Firefighting History & Traditions

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Here we will talk about various topics relating directly to the history of firefighting, our equipment and various other items.

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SMOKEnPipesJim

Welcome Genja, History of all kinds must be remembered, Is a teaching tool, and many of us are history enthusiasts. some are antique appliance enthusiasts, some mearly living in the past.. ha,ha. Like your photo of that older appliance as well as the rest of your photos,are interesting... Itsgood to know That firefighters all overalso have a sense of humor..(your videos)

Feb 12, 2009
SMOKEnPipesJim

A working fire downtown Bridgeport, Ct. around the late 1890's early1900's with 2 steamers shown operating

Mar 5, 2009
Merritt Long

Ok folks I know I have not been around lately but please remember a few things. This is a forum for Fire /EMS related history. Please know that all otehrs will be deleted as soon as possible once they are discoverd. Thanks You for your participation.

Mar 5, 2009
James M(Louie)Shutts

scan0001.jpgthis is a picture a former member of our dept brought in and gave to the dept we still have this truck we use it for parades (it still pumps water)

Mar 14, 2009
SMOKEnPipesJim

This is a 1935 Mack Tractor (new) attached to a Refurbed American La France 100' Tiller That had seen service drawn bya 2 wheeled Christie type tractor as well as Horses.. It was replaced BY a 1955 ALF Steel stick after who knows maybe 60 years with refurbs (?) One of the reasons Not many of them exist.. Cities Used them well into the 50's as reserves even later...

Apr 2, 2009
Bill Deutsch

Sep 13, 2009
Bill Deutsch

This picture shows an American Fire Engine Company "Cosmoplitan". This unit went into service in 1905 in Millersburg, KY. American was later bought by LaFrance. The Cosmopolitan is supposed to be the smalles engine to see service in a public fire department. Its remains were reaquired by American LaFrance in the mid 1950's and restored to working order. The engine is now located in ALF corporate HQ. There are more pictures in the Cosmopolitan album on my personal page here in FFN.
Bill Deutsch

Sep 13, 2009
SMOKEnPipesJim

Sep 18, 2009
Ryan Alice

This is the first ariel truck for the Windsor Fire Dept. in Windsor ON Canada....circa 1910....

Apr 24, 2010
Ryan Alice

er well I called it a truck but it was actually horse drawn..... either way....

Apr 27, 2010
Brett Smith

This is the first truck that the Vanlue Community Fire Company owned. Since the truck was purchased in the midst of the Depression, it wasn't quite paid for on time as the story goes. Howe actually came back to repo the truck. The Howe Company made it back to VanWert, Ohio before a couple of Vanlue guys ran them down with a check and brought the truck back to town. They kept it in a building and usually didn't have enough money to buy coal on a regular basis so they put salt in the water tank to keep it from freezing. This eventually led to it's demise and they had to sell it because the frame rusted in-two behind where the seat is. It was purchased from the fire company, repaired, and used for a grain truck. The buckets in this picture are what we currently use to keep our chimney chains in and the nozzles are in our old equipment display at our station.

Jun 28, 2010
gary burbage

hello everyone

Jul 8, 2010
Daryn Simpson

hey everyone awesome photos you all have up

Jul 11, 2010
SMOKEnPipesJim

Comment by Ryan Alice on April 27, 2010 at 6:07pm er well I called it a truck but it was actually horse drawn..... either way....

