home

=
Prior to 1678, American firefighting relied on volunteer bucket brigades. After 1678, the city of Boston formed the first paid fire department. The first engine was imported into America in 1678. After Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia from Boston he realized that Philadelphia was unprepared for a major fire. With this new knowledge he started organizing a volunteer system. In 1736 he started the first volunteer fire department. His idea was to make a “club or society of active men belonging to each fire engine whose business is to attend all fires with it whenever they happen.”- Benjamin Franklin.=====

=
It was from his idea that fire departments grew. Slowly evolving into what they are today. Not all fire departments are volunteer any more. Most are full time departments where firefighter’s switch in and out in shifts to ensure the town is protected. Even though they are not everywhere today volunteer is more of a position. Full time firefighters are in a way a better option but it is also nice to have a volunteer to back them up. Volunteer’s are not completely volunteer, they do get paid and have training however they only get paid for calls they respond to. For example a volunteer may be paged in the middle of the night about a call. However they are not obligated to respond, it is strictly a volunteer’s choice. However I some instances it is there obligation because they may have a required call, which is a distress signal for mutual aid.=====

=
With the times changing since back then there have been major advances in safety. At first it was just a simple bucket in the bucket brigades. That was eventually turned into a leather bucket. And then soon after that the added a water truck to help with the bucket’s. It has slowly turned into the amazing Fire Engines we have today. Also, the original turnout gear was made out of leather, then rubber. It has evolved into they high safety gear we have today.=====


 * 1) []
 * 2) []
 * 3) []
 * 4) []
 * 5) []