FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 435

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 435

THIS IS THE LAST PAGE OF MY BLOG.

MY BRAIN NOW READS "EMPTY"
I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE TO ADD.

IT HAS BEEN A NICE RUN AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY BLOG AND BECAME EDUCATED AS TO THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, E-MAIL ME AT WISTUFF@COMCAST.NET

SEE YOU AT "THE BIG ONE"
(EXTRA / MULTIPLE ALARM)

FIREFIGHTER
WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 434

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 434

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
VARIOUS WAYS OF RETURNING TO QUARTERS WITH HORSE PULLED RIGS:
SOME FIRE HOUSE HAD REAR DOORS AND IN THOSE CASES THEY JUST WENT AROUND THE BACK AND PULLED IN.

SOME FIREHOUSES HAD INTERIOR TURNTABLES,
IN THOSE CASES THEY PULLED IN THE FRONT DOORS, PUTTING THEIR RIG ON THE TURNTABLE. THEN THEY UNHITCHED THE HORSES AND ROTATED THE TURNTABLE, WITH RIG, 180 DEGREES

WITH THE FIREHOUSE THAT HAD NEITHER REAR DOOR OR TURNTABLE THEY UNHITCHED THE HORSES OUTSIDE AND HAND BACKED THE RIG IN.

DO YOU KNOW

UPON RETURNING FROM A RUN THE HARNESS HAD TO BE SOAPED AND RINSED BEFORE BEING SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING

DO YOU REMEMBER

CARRYING A BUCKET OF WATER DOWN TO THE ENGINE HOUSE BASEMENT WHEN YOU REFILLED THE OLD SODA & ACID EXTINGUISHER WITH ACID.

IT WAS IN CASE YOU GOT SPLASHED WITH ACID.

DO YOU KNOW

IN THE REAL OLD DAYS THE ONLY BOOK WORK AS FAR AS RECORDING A FIRE WAS THE DATE, ADDRESS OF PLACE ON FIRE AND NUMBER OF HOSE LINES.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIRE REPORTS, AS TO THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF THE FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES ,BEFORE PENSIONS, IF YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR DUTIES AS A FIREMAN YOU WERE RELEASED FROM THE DEPARTMENT

DO YOU KNOW

THERE ARE STORIES OF THE MEN FORGETTING TO BUCKLE THE HARNESS WHEN IT WAS DROPPED ON THEIR HORSE / HORSES

IN THOSE CASES THE HORSE / HORSES WOULD PULL THE REINS FROM THE DRIVERS HANDS AS THEY GALLOPED OUT OF THE FIRE HOUSE WITHOUT THEIR RIG AND MEN

DO YOU KNOW

ONE ARTICLE STATED THAT THEY PLACED A BALE OF HAY ON THEIR RIG DURING THE WINTER TO BE USED ON A FROZEN HYDRANT.
THE PLAN WAS TO PLACE THE BALE AGAINST THE FROZEN HYDRANT AND SET IT ON FIRE

DO YOU KNOW

FROM A WEB SITE

Having fought this fire, you wondered why no bothered to use the ONE air-pack that was assigned each engine company. Being brand new, you asked. With all the scowling eyes turned on you, you learned that
REAL firemen used the three most common air-packs of the era:
a cigar (White Owl),
a one-inch by two-inch sponge,
or a red or white shop towel (your choice of color). So you had your choice of ways to be a leather-lung fireman.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 433

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 433

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
I FOUND A MENTION OF USING "LIQUID MANURE BARRELS MOUNTED ON A CARRIAGE" TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

TWO BIG HINDRANCES, TO USING THE AERIAL LADDER OR THE RAISING OF THE LARGER HAND LADDER IN THE OLDER LARGER CITIES WERE:

THE MANY ELECTRIC WIRES STRUNG OVERHEAD.

BESIDES THESE WIRES THEY ALSO HAD
PHONE WIRES,
STREETCAR WIRES
AND FIRE ALARM BOXES WIRES.

THE CITIES OF OLD WERE HEAVY WITH STRUNG WIRE.
EVEN HERE IN DETROIT WE HAD BOTH STREET CAR AND ELECTRIC BUS WIRES ON THE MAIN STREETS.
THEN BESIDES WIRE, MANY CITIES HAD CANOPIES IN FRONT OF THEIR BUILDINGS GIVING A LADDER RAISING CREW ANOTHER OBSTACLE

CAN YOU TRUCK GUYS IMAGINE BACK IN THE "OLD DAYS"CRANKING BY HAND THE BED LADDER
THEN
CRANKING BY HAND THE TURNTABLE
THEN
CRANKING BY HAND THE FLY SECTION
THEN WHEN YOU WERE TOTALLY EXHAUSTED
CLIMBING UP THE LADDER TO GO TO WORK CHOPPING HOLES IN THE ROOF.

DO YOU REALIZE

IN THE "REAL" OLD DAYS
THE SALVAGE PATROL COVERED THE PEOPLES PROPERTY WITH SALVAGE COVERS, CARRIED OUT BELONGINGS AND STOOD GUARD OVER THEM, SHOVELED OUT THE BURNED DEBRIS , PUMPED OUT THE BASEMENTS IF FLOODED AND SQUEEGED OUT THE WATER.
THEN THEY STOOD FIRE WATCH THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO BOTH GUARD THE PLACE AND, TO CHECK FOR REKINDLES

IN THE "OLD" DAYS
THEY DISBANDED THE SALVAGE PATROL AND PUT JUST SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT ON TRUCKS
THEN THE TRUCK CREW SHOVELED OUT THE BURNED DEBRIS AND SQUEEGED OUT THE WATER,.

TODAY DUE TO MANPOWER SHORTAGES AND NOT HAVING THE TIME OR EQUIPMENT , ESPECIALLY IN MAJOR CITIES, SALVAGE OPERATIONS DON'T GET DONE TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY DID IN THE PAST.

