EMS Memorial Service

Every year, as I have pointed out in the previous post, there are multiple line of duty deaths in public safety. The EMS sector has it's share as well as the fire service and police divisions around the world. The National EMS Memorial service was this past weekend in Roanoke, Virginia. An annual EMS Memorial bike ride to raise awareness and support of the fallen was held ending at the service in Roanoke. NAEMT has a daily log of one of the bike riders posted on its website and also shows alot of other ongoing events you might find interesting. The service is hosted and housed in the 'To the Rescue Museum' in Roanoke. Currently, To the Rescue has no home, they are running low on funds and can no longer afford to pay the rent at the mall they were housed in. I know my site is about fire history, but I think EMS is as much a part of fire history as Dry Chemical extinguishers (not ancient, but a part neverless). We are all brothers and sisters regardless of our training or status (Fire/EMS - paid, volunteer, or combo), our goal is to protect and serve the citizens of our areas.

If you get a chance to check out the exhibits of To the Rescue online Here and if you are able drop them a donation, no matter the size. I would hate to see the exhibits fall into disrepair and never be seen again. The memorial tree needs to be kept on display to honor the fallen EMS workers across the country that are posted on it.

"Remember those who went before us and all who sacrifice every day for the benefit of the public’s health." NAEMT Board member and ride participant Jennifer Frenette (from NAEMT.Org).

Fallen Firefighter Memorial

On memorial day I thought I would post a simple picture of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial and a link to the USFA National Fallen Firefighter Memorial webpage. Please pay your respects.

Memorial Day

Every year there are around 100 Line of Duty Deaths in the fire service. I know several EMS workers die each year but I cannot qoute an average. These folks need to be in our thoughts, but this weekend is about remembering the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in service of our country and our people. One stat that isn't kept is how many are active firefighters, EMS workers, and police officers. I know of several in my department that serve in the National Gaurd/Reserves and I'm sure there are hundreds across the country in other departments. Take one quick minute this weekend to think about the folks that aren't awarded the LODD benifits and that aren't recognized as firemen when they die in military service. These folks don't deserve more respect or rememberance than the other men and women do, they just hit closeer to home.

More Fire Hydrants

Thought I would throw out some more pictures of the fire hydrants that I have found. These aren't as traditional though, I figured that I could show some of the more humorous ones. They are from several different locations and sources, I can't qoute which ones they are from.

Lake View School Fire

On Ash Wednesday March 4, 1908, the 63rd day of the year the Lake View School in Collinwood Ohio experienced a massive fire that ended in the destruction of the town’s school and the death of 172 students, 2 teachers, and a rescuer. The photo above is one of the school prior to the fire and the one at the end of this post is of the school after the fire. To date this was the deadliest fire of this type in recorded US history.

The Lake View School was built with load bearing masonary outer walls, but much of the four story building’s floor structure system used wood joists. The fire started in a wooden joist that caught fire when a steam pipe caused it to be overheated. The main stair case extended from the front doors of the building to the third floor; without fire doors, the stairwell acted like a chimney and caused the fire to spread quickly. Oiled wooden hall and classroom floors also helped to fuel the fire. It was believed that those killed were trapped by the building's vestibule doors, which opened inward, not outward. Doors to the building were equipped with common door knob latches, not modern crash bar latches. Panic caused a large number of students in stairwell vestibules to be crushed which contributed to the death toll, some also died from smoke inhalation and direct fire burns. Some children died as they jumped from 2nd and 3rd story windows. People watched as victims that were trapped in the building were burned beyond recognition.

The aftermath of the fire saw the advent of a mass grave site due to the inability to identify the remains of some of the children and some people being unable to afford burial. Some of the parents of children chose to bury their children alongside their peers. This mass grave was constructed in Lakeview Cemetary in Cleveland. After the fire the remains of the building was razed and memorial gardens were constructed on the grounds of the new school.

