Fire safety and prevention have a long and storied history, evolving significantly over the centuries. From ancient times until today, humans have aimed to create new and more effective ways of stopping and preventing fires. Space doesn’t allow for a comprehensive accounting of firefighting (that could require several books!), so here’s a brief history of fire safety and prevention.
Early Beginnings
Fire has been humanity’s friend and foe for millennia. What cooked our food and kept us warm could also destroy our homes and bodies. Humans have met conflagration with ingenuity for thousands of years. The earliest recorded efforts in fire safety date back to ancient Rome, which saw its share of fires through the centuries. Around 24 BCE, Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar established a fire brigade known as the Vigiles. Comprised of slaves and freedmen, the Vigiles patrolled the streets for fires and employed basic tools, such as buckets and hooks, to extinguish them. Augustus Caesar’s initiative laid the groundwork for organized firefighting efforts.
The Middle Ages and the Great Fire of London
Little changed through the years, with buckets of water and vigilant volunteer patrols being the norm for firefighting. It didn’t help that most buildings were made of wood, thatch, sod, and similar flammable substances. Many such buildings in an area meant that a fire could rip through it in no time. The Great Fire of London in 1666 changed all that. Governing bodies implemented regulations about what materials could and could not be used for construction, and firefighting organizations became more specialized and formalized.
Modern Fire Services
In the 18th and 19th centuries, firefighting became somewhat a profession. Famously, in 1736, Benjamin Franklin founded the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, the first volunteer fire company in the United States of America. Organization and special training became the norm for firefighters. Firefighting technology advanced, as well, with the invention of the steam-powered fire engine in the mid-19th century. Additionally, water pumping systems provided plenty of water to extinguish blazes.
Innovations in Fire Safety
Fire safety and prevention took huge leaps in the 20th century. Prevention rather than just dealing with fires as they sprang up became the norm. Smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and fire-resistant building materials revolutionized how we detected and managed fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), established in 1896, played a crucial role in developing and promoting fire safety standards and codes.
Firefighting, of course, isn’t just restricted to the cities. Wildland firefighting developed in order to prevent and deal with blazes in natural areas, and wildland fire gear helps valiant firefighters handle the challenge.
That’s a brief history of fire safety and prevention. If you have questions about the best gear and tools to outfit your wildland firefighting crew, contact us for a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!