Important Fire History Dates

These dates are some important ones from history. There are several dates that made impacts on daily life as we know it. The instances here aren’t ones that required responses but rather set the stage for the evolution of the fire service as we know it.

First fire prevention legislation passed, Cambridge (MA), Mar 1631
First ad for a fire insurance agent, Philadelphia (PA), May 1721
First US chartered fire insurance company, Philadelphia (PA), Feb 1768
First state-level insurance regulatory act passes Massachusetts, Feb 1799
First fireboats arrive in the US, New York (NY), Sep 1800
First joint stock fire insurance company, Philadelphia (PA), Feb 1810
First use of gooseneck piping for fire engines, Boston (MA), Sep 1815
First rubber-lined cotton web fire hose patented by J. Boyd, Boston (MA), May 1821
First steam fire engine’s public test by designer P. Hodge,New York (NY), Mar 1841
First alarm received from first fire box alarm system, Boston (MA), Apr 1851
First salaried fire department established, Cincinnati (OH), Apr 1853
First US patent on an automatic fire alarm system issued, May 1857
First municipal law on fire escapes from tenements passes New York (NY), Apr 1860
First fire extinguisher patent issued to Alanson Crane, Jan 1863
First meeting of National Board of Fire Underwriters, Apr 1866
First Fire Prevention Day, 1911, marks end of two-day Great Chicago Fire, Oct 1871
First sprinkler system patented by P.W. Pratt, Sep 1872
First sprinkler head patented by H.S. Parmelee, Aug 1874
First Firehouse Pole installed on April 21, 1878, installed in New York City considered the nation’s first
First mechanical water tower built New York (NY), Jul 1879
First recorded use is made of a mechanical water tower, New York (NY), Nov 1879
First fog nozzle is patented, Sep 1894
First forest fire lookout tower staffed Squaw Mountain (ME), Jun 1905
First NFPA Committee on Safety to Life is appointed, Jun 1913
First national Fire Prevention Week proclaimed by President Warren Harding, Oct 1922
First state law banning public use of fireworks passes, Michigan, Mar 1929
First Firefighting Foam used World War II. Percy Julian used a soy protein to produce AeroFoam, which suffocates gasoline and oil fires.
First Society of Fire Protection Engineers chapter is formed, Chicago (IL), May 1953
First Fire Fighters Memorial Sunday is held, Oct 1979
First Volunteer Fire Fighter Recognition Day is held, Aug 1984

One of the things that stands out to me would be the first Firehouse Pole installed in New York City. The Fire Pole is an outstanding reminder and example of tradition. For nearly 128 years the fire pole has stood as a lasting example of firehouse traditions that are being thrown to the side as progress advances with no regard to historical preservation. While they are being taken out of stations nationwide, the fire pole is shines and reminds me of childhood and the firemen sliding down the freshly polished pole to ride on the big red fire engine. The fire pole seems to have been in existance forever, but in reality it has only been around a short time.

There are only a few events listed. If you know of any others please feel free to email me and I will update this list.