Who is Fearless the Hydrant

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Who is Fearless? What or who does he represent? We get these and a few other questions pretty often. If you have heard some of our interviews we always try to tell the story of how Fearless came about. Lets start from the beginning of Black Smoke Apparel. We wanted a logo that had a real meaning to us, to Black Smoke Apparel customers and to the Fire Service. The department we work for has a lot of history, since it's establishment in 1877 and has had its own fire mechanic shop for over 100 years. One of the many things our department came up with was the "Fresno Fire Hydrant" Started in 1935 and installed in the City up to the year 1965. The local foundry would stamp them out, the Fire Shop would put them together and the city water department would install them. The city still has many of them in service today. We felt that the Fresno Hydrant would be perfect. Black Smoke Hydrant originated with the 3 bolts up top, the 4.5" cap and 3 bolts on the bottom. When you turn it side ways it spells out E 0 3. That is where Black Smoke Apparel was born, in the back seats of Downtown Engine E03. Come to the month of "Movember" and our crew along with many crews around us all started growing our mustaches. So we put a mustache on the Fresno Hydrant and the guys and ladies loved it. This became the first hydrant with a mustache and people loved the story. Now how did he get his name? (This part really sucks!) On March 10,2016 our best friend and crew Captain passed away in an off duty accident. He was given the nickname "Fearless" long before he was our Captain. A senior FF in our department was his FF and always called him their "Fearless Leader" When he passed away we wanted to carry his name as far and as wide as we could. So we decided to name our "Fresno Hydrant" with a mustache "FEARLESS" So every shirt, sticker, hat, tattoo and Fearless Hydrant Crew gear that is out there is part of our Captain. Captain - Dan Lopez-Galvan is a part of all of us through Fearless. Fearless is not just based on a hydrant or made up. He is made from a real person, place and fire service history. Captain Fearless has a red traditional helmet and we set it up just like our Captain left his helmet. So when you see Fearless now you know. On March 10th we close to take the time to remember and celebrate the life of Fearless! Stay Safe and Stay Below The Smoke...