The History of Firefighting

The Need For Firefighters

From the time of the early Roman empire until the devestation of the Great Fire Of London in 1666, fires in urban landscapes caused signifcant devistation. In 64 AD, the Great Fire of Rome ravaged 2/3 of the entire city. The following timeline is a detail accounting of the development of the methods and technologies used to fight fires today.

Firefighting's Development

• 2nd Century BC - The Egyptian inventor Ctesibius of Alexandria devised the first known fire pump designs, and utilized primative hand pumps to battle fires.
• 24 BC, nearly 200 years later, the Roman Emperor Augustus forms the first organzied firefighting corp. Strategies were designed for watchmen to patrol areas and sounds the fire alarm. The primary method of firefighting was the fire-line and buckets. The line was set between a water source and the fire, and buckets were passed down the line by hand. Tools such as poles, hooks, and even ballistae were used to tear down buildings in advance of major fires.
• 1254 AD - By royal decree, King Saint Louis of France creates the guet bourgeois ("burgess watch"), an organization of private citizens who patrolled the streets in order to prevent crimes and fires.
• 1500 AD - Manual force pumps are rediscovered in Europe
• 1631 AD - Boston Governor John Winthrop outlaws wooden chimneys and thatched roofs
• 1672 AD - Dutch inventor Jan Van der Heyden invented the fire hose; the same design (using newer materials) is still in use today
• 1678 AD - The first fire engine company is assembled in New Amsterdam
• 1698 AD - Hans Hautsch invents the first force and suction pump
• 1725 AD - English inventor Richard Newsham invents the fire engine
• 1736 AD - Benjamin Franklin establishes The Union Fire Company in Phillidelphia
• 1824 AD - The first municipal fire brigade is formed in Edinburgh Scottland.
• 1853 AD - The Cincinati Fire Department is the first to employ full time, professional fire fighers
• It was also the first fire department to make use of steam fire engines
• 1907 AD - The first internal combustion fire engines are used

List of Historic Fires

Wikipedia gives us a list of the most devistating urban fires before the 20th century. Clearly the development of firefighting tactics and technology has had a profound reduction on the devistation of urban fires 

The symbol all firefighters wear on their uniforms is the Maltese Cross. Many of the terms we use today to describe emergency services come from the history of this historic symbol. Words such as ambulance, and hospital are derrived from the development of the firefighters badge, the Maltese Cross.

The Perfect Firefighter Gifts

Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for a firefighter? Is graduation quickly sneaking up on you, or a pending promotion just around the corner? Trying to find something memorable can be a real headache. Fortunately for you, we have asprin!

At Firedog Jewelry we custom design Maltese Cross Pendants with the personalization options that make your gift truly unique and personal. Our custmoization options include:

• Firefighter name
• Department Initals
• Department Number
• Ladder Company
• IAFF Membership
• Fireman Scramble
• St Florian
• Choice of sterling silver, 14k white or yellow gold, and platinum

Take a brief moment to watch our video: How To Customize A Firefighter Maltese Cross Pendant, and get your firefighter the perfect gift today!