John Bach McMaster

John Bach McMaster was appointed as Torrance's first full-time fire chief in 1939, a position that he would hold for over 11 years. With rumors of war looming in the early 1940s, Fire Chief McMaster tried to prepare the Torrance Fire Department by convincing the authorities to let firemen be exempt from the draft, since the firefighters were vital to protecting local areas, specifically San Pedro. While his request was granted, more than half of the Department enlisted anyway. During WWII, Chief McMaster oversaw the Fire Department and the hiring of temporary replacements,, providing the steady hand necessary to ensure that the Fire Department continued to operate effectively.