DO YOU KNOW
FOR A MULTIPLE ALARM IN THE REAL OLD DAYS
IF NEED BE, THE EMPTY HOSE REEL / WAGON UPON STRETCHING ALL THEIR LINE WOULD AT TIMES GO BACK TO THE ENGINE HOUSE TO LOAD UP MORE LINE.
THE DRIVER WOULD JUST GO BACK AND THE NEW CREW WOULD CONSISTS OF THE MEN WHO WERE ON THEIR MEAL BREAKS AND THOSE WHO WERE OFF DUTY AND NOW WERE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO ALL MULTIPLE ALARMS

DO YOU KNOW

ACCORDING TO SOME FIRE ARTICLES

DURING THE OLD DAYS, IN MANY COMMUNITIES ,YOU COULD BE A CAPTAIN ONE DAY AND A DECKIE RIDING THE BACK END THE NEXT OR A DECKIE ONE DAY AND A CAPTAIN THE NEXT.

THIS WAS ALL DUE TO A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION..

FAVORITISM WAS A BIG FACTOR IN MANY DEPARTMENTS

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 431

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 431


MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
THE RIDES WERE SO ROUGH WITH THE OLD STEAMER AND THEIR METAL WHEELS, LACK OF SPRINGS AND COBBLESTONE ROADS THAT, AT TIMES, THE GRATES FOR THE COAL CAME LOOSE , THEREBY RENDERING THE STEAMER USELESS. .

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OUTSIDE WATCHES (PATROLLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ) WERE A TWO HOURS SHIFT IN THE WINTER.

LATER CIVILIANS WERE HIRED FOR THIS JOB.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME STEAMERS HAD AN OIL BURNER ON THEIR RIG TO PREHEAT THE WATER

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OF THE FIRST FIRE HELMETS WERE MADE FROM A CARDBOARD LIKE MATERIAL. IT WAS COATED WITH SHELLAC AND PAINT FOR RIGIDITY.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES, WHENEVER A NEW MAYOR WAS ELECTED, HE APPOINTED HIS OWN CHIEF AND THEY CLEANED HOUSE,
IN THAT THEY TRANSFERRED WHOEVER THEY WANTED,
PROMOTED AND DEMOTED AND EVEN TERMINATED EMPLOYMENT FOR SOME FIREMEN.

WHAT IS "LONG MONDAY"

WHEN FIREMEN WORKED A 10 HOUR DAY AND 14 HOUR NIGHT SHIFT AND ROTATED EVERY WEEK ON MONDAY THE DAY SHIFT STAYED AND ALSO WORKED THE NIGHT SHIFT FOR A TOTAL OF 24 HOURS AND THAT WAS "LONG MONDAY"

FROM A WEB SITE
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) were put on the cars of the district chiefs and on all ladder trucks in 1953. Development of furnishings made of synthetic fibers and plastics made breathing more difficult when they burned. Yet, the old "leather-lung" firefighters ignored the new breathing apparatus. They had a tradition to uphold, that of a "smoke-eater." Later after engine companies were furnished SCBA, the airpacks were usually buried under other equipment in the basket of the engines. A firefighter was considered a wimp for some years if he donned an airpack at a fire.

DO YOU KNOW

IN ONE COMMUNITY, TO RID AN AREA OF MOSQUITOS THEY PUT "MALATHION" IN THE PUMPERS WATER TANK AND SPRAYED THE FIELDS.

ONLY PROBLEM WAS, THE MALATHION DETERIORATED THE PUMPS PACKING AND PUT THEM "OUT OF SERVICE"

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT IS A HEAVY BOX

ONE COMMUNITY GAVE IT THAT NAME WHEN THEY SENT A BOX ASSIGNMENT PLUS AN EXTRA ENGINE AND LADDER TRUCK

DO YOU KNOW

SOME COMMUNITIES X-RIGS ARE FULLY EQUIPPED SO WHEN YOU CHANGED RIGS, DUE TO NEEDED REPAIRS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TRANSFER ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT.
DO YOU KNOW
THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF A COMMUNITY BUYING A STEAMER AND THEN , DUE TO HARD TIMES, HAVING IT REPOSSESSED.

THEY THEN JUST HAD A HOSE REEL / WAGON TO EXTINGUISH FIRES

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 432

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 432

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
SOME COMMUNITIES DIDN'T HAVE THEIR OWN CISTERNS,
THEY DRAFTED FROM BUSINESSES OR PRIVATE ONES.
THEN IT WAS UP TO THOSE PEOPLE TO REFILL THEIR OWN CISTERNS, WHICH AT TIMES OF NOT MUCH RAIN MIGHT PRESENT A PROBLEM.
WHEN THE COMMUNITY DID BUILD THEIR OWN CISTERNS IT BECAME UNLAWFUL TO TAKE ANY WATER FOR PERSONAL USE.
IT WAS ONLY TO BE USED FOR A FIRE.
PUNISHMENT WAS A FINE OF $25.00 OR 10 DAYS IN JAIL.

DO YOU KNOW
ONE COMMUNITY LOADED AN OLD WATER FILLED WHISKEY BARREL ON A WAGON AND PULLED THAT TO A FIRE, TO DIP THEIR BUCKETS IN.

DO YOU KNOW

IN MOST INSTANCES, WOMEN DIDN'T MAN THE HAND PUMPER BRAKES BUT, ON OCCASION, THEY DID IF THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MEN AROUND.

DO YOU KNOW

ONE OLDTIME REQUISITE TO BE A FIREMAN WAS TO BE A MECHANIC OR AN APPRENTICE OF SOME TRADE.

DO YOU KNOW

THERE IS MENTIONED, IN SOME BOOKS, THAT THEY USED 12 MEN TO HOLD SOME REAL OLD LIFE NETS.