The effects of this fire reached all across the Unites States and helped to establish safer schools for our children today. The events at this school and others such as the Our Lady of Angels School fire shaped the future.

Silsby Steam Fire Engine

Silsby Manufacturing Company desgined and built their first Steam Fire Engine in 1856. The company was founded in 1845 running through 1890. Their first engine weighed 10,000 pounds and was a marvel of the day. Over the course of steam engine history no other company manufactured more steam operated fire engines than Silsby. Producing well over 1,000 steam powered fire engines Silsby introduced original and effective technology into the production of steam engines that was challenged by the constructors of the day. The Silsby machines went through 9 model changes and have several dozen still around today. You can go to the Silsby website Here The website has links to parts directories and lists of existing steam engines. They also have photos (which is where all of the photos I have posted are from)

The machines that Silsby have produced are remarkable in their endurance and design.

Fire Hydrants, Fire Plugs, and Johnny Pumps

The guys at my station started discussing our hydrants and water supply and it eventually spread to a history lesson. Some of the history I knew, some I had to research. Before there were municipal water systems fighting fire with water took some strategy. In China, firefighting cauldrons were used to store water in locations around the cities and during outbreaks of fire people would carry their buckets to the cauldron and dip out water to use for firefighting. The municipal water system debuted and resembled a faucet, from which the old bucket brigade method would operate, filling the buckets and shuttling them to the fire. This system was used as a public water supply, until fire broke out. In the colonial era fire cisterns, large underground tanks or structures, were employed to hold water to be pumped for fighting fires. One source notes that Louisville, KY employed 124 cisterns and no hydrants, and some cities still have operating fire cisterns.



The term ‘fire plug’ is a colloquial for fire hydrant, as is ‘johnny pump’. The origin of the fire plug is from the 1600s. During this time responding firefighters, upon arrival at a fire scene would dig up the existing water main and drill/bore/smash a hole into it for the purpose of securing water for firefighting operations. This was utilized via bucket brigades and later hand operated fire pumps. After the firefighting operations were finished the holes were plugged with stoppers that eventually became known as fire plugs which is how fire hydrants eventually became known as fire plugs. London, in 1666, experienced the “great fire of London” and afterwards installed water mains with predrilled holes at given intervals and risers and they installed plugs at the street level to reduce the time it took to get water.

The inventor of the fire hydrant system is a mystery. There have been several people credited with innovations regarding hydrants. Hydrants come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. In our area, as with most, our hydrants are color coded (Blue, Green, Yellow/Orange, and Red in descending GPM rates) to help identify the amount of available water. There are several underground variations at places like airports. In the UK hydrants are located in the ground and have yellow ‘H’ signs to indicate the location for firefighters. In Finland they use a similar system, only their signs are blue. The signs (or other signs nearby) also note 2 numbers which indicates the size of the water main in millimeters (a top number) and the distance it is from the hydrant (the bottom number). Some of the older signs may express the numbers in Imperial Units.

I have found several styles of hydrants from around the world. There are many different colors and shapes of each type. I have listed as many as I can find below. There is a link to a great information site on the right and it has links to information pages for each of the listed copanies. This site has a wealth of information that I can’t give enough justice to.

