Firefighter Skills Chapter 1 - History of The Fire Service

Question 1

Augustus Caesar Creates First Fire Department

Answer 1

• 24 B.C.

- 600 Slaves

Question 2

Corps of Vigiles

Answer 2

• Established by Nero in 60 A.D.

- 7,000 Free Men

Question 3

First Documented Structure Fire

Answer 3

-1607, Jamestown, Virginia

Question 4

Banked

Answer 4

-Covering a fire to ensure low burning

Question 5

First Paid Department

Answer 5

-1679 Boston

Question 6

First Volunteer Company

Answer 6

-1735 in Philadelphia, led by Ben Franklin

Question 7

Chicago Fire

Answer 7

• 1871
• 3 Days
• 300 dead
• 200 million in damages
• Led to building and fire codes

Question 8

Peshtigo Fire Storm

Answer 8

• 1871
• 2,400 square miles of forest burned
• 2,200 people dead
• Led to building and fire codes

Question 9

Building Code Origins

Answer 9

• Began in Egypt to prevent collapse
• 1678 Boston requires “tyle” or slate for roofs
• 1814 codes prohibit wooden houses after Wash. DC is burned.

Question 10

NFPA

Answer 10

• Writes today’s codes and standars

- Final document is referred to as the “consensus document”

Question 11

Fire Hooks

Answer 11

-Used by colonial firefighters to pull down burning structures and stop the spread of fires.

Question 12

First Hand Powered Pumper

Answer 12

-Developed by Richard Newsham, 1720, London

Question 13

Steam Powered pumpers

Answer 13

• 1829

- Made volunteer fire fighters feel threatened

Question 14

Fireplug

Answer 14

-Valve to control water access from wooden pipes

Question 15

Call boses

Answer 15

• Washington DC, 1860

- Fire Department could determine location by number of bells in the signal.

Question 16

Chief’s trumpet

Answer 16

• Used to be used to amplify the chief officer’s commands

- Is a symbol of authority today

Question 17

Fire Mark

Answer 17

-Designated that a house was insured against fire and the company who put it out would be paid.

Question 18

Volunteer vs Career Today

Answer 18

-27% career, 73% volunteer