ON OURS IT ONLY TOOK 8 MEN
I ASSUME THEIRS MUST HAVE BEEN LARGER, AS 12 MEN COULD NOT HAVE FIT AROUND OURS WITH THEIR ELBOWS EXTENDED AWAY FROM THEIR BODY
IF THEIR ELBOWS WERE IN BY THEIR SIDE, TO FIT 12 MEN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN INTO THEIR STOMACHS UPON SOMEONE LANDING IN THE NET.

IN OUR TIME 3 FLOORS ,WAS TAUGHT, AS THE MAXIMUM "SAFE" HEIGHT TO CATCH A PERSON.
SOME EARLIER BOOKS SHOWED 5 FLOORS AND IT WAS RECORDED AS SOMEONE CAUGHT A PERSON FROM THE 7TH FLOOR IN NEW YORK

DO YOU KNOW .
TO DISCOURAGE FALSE ALARMS, SOME EARLY FIRE ALARM BOXES HAD A BELL THAT RANG WHEN YOU OPENED THE BOX TO PULL THE LEVER.
THEY REMOVED THE BELL WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT THE ALARM WAS TRANSMITTED WHEN THE BELL RANG AND THEY THEREFORE FAILED TO PULL THE LEVER TO ACTUAL TRANSMIT THE ALARM

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 430

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 430

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
WE ALL KNOW WHAT A KELLY DAY IS BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT A KELLY MAN IS

.ONE COMMUNITY HIRED A FIREMAN TO ONLY FILL IN WHEN THE REGULARS WENT ON KELLYTHEY CALLED HIM A "KELLY MAN

DO YOU KNOW

ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN ENGLAND , IN EARLIER TIMES, HAD THEIR FIREMEN WORK 48 HOURS ON AND 24 HOURS OFF.

DO YOU KNOW

THERE ARE RECORDS OF FIREMEN BEING SUSPENDED FOR FALLING ASLEEP ON WATCH.

DO YOU KNOW

A BAD FEATURE OF THE HOSE WAGON FOLLOWING THE OLD STEAMER TOO CLOSE WAS THAT THE STEAMER EMITTED BURNING EMBERS FROM THEIR STACK.

IF YOU WERE TOO CLOSE THERE WAS THE DANGER OF THE HOSE WAGON HORSE / MEN GETTING BURNED.

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT THREE THINGS MADE FOR AN EXTREMELY BONE - JARRING RIDE DURING THE EARLY DAYS
IRON RIMMED WHEELS
NO SPRINGS
COBBLE STONE ROADS

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE OLD DELUGE SET
BACK IN THE 60s, BEFORE ENGINES HAD MONITORS,
THE OLD SEAGRAVES CARRIED IN THEIR COMPARTMENT A STRAIGHT STREAM
2 1/2 " PIPE ATTACHED TO A 6' LENGTH OF LINE STRAPPED TO A 3' BOARD MOUNTED ON A LOW TRIPOD.

THIS WAS OUR MONITOR.

DO YOU KNOW

SALVAGE PATROLS:
WERE CALLED PATROLMEN
MADE LESS THEN FIREMEN
FIRST CARRIED A BAG TO CARRY ITEMS FROM THE BURNING BUILDINGS,
THEN THEY THREW SALVAGE COVERS OVER LARGER PERSONAL PROPERTY
THEY RODE WITH UPWARDS OF TEN MEN.
NOT ONLY DID THEY SHOVEL OUT ALL DEBRIS , SQUEEGEE OUT ALL WATER THEY ALSO WATCHED OVER , WITH POLICE OFFICERS, THE PROPERTY WHILE IT WAS BEING SECURED
THEY CARRIED, SALVAGE COVERS , AUGERS, STRAINERS, MOPES, SCOOPS, BUCKETS, CHAMOIS, SPONGES, SQUEEGEES, ROOFING PAPER, AND SAWDUST
FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 429

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 429


MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
THE BOX EVOLVED TO CUT DOWN ON FALSE ALARMS
THE BOX WENT FROM A LOCKED BOX WITH ONLY POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN, AND CLOSE BUSINESSES HAVING THE KEY
TO
UNLOCKED BOXES
TO
PURPLE DYE ON THE BOX HANDLE (OR PURPOSED PURPLE DYE ON THE HANDLE)
TO
A BREAK THE GLASS SYSTEM ON THE BOX
TO
THE BOX REMOVAL
NOTE: BEFORE THEY HAD A PROGRAM TO REMOVE ALL OF THE BOXES THEY FIRST STARTED REMOVING JUST THE HIGH FALSE ALARM BOXES.
DO YOU KNOW
IT APPEARS THAT THE TRAINING SCHOOL BECAME THE TRAINING ACADEMY ABOUT 1967, BUT NOT POSITIVE
DO YOU KNOW
IN MANY COMMUNITIES, WHEN THEY GOT A NEW ENGINE, THE OLD ONE WAS DELEGATED TO A WATER SUPPLY FUNCTION TO THE NEW PUMPER

DO YOU KNOW
WHILE WE USED THE 1 1/2 " LINE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OLD MSA SMOKE MASK FOR MOST HOUSE FIRES IN THE 60s & 70s

SOME COMMUNITIES STILL ONLY HAD THE 2 1/2" LINE AND NO MASKS WHAT SO EVER..
SOME COMMUNITIES FIRST BREATHING PROTECTION WAS THE SCBA

ALSO
WHILE WE USED THE SODA & ACID EXTINGUISHERS
SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS
USED A "HAND PUMP EXTINGUISHER"
THE BOOKS DIDN'T DESCRIBE THEM BUT I IMAGINE THEY WERE LIKE OUR OLD INDIAN PUMPS.
ONE OF THE REASONS "MIGHT HAVE BEEN " A COST FACTOR.$$$$$$$$$$$
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY SODA OR ACID AS THEY JUST USED WATER

THEY FILLED A SOCK WITH ROCK SALT AND PUT IT IN THEIR HAND PUMP EXTINGUISHER IN THE WINTERTIME.