Actually Ryan the term a "truck" predates Horses and comes from using a set of wheels or maybe a dolly to help move heavy ladders through the neighborhood to the fire... as buidings grew Up ladders got bigger and 2 sets of wheels or a carrage carried the ladders and other tools torches and roof /thatch hooks the longer the ladders got that harder to get em around so a "tiller" was added on the back end to provide steering with both axles , Just an example of how grass roots Firefighting reallly is even into this century

Aug 19, 2010
Jim West

I hear ya mark they just renovated a station in DC that if you went to a certain area and slammed the wall old oats and hay would fall from the ceiling

Aug 20, 2010
SMOKEnPipesJim

Hey Guys for those of you who try to post pictures, and it is using so much bandwidth (Huge FILES) you will find the picture is distorted , and that is IF they ever load, what happens is you basicly ruin the THREAD which gets stuck especially with multiple files that dont load. One group about Boats every single photo is so distorted and useless That that group is ruined I've Posted a whole lot of things in this particular group I enjoy the subject matter and prefer it doesnt get shut down, yes it can be frustrating but if you dont the group is ruined .. if I could learn enough to do it, anyone can

Aug 20, 2010
Don Skalsky

Just to let you know a new book has just been published it is a pictorial guide to badges of America's Firefighters it is titled "Badges of America's Heroes".
Check it out...

Sep 9, 2010
John Lord

My fire department just had its 100th anniversity. We had a monument made with every member on the department since 1910. Any one who wants a good way to display department history thats the way to go. Our monument is on display at our county court house... Thanks....

Sep 20, 2010
Louise Thornton

If anyone is interested in antique equipment go to www.hallofflame.org and take a look at some of the restored equipment including helmets.
Everything we have on display has been restored and some of the trucks will pump water or foam including a 1725 Newman Hand Pumper from England.

Oct 4, 2010
Louise Thornton

Oct 17, 2010
Louise Thornton

These are from the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting History

Oct 17, 2010
Don Croucher

Is the 65 Crown in the photos below at the Hall of Flame or is it just a photo in their photo collection?

Oct 17, 2010
Louise Thornton

This is a new addition to the floor collection.

Oct 17, 2010
Herlon Ferreira do Nascimento

HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE GROUP

Nov 24, 2010
Eddie

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/brookhavenfiremuseum/indexinside.html
I'm on the board - of directors - any one have any thing to add let me know please - emasiellosr560@centereachfd.org
fordguy242@yahoo.com

Nov 29, 2010
Eddie

November 30, 2010 -- Centereach Fire Department Back

A Family In Need

November 30, 2010

On November 24, 2010, the night before Thanksgiving, Candice Shore was involved in a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Manorville. Candice Shore lost her life three days later on Saturday November 27, 2010 due to complications pertaining to the motor vehicle accident. She was only 19 years old and left behind a loving family that included her twin sister and her grandfather who was an Ex-Chief for the Mastic Beach Fire Department. The Shore family has had many misfortunes this past year including a house fire which destroyed their home. Can we all please help the Shore family out especially during the holiday season? I am asking for some help from my fellow fire fighters, EMS personal, and the community. Donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated. The Shore family could really use any help during these tough times.
Please send any donations to the Shore family at PO Box 765, Farmingville, New York 11738.
Thank you very much for your support: emasiellosr560@centereachfd.org

Nov 30, 2010
Cory Deaton

Anybody know who the first firefighters where and where they came from.

Jan 2, 2011
SMOKEnPipesJim

Cory the 1st firefighters were the first cave men that chose to do something Rather then run away, when the cooking fire got away and torched the grass hut...one of the benefits to mud huts ...

Jan 6, 2011
SMOKEnPipesJim

Paul, Most likely a round Botton was easier to sew, and quicker to fill

Jan 6, 2011
Archie Joecool

hey guys in my academy one of my instructor's asked us to look up where the word mud came from when loading a hose bed, i have searched google and wikipedia for it to no avail.. anyone able to help me out here?

Feb 4, 2011
Alison Aprhys

Hi everyone, I'm a volunteer firefighter with the CFA in Victoria, Australia.
FYI here is a link to an article I wrote about the history of Breathing Apparatus use within CFA.

Look forward to hearing about BA history from your fire departments.
Cheers.

Feb 7, 2011
Tim McConnell

NEW

FREE National Clearinghouse for Firefighting Equipment

Chiefs or equipment officers who need gear, apparatus, or
anything else used in firehouse operations can visit the site,
post what they are looking for so that chiefs or equipment
officers can find you and pass on their out of service but still
serviceable gear.

