LAFD Celebrates 100th Birthday Of Oldest Surviving Retiree

GRANADA HILLS (CBSLA.com) — Firefighters Friday held a celebration in Granada Hills for the oldest surviving retiree of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The festivities in honor of Jack Rein included a flyover and a get together with men who used to work with Rein.

"You're the oldest living firefighter. You're only beat out by a surviving wife of a Los Angeles firefighter, who is 106, and she's available," one firefighter said.

Rein, who turns 100 in March, started fighting fires just before World War II and then left to serve his country before returning in 1945 for a 25-year run.

"For him to be the oldest retiree on the entire Los Angeles Fire Department is pretty special," said Neal Rein, his son.

Rein moved to Los Angeles in 1918 and retired from the department in 1970.

He is one of 12 living retired LAFD firefighters who are 95 years or older.