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The history of organized firefighting dates back at least to ancient Egypt where hand-operated
pumps may have been employed to extinguish fires. The first Roman fire brigade was a group of
slaves that was hired by a public works official named Marcus Egnatius Rufus. Emperor Augustus
took this idea and, from it, formed the Vigiles in 6 A.D. to combat fires in the streets of Rome using
bucket brigades and pumps, as well as poles, hooks and even ballistae to tear down buildings in
advance of the flames. In 1254, King Saint Louis of France allowed residents of Paris to establish
night watches to prevent and stop crimes and fires. However, after several great fires in 16th
century Paris, King Charles IX disbanded the residents' night watches and placed responsibility
for checking crimes and fires in the exclusive control of the king's watches.

In 1666, the Great Fire of London consumed about two square miles of the city, leaving tens of
thousands homeless. In response, insurance companies formed private fire brigades--the first
organized fire protection system in that city--to protect their clients’ property. Insurance brigades
would only fight fires at buildings the company insured. These buildings were identified by a
badge or sign.

The first fire brigades in the modern sense were created in France in the early 18th century. In
1716, the first Paris Fire Brigade, known as the Compagnie des gardes-pompes (literally the
"Company of Pump Guards"), was created. In 1733, the French government decided that the
interventions of the fire brigades would be free of charge. This was decided because people
always waited until the last moment to call the fire brigades to avoid paying the fee, and it was
often too late to stop fires.

Napoleon Bonaparte, drawing from the century-old experience of the gardes-pompes, is generally
attributed as creating the first "professional" firefighters, known as Sapeurs-Pompiers ("Sappers-
Firefighters"), from the French Army. Created under the Commandant of Engineers in 1810, the
company was organized after a fire at the ballroom in the Austrian Embassy in Paris, which injured
several dignitaries.

In the UK, organized firefighting arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, when the Edinburgh Fire Engine
Establishment was formed in 1824. London followed in 1832 with the London Fire Engine
Establishment.

In North America, Jamestown, Virginia was virtually destroyed in a fire in January, 1608. Fire
"wardens" were appointed in New Amsterdam in 1648. Wardens were to patrol the cities to
inspect chimneys. "Rattle Watches" were performed at night by eight appointees, who were to
rouse citizens to fight fires by bucket brigade if necessary. In Boston, serious fires in 1653 and
1676 inspired the city to take greater measures towards combating fire. Benjamin Franklin created
the Union Fire Company in 1736 in Philadelphia, the first volunteer fire company in America. There
were no full-time paid firefighters in America until 1850.

Even after the formation of paid fire companies in the United States, there were disagreements
and often fights over territory. New York City companies were famous for sending runners out to
fires with a large barrel to cover the hydrant closest to the fire in advance of the

The key breakthrough in firefighting arrived in the 17th century
with the first fire engines. Manual pumps, rediscovered in
Europe after 1500 (allegedly used in Augsburg in 1518 and in
Nuremberg in 1657), were only force pumps and had a very
short range due to the lack of hoses. German inventor Hans
Hautsh improved the manual pump by creating the first suction
and force pump and adding some flexible hoses to the pump. In
1672, Dutch inventor Jan Van der Heiden invented the firehose.
Constructed of flexible leather and coupled every 50 feet (15 m)
with brass fittings, the length and connections remain the
standard to this day. The fire engine was further developed by
Richard Newsham of London in 1725. Pulled as a cart to the
fire, these manual pumps were manned by teams of men and
could deliver up to 160 gallons per minute (12 L/s) at up to 120
feet (40 m).

The first horse-drawn steam engine for fighting fires was

Also known as the Cross Pattee-Nowy, the symbol of the
maltese cross appears throughout the fire service. The
earliest accounts of the maltese cross trace the symbol
to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. This
charitable, non-military organization existed during the
11th and 12th centuries. Also known as the Knights of
Hospitallers because of their charity toward the sick and
poor in setting up hospices and hospitals, the Knights of
Saint John participated in the Crusades.

During the Crusades, fire became a horrifically powerful
weapon. The Knights of Saint John earned a reputation
as firefighters, heroically extinguishing fires and rescuing
fellow knights. The symbol they wore, the

Saint Florian is a Christian saint, and the patron saint of firefighters
(as well as chimney sweeps, soap boilers, Austria and Poland).
Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and
Maximian in the 4th century, and was commander of the imperial
army in eastern Bavaria, Germany. The Roman regime sought to
eradicate Christianity, and sent Aquilinus to persecute Christians.
When Florian refused to assist in the endeavor in 304 A.D., he was
sentenced to death by fire. Standing on the funeral pyre, Florian is
reputed to have challenged the Roman soldiers to light the fire,
saying, “If you do, I will climb to heaven on the flames.” Fearful of
Florian, the soldiers drowned him instead. Legend holds that,
before his death, Florian miraculously stopped a fire with a single
pitcher of water.

engines. Often fights would break out
between the runners and the responding fire
companies for the right to fight the fire and
receive the insurance money that would be
paid to the company that fought it.
Interestingly, during the 1800s and early
1900s volunteer fire companies served not
only as fire protection but as political
machines. The most famous volunteer
firefighter-cum-politician was Boss Tweed,
head of the notorious Tammany Hall political
machine, who got his start in politics as a
member of the Americus Engine Company
Number 6 ("The Big Six") in New York City.

Today, fire and rescue remains a mix of paid, call, and volunteer responders. While urban areas
such as New York, NY and Boston, MA are typically served by large, well-coordinated paid
responders, there is no requirement demanding either paid, call, or career firefighters and many
departments are so-called "mixed" departments--full time responders handle the day-to-day
needs of a department and work with either call or volunteer responders when more manpower is
needed. Other departments are completely "call" or volunteer, depending on local tradition, needs,
and, most importantly, financial ability. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, 73
percent of firefighters in the United States are members of volunteer fire departments.