San Diego Fire Department Chief Almgren with another man at the 1935-36 California Pacific Exposition. He joined the fire department in 1903 and retired in 1935, a quarter century after he began as its esteemed Chief Engineer. He designed the first gasoline motored fire boat ever operated in this country. It was due to his efforts that San Diego was among the first cities of the United States to completely motorize its equipment in this department of municipal service.