Welcome to

Hubie Pictures

This is Dave and Barbara Hubert’s website, creators of the “HUBIE” cartoon series and owners of a very colorful, traveling, fully restored and operational horse drawn “American” Steam Fire engine. Here you will find Humor, History… and a place where we all come together to share our common love for the Fire Service. We are excited to introduce our newly released documentary, “The Steamer-An American Icon“. Please watch the below trailer, check out our products and contact us via the LET’S TALK tab with any questions you may have.

The Steamer – An American Icon

During the middle of the nineteenth century a new form of firefighting was introduced with the advent of the horse-drawn steam fire engine. This revolutionary technology gave firefighters the ability to pump thousands of gallons of water on a fire with a minimal crew; this changed everything.

As the Industrial Revolution continued and the advances of the internal combustion engine became commonplace, the need for horse drawn vehicles became obsolete and the romantic era of the Steamer faded away. This documentary is about the discovery, resurrection and restoration of a 1902 American Steam Fire Engine.

Hubie Pictures Books & Videos

Dave “HUBIE” Hubert devoted 30 years to the firefighting profession, serving in many different positions prior to his retirement in 1997 as Fire Captain from the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California. 

Although much of Dave’s early artwork spans a broad variety of topics (showcased in the book) the majority of his HUBIE cartoons revolve around firefighting. 

Refocusing his remarkable artistic vision and ability in yet another direction, Dave completed the restoration of a 1902 horse-drawn steam fire engine in 1996. His “steamer team” of retired firefighters donate their time by participating in statewide community and charity events, representing the California State Firefighters’ Association in the interest of public safety and fire prevention education. The remarkable story of this restoration is told through The Steamer: An American Icon DVD. 

Upcoming Publication Announcements

by Dave Hubert | Firemen, Fire Wagons and Fire Horses.

Coming Soon!

by Dave Hubert | Firemen, Fire Wagons and Fire Horses.

On Sale Exclusively Through DeerValleyPress.com

Firemen, Fire Wagons and Fire Horses

Thirty years as an active firefighter and twenty more staying active with his horse drawn steam fire engine doing public service events, Dave Hubert felt compelled to share his love for fire service history. Beautifully illustrated by Dave, FIREMEN, FIRE WAGONS, AND FIRE HORSES brings that rich history to us through many original watercolors depicting the dawn of professional firefighting. 

$49.95

The Steamer – An American Icon – Video

$19.95

HUBIE and the Fire Service – Book

$75.00

Christmas Major, The Fire Horse Who Saved Christmas

$18.95

Our Thoughts

Introducing Dottie-Blaze’s new little assistant!

Introducing Dottie-Blaze’s new little assistant!

A little Dalmatian was recently rescued and delivered to us, thanks to our very good friend, Paul Schneider (President, L.A. County Fire Museum). Now, Blaze has a brand new little assistant named DOTTIE.  After giving her a few days to familiarize herself with...

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9-11 USS Midway Memorial Tribute

9-11 USS Midway Memorial Tribute

The Steamer Team was honored to join thousands of attendees gathered at the San Diego USS Midway on 9-11-2011 during a special 10th Anniversary Memorial Tribute to honor all who lost their lives in the terrible 2001 tragedy.

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Escondido Cruizin Grand Parade

Escondido Cruizin Grand Parade

Hello! We just returned from a great evening at Cruizin' Grand in Escondido where a Parade through town commemorated both the 9-11 tragedy victims and honored local firefighters. We received a great award and met many new friends!

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About Us

Dave Hubert

Born in Connecticut, Dave’s family soon relocated to the Southern California area where he went on to pursue a firefighting career and devoted 30 years to the firefighting profession, where he served in many different positions including firefighter, fire training officer, and fire defense coordinator, prior to his retirement in 1997 as Fire Captain from Orange County Fire Authority.Also an accomplished artist, Dave’s early artwork spans a broad variety of topics but more recently he has focused on cartoons under the name “HUBIE”. The majority of his HUBIE cartooning revolves around the profession he loves and respects so much—the Fire Service. Dave’s HUBIE artwork can often be seen in a variety of fire service magazines.

