesia was enlarged in 1954 and Station 4, in the Hollywood Riviera, was constructed at the corners of Calle Mayor and Pacific Coast Highway in 1955.

A fire of suspicious nature on the night of September 29, 1958 burned throughout the Hollywood Riviera Beach Club. After the fire, the building was bull-dozed over the cliff at Torrance Beach. Local surfers still refer to this area as "Burnout."

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