American Darling Valve
American Foundry and Mfg. Co
American Valve & Hydrant
American AVK Company
AVK
H.W. Clark Co (Illinos)
Barbará (Brazil)
Bayard
Clow Canada
Clow Valve CorpCulan Slan Iron Works
Danfoss Esco AS (Norway)
East Jordan Iron Works (EJIW) (Michigan)
Eddy Valve Co.
Elkhart Brass Mfg Co
Eisenwerk Rödinghausen (Germany)
Erhard (Germany)
FUMOSAC (Peru)
Fumosa (Peru)Fundición Gamboa (Mexico)
James Jones Co. (California)
J.J.N. Ltda. (Columbia)John Fox & Co – NYC
Karya Puyasa (Indonesia)
Kennedy Valve (New York)
Kitagawa Iron Works Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Knowsley SK, LTD (UK)
Kupferle Foundry (Missouri)
Ludlow-Rensselaer (Ohio)
M&H Valve & Fitting Co. (Alabama)Gould HydrantGratz-Bohm
E. Hawle & Co Armaturenwerke (Austria)Hays Mfg. Co. - Erie, PA J.H.Heathman - LondonHinman Hydraulic Mfg (Colorado)Ideal Hydrants and StreetwashersC. M. Kemp Iron and Wood Case HydrantsShand Mason & Co - UK McKim Foundry & Machine Co (New York)
McNamara Pattern HydrantsMerryweather - London, UKModern Iron Works - Quincy, ILMonarch Forge & Machine Works (Oregon)Mueller (Alabama)
A.J. Morse and SonNapa Pump and Mfg CoPacific Tank & Pipe Co (Oregon)Pittsburgh Filter Mfg Co (Pennsylvania)
Plueger & Henger Mfg. CoSomerville & Leitch - Washington, DC
Saint-Gobain CanalizaçãoT & S
Maezawa (Japan)Tibb
Thomas McAvity & CompanyWaterworks Equipment Co – NYC
Mittelmann Armaturen (Germany)
Mueller Canada Canada Valve Ltd.Canada Valve and Hydrant Co. Ltd.Dominion Steel Products Company (Canada)
Murdock, Inc. (Ohio)
Olympic Foundry Company (Washington)
Penn-Troy Machine Corp. (Pennsylvania)
Pont-à-Mousson (France)
Raphael Valves Industries Ltd. (Israel)
Saint-Gobain PAM (France)
De Sanno Industries
Service Brass
Desco
Shilla Fire Co., Ltd. (Korea)
Terminal City Iron Works ACS Inc (Canada)
Universal Flow Engineering (Canada)
US Pipe and Foundry (Tennessee)
VAG-Armaturen GmbH (Germany)
Bopp & Reuther GmbH (Germany)
Vazhod J.S.C. (Bulgaria)
Von Roll (Switzerland)
Waterous Engine Works Co., Ltd (Minnesota)Waterous Company (Minnesota)
Yokoi Mfg. Ltd. (Japan)
ZET Marketing & Trade (Japan)
Glenfield & Kennedy, Ltd. (Scotland)
Ham Baker & Co. Limited (England)
Johnson City Foundry & Machine Works, Inc. (Tennessee)
Cayuta Wheel and Foundry Company (Pennsylvania)National Car Wheel Company (Pennsylvania)
Ramsay's Machine Works (Canada)
Tamaqua Mfg. Co. (Pennsylvania)
Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works (Oregon)
Windsor Foundry (Nova Scotia)
The Vulcan (Canada)
Utica Pipe Foundry Company (New York)
J. Tylor & Sons (England)Tylors of London (England)Tylors (Water & Sanitary) Limited (England)Tylors (Division of Crane) (England)Crane, Tylors Division (England)
Three Rivers Iron Works (Canada)

Some of these companies are the results of mergers and renaming efforts of the existing companies. There are definitely more companies that make hydrants but I haven’t found their names yet. If you know of more feel free to drop me a line and I will add them to my list. A picture from Eygpt (I think) showing the old 'faucet' style hydrants
I don't know the ake of this hydrant but it is different

I hope whoever this hydrant belongs to has a strong main attached to it with that many connections

Artist rendering of working fire with the firemen using a flip top style hydrant

Drawing of an old 'faucet' type hydrant

Cauldron (from China) used for bucket brigades

2 events on this date

May 16 is the date of 2 noteworthy events. The first is the 1st recorded dam disaster in U.S. is caused by a landslide collapsing a 43 foot high earthen dam above Williamsburg, Mass. The other is the Terminal Hotel Fire of 1938 in Atlanta GA that killed 38 people. The details of both of these events are sketchy at best for me. The picture above is the Terminal Hotel which was built in 1908. Of the dead, most were railroad men that were waiting on the morning train. If there are more pictures or details that you can give me, I will gladly add them to my posting.