Refocusing his remarkable artistic vision and ability in yet another direction, Dave completed the restoration of a 1902 horse-drawn steam fire engine in 1996. H. “Steamer Team” of retired firefighters donate their time by participating in statewide community and charity events, representing the California State Firefighters’ Association (CSFA) in the interest of public safety and fire prevention education.

 

 

STEVE MORSE – Filmmaker

Initially, Steve got interested in film in 1972 while on his first Surfing Safari up and down the coast of Southern California. While experiencing all of the craziness of this 70’s surfing subculture, a small 16mm Beaulieu camera changed everything! While originally a Drama major, the experiences from this surf trip motivated hint to take a new direction into Broadcast /Film at Cal Poly Pomona. Being close to Hollywood, his first job he started on was cutting 16min/ 35min films at 515.00 and ho…. life was good. He began his journey in L.A. working freelance for various studios and fortune 100 companies. In 1978, he became the Director of Production for Kaiser Steel Corporation until the Steel making facility closed in 1982. Next, he became the national corporate Broadcast Manager for California Federal Savings for two years before he moved on to the Anaheim Police Department (Calif.) as their Video Production Producer in 1984. First task, the 1984 Olympics… Anaheim was the Wrestling venue for the 84 Los Angeles Olympic games. While documenting the event for Anaheim, ABC Sports requested Steve as their remote videographer for special assignments. Currently, Steve is the Video Operations Manager for the City of Anaheim which produces PSA’s, Documentaries, Special Events, Sports, News Magazine, and more… in addition, he has a production company “Banzzai Productions” which produces commercials, municipal productions, and documentaries.

Barbara Hubert

Born in New York, Barbara’s family soon relocated to Connecticut where she spent her early childhood and then later relocated to Southern California area where she went on to pursue a career in the computer industry. Barbara had ma, different positions ranging from programmer to executive management overseeing eight worldwide computer training facilities prior to her retirement after 38 years in hi-tech.

After over thirty five years of watching her husband, Dave’s artwork and graphic creativity expand into a wide variety of colorful and humorous works, Barbara was passionate about compiling the book HUBIE and the Fire Service to showcase Dave’s many talents for readers to enjoy. Her publication recently received the “Best Book Gold Award” from Northern California Publishers Association (NCPA).
In 1991, for their 25th wedding anniversary, Barbara surprised Dave by purchasing for him a vintage 1902 steam fire engine that was desperately in need of a total restoration— just the project for Dave’s many creative talents.

BLAZE

There she was… in the pet adoption booth at the Public Safety Show back in 1998. With children climbing all over her, the young Dalmatian was rolling over and enjoying every minute of the attention she was getting from the kids. Retired Fire Captain Dave Hubert couldn’t help but notice the happy Dalmatian surrounded by children and decided right then that she’d be the just the perfect “Fire Dog” for his traveling Fire Prevention Program. So Dave made arrangements to adopt her that very same day and home she went—sitting in the front passenger seat of the Steamer’s transporter truck as if she already “belonged.”

Back home, Dave and Barbara named her BLAZE and began training her to do many things—but especially wanted her to help children learn fire prevention tips, so he taught her to STOP, DROP and ROLL, and CRAWL LOW in the smoke, and many other fun tricks to keep the children’s attention so they would remember what to do in emergencies.

For the past 12 years, BLAZE has gone everywhere with the steamer, to almost 50 events per year, sitting atop on the seat as young and adult visitors climb up the ladder to visit with her. When on the ground, Blaze happily performs fire prevention tricks and shows off her red tce nails — which we hope will help to remind the children about the safety lessons they teamed that day. Blaze has been named California State Firefighters’ Association’s official Fire Dog, has had thousands of photos taken of visitors enjoying her company, and continues to thoroughly love helping to spread the word about fire safety on her site blazethefiredog.com. She has been such an influential, colorful and wonderful part of their program that Dave and Barbara know that finding her that day way back in 1998 was simply meant to be…

The Documentary The Steamer – An American Icon

While shooting a history video with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), the nexus of the universe converged… Ok, maybe a little overstated but this was the first meeting with Dave and Barb Hubert. While shooting interviews for the document, over 3 days at Dave and Barb’s home in Coto De Caza, CA, the back story of the Steamer was revealed. The amazing story of this barn find and the unbelievable circumstances of the restoration was too good not to be shared. Five years later, here it is….

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