DO YOU KNOW

VARIOUS ITEMS USED TO HELP BREATH IN FIRES IN THE PAST

WHISKERS SOAKED IN WATER
WET RAG
WET SPONGE
CHEW OF TOBACCO
UNLIT CIGAR

DO YOU KNOW

ACCORDING TO MANY BOOKS THE REASON FOR WHEN THE OPERATION OF THE STEAMER WAS LESS THEN EFFICIENT WAS:

A BAD STOKER
THE PROPER RATE OF COAL / WOOD APPLICATION WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE OPERATION OF A STEAMER

DO YOU KNOW

ONE ARTICLE STATED THAT IF A HOSE COMPANY ARRIVED FIRST ON THE SCENE THEY WOULD HOOK UP TO THE HYDRANT AND STRETCH TO THE FIRE.

WHEN THE STEAMER ARRIVED THEY WOULD POSITION THEMSELVES CLOSE TO THE FIRE AND HAVE THAT HOSE COMPANY , AS WELL AS OTHERS, HOOK INTO THEM AS A WATER SUPPLY SOURCE.

A PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HOSE COMPANY WOULD GET "FIRST WATER "RITES ALONG WITH ANY MONEY ACCORDING TO THE ERA AND COMMUNITY.

ALSO MANY HOSE COMPANIES DIDN'T WANT TO BE RELEGATED TO SECOND CLASS STATUS BY FEEDING A STEAMER,

THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE FIRE WITH THEIR LINE.

THAT'S WHEN SOME FIGHTS STARTED.

FIREFIGHTER


WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 428

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 428

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435


DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE HOLD OUT SYSTEM WAS ALSO KNOWN AS A RING OUT
THAT WAS WHEN THE FIRE ALARM BELL WAS ONLY IN THE CIRCUIT TO THE RESPONDING COMPANIES AND NOT TO THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT

DO YOU KNOW

THE OFFICIAL AGE OF VOLUNTEERS IN ONE COMMUNITY WAS 16 YEARS OLD BUT SOMETIMES (UNOFFICIALLY) YOU COULD BE AS YOUNG AS 12.
IT DEPENDED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF MANPOWER AT THE TIME.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES. THE FIREMEN HAD TO BUY THEIR OWN BADGES

DO YOU KNOW

DURING WORLD WAR TWO SOME FIRE DEPARTMENTS TAUGHT THEIR CITIZENS HOW TO EXTINGUISH INCENDIARY BOMBS.
THEY ALSO ESTABLISHED LISTENING POSTS FOR ENEMY AIRCRAFT

DO YOU KNOW
A TORCHBOY WAS A YOUNG BOY THAT CARRIED A TORCH TO LIGHT THE WAY DOWN UNLIT STREETS

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES THERE WAS AN ORDER THAT ONCE AN ALARM OF FIRE RANG YOU COULDN'T USE YOUR HOME PHONE

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OLD FIRE DEPARTMENTS CALLED THE EARLY LONG NOZZLES THAT DIDN'T HAVE SHUTOFFS AS "SUICIDE NOZZLES"
YOU CAN IMAGE CRAWLING (NO MASKS) IN A BUILDING FIRE WITH A STIFF 2 1/2 " LINE THAT YOU COULDN'T SHUTOFF, AND STRUGGLING TO MANEUVER IT THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, AND UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CALLED IT A "SUICIDE NOZZLE "

DO YOU KNOW

IN ONE COMMUNITY YOU PAID A FIRE TAX
WHEN AN ALARM CAME IN THE WATCHMAN WOULD CHECK THE FIRE TAX JOURNAL TO SEE IF YOU PAID YOUR TAX. IF YOU DIDN'T , THEY WOULDN'T RESPOND AND YOUR PLACE BURNED TO THE GROUND.

DO YOU KNOW

IN BUILDING FIRES YOU TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.
IN FOREST FIRES YOU TRY TO CONTROL ITS SPRED BY CREATING FIRE BREAKS.

DO YOU KNOW
IN ONE COMMUNITY THEY HONOR A TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO THE LATE 1800s.
WHENEVER THEY GET A NEW RIG THEY BACK IT IN QUARTERS THREE TIMES
FIRST FOR GOD
SECOND FOR COUNTRY
THIRD FOR COMMUNITY

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 427

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 427

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
IN SOME COMMUNITIES THEY HAD THEIR PULL BOXES HOOKED UP TO THE WATER WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UPON A FIRE THEY WOULD BOOST UP THE PRESSURE SO THE FIREMEN COULD HOOK UP DIRECTLY TO THE HYDRANTS WITHOUT USING AN ENGINE.

DO YOU KNOW

IN ONE COMMUNITY THEIR HEAD OF THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THE TITLE OF "GENERAL"

DO YOU KNOW

ONE COMMUNITIES FIRST RESCUE SQUAD WAS A CONVERTED FUNERAL CAR.

DO YOU KNOW
THE FIRST MAN AT ONE COMMUNITIES FIRE WITH HIS BUCKET WAS THE MAN IN CHARGE.

DO YOU KNOW

ON SOME EARLY APPARATUSES THAT COULD ONLY CARRY 4 MEN THEY HAD A 4 PADDLE SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE HOUSE.
THE FIRST 4 MEN TO RESPOND TO THE ENGINE HOUSE TO GRAB A PADDLE GOT TO RIDE.
THE REST HAD TO GET TO THE FIRE ON THEIR OWN.

