Fire Departments

History of the Fire Department

Fire wardens were the first formal approach to fire protection. The governor of New Amsterdam (a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that preceded New York City) created the fire warden system in 1648, including employees who patrolled the community, raising an alarm if they found an incipient fire. Upon hearing the alarm, all able members of the community were expected to respond to the scene of the fire to help. The fire warden system was gradually replaced by fire associations, voluntary compacts between property owners pledged to assist one another. When a building belonging to an association member began to burn, fire association members would respond and extinguish the fire if possible, salvaging valuables if not. The services of the fire associations were not available to everyone. Upon [Page 204]arriving, if association members discovered the burning property was not owned by an association member, they were not bound to assist.

In 1736, Benjamin Franklin assisted in the creation of the Union Fire Company, based on a perceived need in the growing municipality. It was the first volunteer fire department that mirrored the modern fire department model. Membership in the department was voluntary and comprised of engaged citizens. Funding was provided through donations provided by the public, and government had no oversight over departmental activities. When a fire was reported, members of the Union Fire Company responded to the site of the emergency to extinguish the fire, rescue occupants, and salvage valuables for the property owner. Services were available to everyone, not just members of the fire department.

The pattern of fire department development in the United States has generally followed this latter approach. In new or expanding communities, engaged citizenry create a volunteer fire department. Funding is provided through donations, although many modern volunteer fire departments supplement that revenue stream through grants, subsidies by local government, and fees-for-services. The membership is comprised of community members who volunteer their time for training, emergency response, and associated activities such as equipment maintenance, administration, and fund drives. If their service quantity and quality remain acceptable to the community, volunteer fire departments often continue to be the sole provider of fire protection. In some instances, government leaders may choose to have greater oversight over local fire protection, leading them to create a paid or combination fire department with a paid fire chief. In other circumstances, the growth in emergency incident volume eventually leads to the creation of a paid or combination department, supporting more consistent response capacity.

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