The History of Firefighting

By KVandenBerg15
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    Early History of Firefighting

  • First Recorded Fire in America

    The first recorded fire in America was in Jamestown, VA (Specific Day and month are unknown)

  • 1st no-smoking law

    MA-- Due to numerous fires, residents not allowed to smoke tobacco outdoors.

  • Boston Burns

    This leads to laws requiring all houses having at least one ladder. Also leads to public purchasing of fire equipment.

  • 1st fire engine used in America

    First fire engine used in America, Boston.

  • First Fireman

    First fireman in America.

  • First fire hose made

    First fire hose / leather fire hose, Holland. Fifty-foot sections of leather hose stitched together like boot legs. Fifty-foot section lengths remain standard to this day.

  • First fire engine company

    First fire engine company organized, Boston.

  • First water throwing engine

    First fire engine to throw continuous stream of water patented, England.

  • First Volunteer Fire Company

    First volunteer fire company in America by Ben Franklin, Philadelphia.

  • First successful fire engine desgned

    First successful fire engine designed and built in America, New York.

  • Cash awards started

    Cash awards for first-arriving fire companies started. Companies begin racing each other to fire scenes.

  • First Successful fire insuance company

    First successful fire insurance company founded by Ben Franklin, Philadelphia.

  • 1st American fire engine compny

    First American fire engine manufacturing company formed, Philadelphia.

  • Protective Capes

    First protective capes used for firefighting, Philadelphia.

  • Hook & Ladder Truck

    First hook and ladder truck used, hand-drawn, Philadelphia.

  • 1st fireboat

    First fireboat, New York City.

  • 1st female firefighter

    1818 - First female firefighter, New York.

  • 1st strike

    First firefighter's strike, Boston.

  • 1st electric telegraph alarm

    First electric telegraph fire alarm system installed, Boston.

  • 1st rubber hose

    First rubber fire hose.

  • 1st uniform adopted

    Red flannel shirt adopted as fireman's uniform, New York. Later spreads across the country.

  • 1st Box Alarm

    First fire box alarm, Boston.

  • 1st fully paid department

    Cincinnati becomes first fully-paid fire department.

  • Fire Extinguisher patented

    Fire extinguisher patented.

  • Great Chicago Fire

    Great Chicago Fire.

  • 1st Fire Pole

    First fire pole, Chicago, IL.