DO YOU KNOW
SOME EARLY WATCH TOWERS WERE ACTUALLY "CHURCH STEEPLES"

DO YOU REALIZE
THAT IN MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES THERE IS THE NEED FOR A PUMPER TO BE ABLE TO BOTH PUMP AND BE DRIVEN AT THE SAME TIME.
AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHEN A FIELD OF HAY, STRAW, CORN STALKS WERE ON FIRE AND YOU HAD TO TRAVERSE THE AREA.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME OF THE INNER COMMUNITY HOSE STRETCHING CONTESTS THE HOME TEAM OF FIREMEN WOULD TIGHTEN THEIR OPPONENTS HYDRANT CAPS SO THEY COULDN'T GET FIRST WATER ON A HOSE STRETCH.

OTHER THINGS THEY DID WAS TO GIVE THEM THE WRONG HYDRANT WRENCH AND HAD THE WATER PRESSURE DECREASED TO THEIR HYDRANT FROM A DISTANT VALVE.

DO YOU KNOW

WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAD THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING A FIRE BRIGADE AND ALSO PAYING FOR INSURANCE LOSES THEY JUST KEPT RAISING THEIR RATES.
WHEN THE RATES GOT EXORBITANT AND THE PEOPLE STARTED TO REVOLT WAS WHEN THE POLITICIANS DECIDED THAT THE COMMUNITY BETTER TAKE OVER THE FIRE BRIGADE.

DO YOU KNOW

A TRAIN TIRE IS ITS WHEEL RIM,
IT WAS USED, AT TIMES, AS A FIRE ALARM BELL.

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT A PIGEON BOX IS?

IT IS A FIRE WATCH TOWER IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN ONE COMMUNITY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ISSUED A BICYCLE TO CHECK THEIR ALARM BOXES.
THEY HAD TO TEST THEM WEEKLY AND THE BIKE SPEEDED UP THE JOB.


DO YOU KNOW

In 1921, California passed a law forbidding wooden shingles on roofs but pressure from the roofing industry brought a repeal.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 426

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 426

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
THE EARLY WOODEN AERIAL LADDER WAS RAISED JUST ON SHEER MANPOWER AS THE HELPER SPRINGS WEREN'T INVENTED YET.

DO YOU KNOW
NOT ALL POLES ARE BRASS.
THERE ARE ALSO GALVANIZED POLES

DO YOU KNOW
POLISHING POLES WASN'T JUST FOR LOOKS, IT WAS TO PROVIDE FOR A FASTER DESCENT. SOME OF THE "OLD TIMERS" USED TO WAX THEM SO US "WHIPPER SNAPPERS" WOULD REALLY ZIP DOWN.
IF WE GOT HURT IT WAS "TOUGH LUCK"

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME OF THE OLD LADDER TRUCKS, THE TILLER STEERING COLUMN WENT BETWEEN THE RUNGS OF THE GROUND LADDERS AS THEY WERE BEDDED IN A SINGLE STACK.
THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REMOVED BEFORE YOU COULD USE ANY GROUND LADDERS.
BACK IN THE 60s THE TRUCKS HAD TWO STACKS OF GROUND LADDERS AND THE COLUMN WENT BETWEEN THE TWO STACKS.THEREFORE, YOU COULD USE THE GROUND LADDERS WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL THE COLUMN.

DO YOU KNOW
OUR "FIRST ALARM DISTRICT" IN SOME COMMUNITIES IS CALLED
"FIRST IN TERRITORY"

DO YOU KNOW
ALL THE ARTICLES STATED THE QUICK HITCH WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING AND DROPPED ON THE HORSES.
IN ONE ARTICLE, IT STATED THAT THEIR QUICK HITCH WAS A
"SWING HARNESS DESIGN"

THERE WAS NO FURTHER EXPLANATION

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME EARLY COMMUNITIES IF THERE WAS A FIRE IN A HIGH VALUE DISTRICT OR ANY EXTRA ALARM YOU HAD TO RESPOND EVEN IF IT WAS YOUR OFF DAY.
YOU DIDN'T GET PAID FOR IT EITHER.

DO YOU KNOW

SINCE THE EARLY RIGS HAD METAL WHEELS , NO SPRINGS , THE ROADS WERE COBBLESTONE AND YOU HAD TO STAND UP WHILE HANGING ON ANYWHERE YOU COULD
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT A JARRING RIDE IT WAS.
FIREFIGHTER


WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 425

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 425

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY FIRE ENGINES , THAT HAD BOOSTER TANKS WERE KEPT IN UNHEATED GARAGES.
THEREFORE THE TANKS WERE KEPT EMPTY IN THE WINTER AND HAD TO BE QUICKLY FILLED UPON AN ALARM OF FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW
IN THE EARLY DAYS, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, TO GET ON THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT
YOU DIDN'T: HAVE TO TAKE A PHYSICAL
FILL OUT AN APPLICATION
HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK
TAKE A WRITTEN TEST
YOU DID:
HAVE TO BE BETWEEN 21 & 35 YEARS OLD
HAVE TO MEET WITH THE CHIEF( IF HE DEEMED YOU CAPABLE OF DOING THE JOB, YOU WERE HIRED.
NOTE: ONE FACTOR WAS YOU HAD TO BE FIT ENOUGH TO SERVE IN THE ARMY

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT EXPRESSION DID YOU USE, WHEN YOUR RIG WENT TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR A REPAIR AND WHILE IT WAS THERE, PARTS FROM YOUR RIG WERE APPROPRIATED FOR REPAIRS ON ANOTHER RIG.