Chiefs and equipment officers who have taken things out of
service and would like to have the gear used by other firefighters
can visit the site, post what it is they have and be easily found by
those who might put it to good use.

The site is FREE to use by both sides. The arrangements made
for transfer are between the transferring companies. We suspect
that there are times when gear will be transferred without any
money changing hands. And sometimes there will be sales.

We want two things. We want firefighters to have what they need.
We want those who use the site to look at how we are funding this
effort and to take the time to look at the information about how the
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.’s Life Events Legal Plan can help
every firefighter and the firefighter’s family.

Royalties from memberships purchased via the FireFighterFund.org link
will pay for expenses of the site.

http://firefighterfund.org/

Feb 18, 2011
SMOKEnPipesJim

A matching pair of ornate hand lanterns were recently stolen from their storage box at the Fire Museum in Manchester, CT. The lanterns are two of seven belonging to an ornate parade hose cart.

These lanterns date back to a parade wagon purchased in 1882 by Crescent Hose Company #2. The parade wagon is currently on loan to the Connecticut Fireman's Historical Society.

The Manchester Police Department has several leads, but are still investigating. They can be reached at 860-645-5544

Mar 30, 2011
SMOKEnPipesJim

RE: the stolen Lanterns I received 2 better color photos here...

Mar 31, 2011
larry cooke

I recently retired from a City Fire/Rescue outside of Denver, Colorado following abt. 30 years of service "in the trenches". I was on the Department's history group and have always enjoyed learning FD history. Looking forward to learning more.
Lt. L.A. Cooke (retired)

Jun 28, 2011
Jared micheal freeman

fire poles in fire houses

Jul 15, 2011
H.M."Andy" Anderson

Just found this link, and think it is great.

Our Depart. was founded in 1943, on March 9 at about 9:20 A.M. that is when we got our first truck, a 1942 Chev pumper. the City Charter had to have an amementent for an outside donation to allow the turck to be given to us. We still have it, after three rebuilds.

Think this is a great idea.

Sep 24, 2011
SMOKEnPipesJim

Until 9/11/01 the largest loss of life building collapse in the country was http://onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/lambiance-collapse-25-years/ 28 construction workers were killed in this lift slab style of hirise construction (15 floors) came down.... The BFD and other agencies were on scene for several days round the clock supporting rescue then recovery efforts...

Apr 19, 2012
Andy Turnham

Does anyone know anything about the BPC Fire Department in Kooskia, Idaho? I am trying to discover if the Dept existed in the late 1940s - early 1950s. I have come across a old British fire helmet that is supposed to have been used by the BPC FD around that time and I want to verify if this is possible.

I have never heard of British fire helmets being used in the USA but I do know that some Canadian FDs did use them pre and post WWII.

Oct 7, 2012
SMOKEnPipesJim

Here are some Old schul FDNY Pictures taken mid to late 1930's

Jan 24, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Jan 24, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Jan 26, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Here's a short story in a recent news paper article about the guys working on My old Departments Museum... former Engine 10's house which was Built In 1913... pretty cool...

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Century-old-firehouse-regains-c...

Jan 29, 2013
Jared micheal freeman

where can i get a pair of 3/4 boots

Feb 9, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Feb 22, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Oct 17, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Driver Training LAFD style

Part 1 http://youtu.be/c89lmd1-gTA

Part 2 http://youtu.be/zoeSKaULJu0

Part 2 of 2

Oct 19, 2013
SMOKEnPipesJim

Ladder operations LAFD

Oct 19, 2013
Titus D Carter

Awsome, brings back memories. I tillered in Atlana Ga, in the early 80's

Oct 19, 2013
Mark Jamieson

Just checking in ,been restoring fire trucks since I was a kid. 1939 Seagrave.

Dec 11, 2013

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