The picture above is from: "Atlanta and Environs, A Chronicle of Its People and Events, Vol II" by Franklin M. Garrett, ©1954 by Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., Rep 1969 by University of Georgia Press.

More extinguishers

Soda Acid extinguishers are covered below. But while thinking about them I decided to post a few pictures of other styles of extinguishers. The history of fire exinguishers is varied. As you can tell by the photos here there are many styles and many methods of operation. There are links on the right for an extinguisher museum and I will be adding more links, photos, and information on this subject later on. enjoy the pictures.

Standard Water Extinguisher

This is a Pyrene Fire extinguisher showing in closed and open positions. This was manufactured in NYC. They are run by Kiddie Corp. which falls under Angus Fire. This particular extinguisher was manufactured in the early 1900s. The chemical used to put out fires was Benzo(def)phenanthrene and -pyrene, known in this use as Pyrene. The chemical itself is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) which is derived from coal tar. It is a neurotoxin, skin and sense toxin as well as having carcenogenic properties. The extinguisher is made of brass and is about a foot long and 4 inches in diamter. I am not sure exactly the nature of the manufacture of the chemicals or what relation the current owners had to the original production of these extinguishers. All of the chemical information I have posted is gleaned from another website.

This little extinguisher is a Presto "C B" extinguisher. It uses Chlorobromomethane to extinguish fires. It uses a small twisting knob to discharge the chemical to smother the fire. Merolite Industries from NYC made this. The extinguisher is made of brass and is around 5 inches long with a diameter of about 1 1/4 inches.

This is a Liberty Fire Extinguisher. It was made in Wawanesa, Manitoba, Canada for the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. It lists that is contains a dry chemical in it, but I cannot find out what chemical it had in it. The extinguisher is about 1 1/2 feet long and around 2 inches in diameter, and has a pull tab at one end, which I assume is to activate the discharge.

Soda Acid Fire Extinguishers

Several people have asked me about these extinguishers. The Soda Acid extinguisher was the hottest thing going at the time of its emergence. The problem was that you were using acid that reacted with other chemicals to fight fire. This is crazy by today’s standards but then it was the best thing on the market. The process was simple you filled the barrel of the canister with the soda, then a glass bottle with the acid, placed a lead 'stopper' on top of it the screwed on the lid and hung it on a wall to wait for someone to come along and use it. When a fire broke out someone would remove the extinguisher from its bracket and turn it upside down to grasp the handle. The upside down action would cause the lead stopper to fall from the bottle releasing the acid into the soda for mixing causing it to expand and discharge from a rubber hose attached to the side. In the normal fashion a sweeping motion would be used to cover the fire with the solution smothering it out.

There were several variations of these extinguishers including miniature versions. Mostly they were constructed of brass, but could be found in stainless steel variations towards the end of their use. People have wondered how to restore one of these historical extinguishers. My advice it to pay someone that knows how to restore antique brass, because the process is long and can go very wrong if you aren't careful. Most people have (and I myself have used this technique, and it works) gathered the brass parts and placed them into a large watertight container. The next step is to get a large amount of vinegar, enough to completely cover the brass, and fill the container just enough to cover the brass parts.

Depending on the condition of the brass the soaking required could take anywhere from hours to days. But, eventually the vinegar will cut the crude off of the brass and restore a semi-luster to the brass. After the vinegar has been wiped from the brass, use Brasso or some other marketed polishing agent to put a shine on it.

The only problem with this process is that eventually the dull nature of brass from being exposed to air will return unless you seal it. This is the problem that people run into. If you apply the sealant or glaze incorrectly you will ruin the brass, as it is very hard to remove even with chemicals which will permanently alter the brass's shine, this is why I suggest using a professional. If done right, this will be the best-looking extinguisher around, if done wrong, it's scrap.