"CANNIBALIZED"

DO YOU KNOW

IN THE EARLY DAYS, IN SOME COMMUNITIES IF YOU WANTED OFF AND THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FILL YOUR POSITION FOR THAT DAY WITH AN SUPERNUMERARY (EXTRA TRAINED RECRUIT FIREMAN WAITING TO BECOME A REGULAR)
YOU HAD TO PAY HIM FROM YOUR POCKET.
NOT ALL DEPARTMENTS HAD SUPERNUMERARIES
WHEN THE REGULARS HAD THEIR THREE ONE HOUR MEAL BREAKS THE SUPERNUMERARIES FILLED IN, IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IT APPEARS THEY JUST RAN SHORT.
THERE WERE NO SICK TIME,
INJURED ON DUTY OR VACATIONS
THE CHIEF COULD SUSPEND YOU FOR ANY OR NO REASON,
NO APPEAL
DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE EARLY WOODEN LADDER DAYS, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, EACH MORNING EQUIPMENT INSPECTION REQUIRED:
INSPECTION TO INSURE THERE WERE NO LADDER SPLINTERS
THE RUNGS WERE NOT LOOSE AND THAT ALL WOOD WAS COVERED BY SHELLAC WITH NO BARE SPOTS

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 424

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 424

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW

SOME HANDPUMPERS WERE IN SERVICE FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS

DO YOU KNOW
IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT RELIED UPON THE TOWNSFOLK TO UNHITCH THEIR HORSES FROM THEIR DAILY WORK AND HITCH THEM TO THE FIRE RIG.
THEY FIRST PULLED THEM OUTSIDE AND WERE PREPARED TO PULL IT BY MANPOWER IN CASE NO HORSES BECAME AVAILABLE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF SNOW THEY HAD FIRE SLEIGHS
IN ONE PICTURE IT SHOWED WHERE THE SLEIGH WAS IN THEIR ENGINE HOUSE ON ROLLERS.
THE ROLLERS LOOKED LIKE 15' SECTIONS OF A VERY NARROW LADDER WITH THE RUNGS BEING MOVABLE ROLLERS
DO YOU KNOW
SOME COMMUNITIES HAD A DESCENDING RATE SCALE $$$$ FOR RESPONDING COMPANIES.
THE FIRST ARRIVING COMPANY GOT THE HIGHEST RATE AND THE LAST THE LOWEST.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN YOU HAD TO CALL THE REPAIR SHOP, WHAT DID YOU HATE TO REPORT, AS YOU KNEW THE REPAIR MAN COULDN'T FIX IT AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE RIGS.

COME ON OLD TIMER , THINK"

BROKEN SPRING"

DO YOU KNOW

WHILE WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE BUCKETS USED IN THE BUCKET BRIGADE TO PUT WATER ON THE FIRE, BUT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT ANOTHER BUCKET.

I FOUND A PICTURE OF A BUCKET CART OWNED BY A PROTECTIVES COMPANY (SALVAGE)

ACCORDING TO THE CAPTION THEY WERE USED TO CARRY PERSONAL ITEMS FROM THE BURNING HOUSE.

DO YOU KNOW

ON SOME CHEMICAL ENGINES THE CHEMICAL TANKS WERE LATER REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A BOOSTER TANK.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 423

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 423

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435


DO YOU KNOW
THAT IN MANY DEPARTMENTS THERE IS A DIFFERENCE ON WHO HAS THE PIPE

VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
(1) TRIAL MAN NOTE: SOME DEPARTMENTS HAD THE TRIALMAN BE THE SECOND MAN ON THE PIPE
(2) YOUNGEST MAN, IF NO TRIALMAN ON DUTY
(3) THE SENIOR MAN
(4) THE FIRST FIREMAN ASSIGNED TO THE ENGINE TO SIGN IN THAT DAY
(5) THE BOSS

DO YOU KNOW
BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, BEFORE MASKS
YOU WENT IN TO THE SMOKY FIRE BY EATING AS MUCH SMOKE AS POSSIBLE, COUGHING AND PUKING UNTIL YOU COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. THEN YOU EITHER BACKED OUT OR WERE DRAGGED OUT TO GET A BREATH OF AIR, COUGHED AND PUKED SOME MORE AND WENT BACK IN.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE EXPRESSION TO"HOOK HER"AND WHAT IT MEANT
TO CALL FOR AN EXTRA ALARM

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT "SUPERNUMERARIES" WERE
THEY WERE NEW RECRUITS WHO WERE TRAINED AT A FIRE STATION AND BECAME FIREMEN AS OPENINGS OCCURRED

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT IS "SKY JELLO"
PINK FIRE RETARDANT CHEMICAL THAT IS DROPPED FROM PLANES ON A FOREST FIRE

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT IS A"FIRELINE"
A STRIP OF LAND THAT HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ALL THE BRUSH TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE
DO YOU KNOW
A REASON THAT SOME COMMUNITIES AT FIRST DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY "WATER SUPPLY"

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OF THE ARTICLES ON MASKS INDICATE THAT DUE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF POISONOUS GASES DURING WORLD WAR 1, THE GOVERNMENT FELT THE NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESPIRATORS.

LATER THESE RESPIRATORS WERE USED BY THE FIRE FIGHTING SERVICE.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 422

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 422

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435


DO YOU KNOWOUR "FAST GETOUT"IS CALLED A"FAST PUSH OUT" IN SOME DEPARTMENTS
AND OUR"STRETCHES"ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS"LEAD OUTS"
AND OUR"WORKING FIRE " IS SOME DEPARTMENTS"HIT"AND ALSO A"JOB"
AND
DO YOU KNOW
WHILE WE HAD "COT WATCH" BACK IN THE 60s
OTHER DEPARTMENTS STILL HAD THE "WAKEFUL WATCH"
AND
WHILE OUR "SQUADS" CARRIED THE OLD RESUSCITATOR
OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAD THE "CHIEFS CAR" CARRY THEIRS
DO YOU REMEMBER
A "MEAT LOAF" WAS CALLED A "FOOTBALL"
DO YOU REMEMBER

HAVING TO BLEED THE AIR BRAKE TANKS ON THE OLD MACK ENGINES BACK IN THE 70s

DO YOU KNOW

IF THERE IS DEEP WATER, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, ON AN UPPER FLOOR OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING, YOU CAN GET RID OF ALL THIS EXCESS WEIGHT BY SMASHING THE TOILETS AND THE WATER WILL DRAIN DOWN THE PIPES.

YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT DEBRIS DOESN'T FLOW DOWN THE PIPE TO PLUG IT UP.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME DEPARTMENTS , ONLY THE CHIEF HAD THE AUTHORITY TO CALL IN AN EXTRA ALARM.

I "THINK"( I'M NOT POSITIVE AS I WAS STILL A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER AT THE TIME) THIS WAS THE POLICY BACK IN THE 60s ,
OR IF NOT THE OFFICIAL POLICY THERE WAS A RELUCTANCY FOR ANYONE ELSE TO CALL FOR AN EXTRA ALARM EXCEPT THE CHIEF.

GRADUALLY THE THINKING WAS IT WAS NOT VERY SMART TO HAVE PEOPLE HANGING OUT OF A BURNING APARTMENT AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CHIEF TO GET ON THE SCENE TO CALL FOR EXTRA HELP.
HE MAY BE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE DISTRICT.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 421

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 421

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435

DO YOU KNOW
THE ORIGIN OF THE MOLOTOV COCKTAIL THAT WE HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY TIMES DURING OUR YEARS ON THE JOB.

Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov was the head of the Soviet Council of People's Commissars (1930-1941) and Foreign Minister (1939-1949 and 1953-1956), and it is after him that the Molotov cocktail is named. It is unclear how this occurred; either the name was given by the Finnish resistance in 1939, or it was given by Soviet soldiers when Molotov began to mass-produce these weapons.

DO YOU KNOW
ONE DEPARTMENT HAD A RULE IN THEIR BOOKS STATING
NO SPITTING ON THE FLOOR
I GUESS THIS WAS BACK WHEN THEY HAD A LOT OF TOBACCO CHEWERS AND NO FUNDS FOR SPITTOONS

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THEY HAD MANY OF ITS TOWNS FOLKS THAT OWNED HORSES.
RATHER THEN HAVING THEIR DEPARTMENT OWNING OR RENTING HORSES FROM A STABLE,WOULD USE SOME OF THE TOWNS FOLKS HORSES AS THEY RESPONDED TO THE FIREHOUSE FOR AN ALARM.

DO YOU KNOW

ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING FUNDS FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT WAS TO FINE DISORDERLY SPECTATORS AT FIRES

DO YOU KNOW

IN ONE VOLUNTARY DEPARTMENT IF YOU DID NOT SHOW UP FOR ROLL CALL OR WEREN'T PRESENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A FIRE, YOU WERE FIRED.

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES THE PROPERTY OWNERS BANDED TOGETHER TO FORM A VOLUNTARY FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THEY HAD THE MOST TO LOSE

DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THAT THE HOSE CARTS WERE LOADED BOTH WAYS (MALE FIRST AND FEMALE FIRST) ACCORDING TO EACH COMMUNITY AND WHETHER THEY STRETCHED FROM THE FIRE TO THE SOURCE OF WATER OR FROM THE SOURCE OF WATER TO THE FIRE.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE THREE T's OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION

T ELEPHONE
T ELEGRAPH
T ELL A FIREMAN......ESPECIALLY A CHIEFS DRIVER

DO YOU KNOW
THAT BEFORE THERE WERE PHONES, SOME DEPARTMENTS HAD THE MEN "KEYING" THEMSELVES IN QUARTERS ON THE REGISTER SYSTEM.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 420

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 420

MY FINAL BLOG WILL BE NUMBER 435


HEY OLDTIMERS
BELOW ARE EIGHT NAMES FOR FIREFIGHTER FOLLOWED BY EIGHT COUNTRIES MATCH THE COUNTRIES WITH THE TERM THEY USE FOR FIREFIGHTER
SCROLL DOWN BELOW IF YOUR BRAIN IS TOO CLOGGED FROM
EATING ALL THOSE FRIED STEAK TRIMMINGS ON SATURDAYS "STEAK DAY"

ΠΥΡΟΣΒΈΣΤΗς
BOMBERO
POMPIER
FEUERWEHRMANN
POMPIERE
BRANDBESTRIJDER
BOMBEIRO
FIREFIGHTER

PORTUGUESE
DUTCH
ITALIAN
GERMAN FRENCH
SPANISH
NORWEGIAN
GREECE

ΠΥΡΟΣΒΈΣΤΗς.......................GREECE
BOMBERO..................... SPANISH
POMPIER..................... FRENCH
FEUERWEHRMANN........... GERMAN
POMPIERE.......................... ITALIAN
BRANDBESTRIJDER......... DUTCH
BOMBEIRO.......................... PORTUGUESE
FIREFIGHTER....................... NORWEGIAN

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES ,COMING TO THE END OF MY BLOG

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES ,
COMING TO THE END OF MY BLOG

THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 15 MORE ARTICLES IN MY DRAFT FOLDER FOR MY BLOG.
I WILL BE SENDING OUT MORE THEN ONE A DAY TILL I AM DONE.
IT HAS BEEN ENJOYABLE IN WRITING AND HAVING MANY OF YOU READING THE MANY ARTICLES I HAVE POSTED HERE. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THEM.

THE BLOGMASTER OF THIS SITE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING AND IF IT DISAPPEARS JUST "GOGGLE " FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES
AND IT SHOULD POP UP.

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS E-MAIL ME AT WISTUFF@COMCAST.NET

FIREFIGHTER
WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 419

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 419


WE ARE ONLY PASSING THROUGH,
WE ARE THE GUARDIANS AND CUSTODIAN OF A 100 YEAR TRADITION.

