These first fire fighters were called the familia publica and were slaves, about 600 in number. They were stationed around the gates of the city and gave alarm to inhabitants if a fire was spotted.

Rome. What is the term for the fire protection method in which townspeople formed two lines pass containers filled with water toward the fire and empty containers away from it? Bucket brigade. You just studied 29 terms!

The term fire plug actually dates back to the 1800s when water mains were made of hollowed wood logs. The water main was clearly marked so people would not dig near the main and cause a leak.

In 1911 the Seagrave Corporation at Columbus, Ohio, built the first selfpropelled, gasoline-powered pumper with a centrifugal fire pump. The pump was a four-stage, diffusion-vane type.

What is a pike pole? A tool with a hook on a long pole developed to pull down ceilings and walls to check for fire extension in concealed spaces.

sprinklers

Cincinnati, Ohio

Did you know? In 1666 there was no organised fire brigade. Firefighting was very basic with little skill or knowledge involved. Leather buckets, axes and water squirts were used to fight the fire – but had little effect.

young Benjamin Franklin

Fires would be fought by filling buckets with water and then throwing them against fire. Firefighters could also use axes to destroy buildings in order to prevent them from catching fire. Once a house caught fire, Crassus would send his slaves to fight the fire.

In the period around 1800, some early fire engines with manually operated pumps were horse-drawn, but large groups of strong men moved them around, just as depicted in the film. As buildings grew taller, stronger steam-powered pumps were needed. Those required fewer, but better-trained firefighters to operate.

How old is the practice of having fire departments? It goes back to ancient Rome, some 2000 years ago.

Emperor Caesar Augustus

Among the first public police forces established in colonial North America were the watchmen organized in Boston in 1631 and in New Amsterdam (later New York City) in 1647.

Vigiles

On January 27, 1678 the first fire engine company went into service with its captain (foreman) Thomas Atkins. In 1736, Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia. The United States did not have government-run fire departments until around the time of the American Civil War.

The city of Boston, Massachusetts established America’s first publicly funded, paid fire department in 1679. Fire insurance made its debut in the American colonies in South Carolina in 1736, but it was Benjamin Franklin who imported the London model of insurance.

1673

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thomas Atkins

1863

Firefighting in the United States can be traced back to the 17th century when, after a great conflagration in Boston in 1631, the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law banning smoking in public places. New Amsterdam established the colonies’ first firefighting system in 1647.

fire chief

After The Great Fire, the first fire insurance company called the, “The Fire Office”, was established in 1667 by Nicholas Barbon. If a fire started, the Fire Brigade was called. They looked for the fire mark and, provided it was the right one, the fire would be dealt with.

fire and rescue service

NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER-112. POLICE-100. FIRE-101. AMBULANCE-102.

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