Posted above are photos of some of my Soda Acid extinguishers in varying stages of restoration, one of which you can see is in need of a good polishing. There is a series of shots showing the Bottle, the Carriage for the bottle, the plug, and the handle to help show the workings of the extinguisher.

Changing times

In keeping with the last couple posts, I have decided to continue to note the changes and advances in technology regarding the fire service. Lighting for example is one that is still a mystery to me. A short time ago we had lights that were so dim the watch I am wearing now put out more light and candle power was really CANDLE POWER. The picture above was the latest and most modern equipment of the day (1936) when my department got these (touted as the best equiped ladder truck in Virginia). The light I have clipped to my turnout coat is around 300 times brighter than all of these put together, and might I say a heck of alot lighter and doesn't require a 125 pound generator.

Today is significantly easier thanks to the innovations of brilliant engineers. The advanced equipment we use is a direct reflection of the world around us.

GPS units are installed on ambulances, ladders, and engines. There are mobile computers mounted in trucks to view pre-fire plans and maps. Radios have emergency signals and tracking devices.

SCBA last an hour and are 1/10 of the weight they used to and have lighted displays in your mask to warn you of low air. Gloves have progressed from nothing to light leather to super heavy elbow length asbestos gloves to modern firefighting gloves that allow freer movements and greater dexterity.

Helmets have evolved from nothing to plastic helmets then into ‘spaceman’ helmets that have retractable shields and integrated communication devices. The movement of many departments is towards a more traditional styling and modern appeal is pushed to the side in favor of a traditional helmet with modern construction.

Protective gear has been redesigned to include turnout pants and coats. This is a huge improvement from the ¾ boots and long rubber coats that I donned during my firefighting beginnings. On the subject of boots, the good ol’ days weren’t so good, the ¾ boots made of rubber were cold and made turning your ankle easier and offered far less protection than the turnout gear of today. Today we have leather boots that support and protect our feet and ankles.

All in all the changes we have seen are making things safer and better for all of us. I have said many times that you can’t know where you’re going until you understand where you have been and this applies to incidents as well as the little things we take for granted. Innovations and technological advances are as much a part of history as the men and women we remember for creating the history we venerate.

Alarm Traditions and Antiques

Ever look around your firehouse?
Our firehouse, isn't that old. It was built in 1973, occupied 24/7 ever since, 27 guys calling it home and protecting our town.

Up until a few years ago we were being alerted by 'red phones' a ring down system where a dispatcher picks up a telephone and it alerts station buzzers and we would pick up a red phone and the dispatcher would talk to us telling us where to go. This was the 'new' system that replaced waking up and counting bells and gongs (one is pictured below, hidden in the bookcase) in telegraph style to know who was needed and where (general addresses, usually) which was just 10 years ago (roughly). When I look around my house I see a Gamewell Fire Alarm box on the front, which sends a signal to dispatch for the CAD system instead of taps to say we need help. I also see the Protectolarm boxes Some are pictured below) on the walls for our red phone system. Currently, we use a CAD system that sets off bells and whistles in the houses across the city and a printer by our apparatus that prints out our destination and call information, then the information is sent to a computer and is ready and waiting for us to do our paperwork after the call. The red phones are history except for extreme emergencies and tested twice daily. Our radio system used to be tested every morning, dispatch would signal test time and do a 1-2-3-4-5----5-4-3-2-1 count and each unit starting with mobile radios would converse with dispatch then going to each of the 3 portable radios (even the out of service or as needed units). We have alarm boxes all over our station. Some of the pictures show the random placements to maximize the deafening level of noise that sounds when we get a call.

We have guys that think the '800' radio system is all we have ever had, truth is that this is the newest and greatest radio change we have had in years, before this the change from portables weighing 4-5 pounds to 1 pound was the best thing ever. Things change daily in this job, pay attention or things will change and pass you by. Right below is a picture of the horns that are all over the station to blast the alarms. They aren't quiet. If you think about it all of our changes are great, but why not use the old historical instruments we have in place and retain some of the traditional look and appeal we have had for so long.