THE MAN IN THE GLASS "
WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR STRUGGLE FOR SELF
AND THE WORLD MAKES YOU KING FOR A DAY,
JUST GO TO THE MIRROR AND LOOK AT YOURSELF
AND SEE WHAT THAT MAN HAS TO SAY

FOR IT ISN'T YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER OR WIFE
WHOSE JUDGMENT UPON YOU MUST PASS
THE FELLOW WHOSE VERDICT COUNTS MOST IN YOUR LIFE
IS THE ONE STARING BACK FROM THE GLASS

YOU MAY BE LIKE JACK HORNER AND CHISEL A PLUM
AND THINK YOU'RE A WONDERFUL GUY.
BUT THE MAN IN THE GLASS SAYS YOU'RE ONLY A BUM
IF YOU CAN'T LOOK HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE.

HE'S THE FELLOW TO PLEASE - NEVER MIND ALL THE REST,
FOR HE'S WITH YOU CLEAR TO THE END.
AND YOU'VE PASSED YOUR MOST DANGEROUS, DIFFICULT TEST
IF THE MAN IN THE GLASS IS YOUR FRIEND.

YOU MAY FOOL THE WHOLE WORLD DOWN THE PATHWAY OF YEARS
AND GET PATS ON THE BACK AS YOU PASS.
BUT YOUR FINAL REWARD WILL BE HEARTACHE AND TEARS
IF YOU'VE CHEATED THE MAN IN THE GLASS.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 418

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 418


DO YOU REMEMBER
AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" ,IN THE 60s, PUTTING A RAG ON YOUR HEAD AND GOING UNDER YOUR COMPANIES RIG ON A CREEPER .
YOU HAD TO KEROSENE ALL THE GREASE AND OIL FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENTIRE RIG FOR INSPECTION.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS............."YEAH RIGHT"

DO YOU KNOW
IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THE LADDER TRUCK CREW WERE REFERRED TO AS "HOOKS"

DO YOU KNOW

IN THE YEAR 1770 THERE IS A RECORD OF A FIRE CAUSED BY A BOLT OF LIGHTENING.
IT WAS PUT OUT WITH A BUCKET OF MILK FROM A FARMER MILKING HIS COW.

DO YOU KNOW

DURING THE 1800s, IN SOME COMMUNITIES OUT WEST, THERE WAS A RELUCTANCE TO ORGANIZE A VOLUNTEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT AS MANY TOWNSFOLK FELT FIRE WAS AN ACT OF NATURE OR GOD

DO YOU KNOW

THE FIRST HOOK AND LADDER TRUCK THAT FORT WORTH TEXAS BOUGHT WAS SHIPPED BY TRAIN TO DALLAS.
IT WAS THEN PULLED BY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN 40 MILES TO FORT WORTH.
THE THINKING OF A TRUCK RATHER THEN A PUMPER WAS TO PULL DOWN THE SURROUNDING STRUCTURES RATHER THEN TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE ONE ON FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

IN ONE COMMUNITY, THEY SET UP THEIR TOP STRUCTURE TO HAVE TWO CLASSES OF FIRE OFFICIALS.
PRESIDENT OF THE FIRE WARD
HE FORMULATED POLICY AND HAD THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE A BUILDING BLOWN UP OR TORN DOWN.

FIRE CONSTABLE ALSO KNOW AS FIRE WARDS / WARDENS
THEY DIRECTED THE ACTUAL FIGHTING OF FIRES.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 417

FIREFIGHTER HISTORY ,STORIES AND MEMORIES 417


DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THAT WAS SPREAD OVER A WIDE AREA, WITH BAD OR NO ROADS TO MANY AREAS,
THEY HAD TO LOAD THEIR FIRE APPARATUS ON A TRAIN TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE FIRE AS POSSIBLE.

DO YOU KNOW

IN DUBLIN IRELAND, IN THE YEAR 1305, THERE WAS AN ORDNANCE THAT IF YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A FIRE YOU WOULD BE ARRESTED AND EITHER THROWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRE OR PAY A FINE OF 100 SHILLINGS

ALSO IN DUBLIN, MOST PARISHES HAD THEIR OWN FIRE ENGINES

DO YOU KNOW

THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF THE FIREMEN COMING BACK FROM A FIRE USING THE CHEMICAL ENGINE AND THEIR UNIFORMS WERE FULL OF HOLES, FROM THE SULFURIC ACID

DO YOU KNOW

IN DETROIT, BACK IN THE 50s, THERE WERE 12 BATTALIONS.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OLD TIME BOSSES HID PENNIES UNDER THE FENDERS OF THEIR RIG TO SEE IF THE DRIVER WASHED UNDER THERE.
ALSO THEY PUT THEM ON WINDOW AND DOOR LEDGES AND ON LOCKER TOPS TO TEST IF THE MEN DUSTED THERE

DO YOU REMEMBER

AN OLD ENGINE HOUSE MEAL OF "RING BALONEY"IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU CALLED "RING BALONEY"
"HORSE C--K" OR"DONKEY D--K"

DO YOU KNOW

WHEN DID THE THRILL SHOW START AT THE FIREMEN'S FIELD DAY.
I ONLY READ ONE REFERENCE TO THIS, AND IT STATED IT STARTED IN 1963

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE KNOTS YOU LEARNED WAY BACK THEN. I IMAGINE THEY HAVE CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WITH NEW ROPES AND METAL FASTENERS.

I THINK WE LEARNED
BOWLINE
BOWLINE AND A BIGHT
CLOVE HITCH
HALF HITCH
SQUARE KNOT
BECKET BEND
AGAIN , I'M NOT SURE.I DO KNOW THEY FOUND OUT, FROM MY CLASS, WHO WAS GOING TO BE SENT TO THE "OFU" AND THEY HAD TO TEACH THEM TO TIE THEIR SHOES.

FIREFIGHTER

WAYNE