My point in all this is that when you look at your station and in your closets and in the storage sheds behind your firehouses, think about the guys that used the stuff prior to you. Think about the advantages you have over the old guys and think about how they survived as long as they did. And think about the history you are creating. Most of our alarm systems would be considered antiques by most people, but I and most of our guys see them as our house bells and the way things should be.... traditional. To steal a phrase, one mans trash is another mans treasure.

The Fire Service in the Movies

An important part of history is how the populous is effected by the entertainment industry. In the King Richard the Lion-Hearted type era, stories and events of the time were often lamented through the musings of traveling artists and showmen. Today we have CNN and other news sources, TV, and Movies.

In the last I know of several TV shows regarding firefighting and EMS and also several movies (as many as I can think of are listed below).
TV:
LA Firefighters
Rescue Me
Paramedics
Third Watch (I know it turned more towards PD aspect towards the end)
Firehouse Boston
Emergency
Code Red

Movies:
Point of Origin
Backdraft
Ladder 49
Towering Inferno
Arson
Ablaze
Firestorm
Firehouse (recent addition) reported to have been from the 1960s or early 70s

There are several movies where the lead/title character is in the emergency services field and the movie is based in part on that:
Frequency
Daylight
Cliffhanger
Volcano

I’m sure there are a lot more I haven’t mentioned but I have listed the ones I see on my shelves that are related & ones I can think of, if I have skipped some please let me know. The point I am making is that history is influenced by the present. Your actions today and the movies made about us is the determining factor in how we are remembered and how the future historical events are viewed. If we allow ourselves to fall into a state of lawless actions or act as if we are unintelligible thugs, then that is how our profession will be viewed. If we are to advance the fire service another step towards the best possible then we must learn from our past and learn from the media, entertainment industry how we are perceived. After 9/11 the world, specifically the U.S., saw firemen as heroes and people to thank and love. The shine has worn off of that diamond. The guys in DC that went to the bar, the junior firemen setting fires, the assaults in fire houses, the thefts, and an endless number of incidents are leading to a downward spiral of the fire service. Please think about what you are doing and what it will look like if and when you see it on TV. Our future and past depend on a measure of decorum and self-control.

New Links

I am adding more and more links to the site. I have recently added FireWhirl as a link on the right. FireWhirl provides alot of good information with breaking news and some humor, there are a great deal of links on this site, check it out. Look for more links to other fire-related sites and points of interest here. I am making plans to redesign the site and (I hope) provide an easier to navigate experience. More to come.......

Seagrave Fire Apparatus

The Seagrave Fire Apparatus Company was started in Detroit, Michigan, in 1881 by Frederic S. Seagrave. Originally building ladders for use in harvesting fruit, Seagrave began building two-wheeled hand-carts for transporting firemen’s ladders, then later 4-wheeled, horse-drawn ladder carts. This simple start led to the foundation of a major force in the business of fire apparatus manufacturing. If you look at a classic antique Seagrave it is the model of what an old-time fire truck looks like. I have worked on a few Seagrave trucks in the past and found each of them to be qaulity units. Seagrave enjoys wide-spread business and popularity, and the growing trend to collect antique fire trucks has certainly presented a large share of Seagrave collectors.


Photos are from Here as well as The Firehouse Museum, Santa Clara, CA FD and show some Seagrave trucks from 1927 through 1987.
More information can be gained from the Seagrave museums. I have posted contact information below:

FWD/Seagrave Museum
c/o FWD Corporation105 East 12th StreetClintonville, WI 54929
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day. By appointment only.
American Museum of Fire Fighting
117 Harry Howard Ave.Hudson, NY 12534
Tel: (518) 828-7695Fax: (518) 828-1092
Open year round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on major holidays.
Central Ohio Fire Museum
Columbus, OH
Tel: (614) 464-4099
Open 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday-Friday