Reading through a book published in 1898, “Landmarks of Detroit- A History of the City”, I found a passage on the history of the Detroit Fire Department. This is from a passage describing the time period around 1805, when nearly the entire city was destroyed by fire. Hope you find it as interesting as I did.
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Today in DFD history – February 25, 1802
Detroit, being newly incorporated as a village on Jan. 18th, 1802, adopts “Regulations for Securing the Town of Detroit From Injury by Fire”.
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society.
Read more about the history of this particular bucket at their blog.
It required residents to keep filled water kegs or barrels, which had to be stored inside to keep them from freezing. These barrels were fitted with ears on each side
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Today in DFD history – February 18, 1952
Detroit becomes the first fire department in the nation to be fully equipped with mobile radios. The last units to receive radios were E-48 and E-60.
Although I don’t know the brand of radio’s Detroit Fire Department used in 1952, they would have looked something like this.
Also in 1952
Telegraph Bureau was renamed as Communications Division
All other fire department Bureaus were changed to Divisions
The buddy relief system was approved by the Board of Commissioners. It went into effect February 15, 1952.
Buddy relief is a system created to avoid firefighters being detained at a scene later than 08:00 am shift change. Out of courtesy, incoming personnel relieve outgoing firefighters between 06:30 and 07:15. The official start of shift is 08:00 am, but with buddy relief, if a run comes in just before 08:00 incoming personnel respond. Those firefighters ending their shifts are already relieved and free to go.
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Today in DFD history – February 13, 1997
Detroit Firefighter Joyce Stoll is promoted to Seargant, becoming the first female boss in fire operations.
Photo by Sean Doerr/SNweb.org Photography
See more of his work at http://snweb.org/
Joyce has continued to move through the ranks and is currently a Battallion Chief.
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Today in DFD history – February 7, 2002
Detroit Firefighter Steve Olander, L-21, died from a brain aneurysm, the result of injuries received at a fire on Jan. 10, 2002.
Steve was a second generation firefighter. His father is retired Battalion Chief, Duane (Red) Olander.
Please share your memories of Steve by leaving a comment.
Today in DFD history – February 7, 2007
Detroit FEO Joseph Torkos, E-17, died as the result of a car / rig accident while responding to a fire.
Listen to a related audio story: There’s No Book For This
Please share your memories of FEO Torkos by leaving a comment.
Today in DFD history – February 5, 1994
Detroit Fire Chief Robert G. English, Chief 5, died as the result of a heart attack at a fire.
Photo courtesy of the DetroitFirefighters.net.
Please share your memories of Chief English by leaving a comment.
Detroit, Devil’s Night in the 1980’s.
If you worked those nights, you remember. How did you have enough energy left to drive home in the morning? “And you want me to come back tomorrow and do this again?”
The Superbowl of Firefighting
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Being called a Jake in Detroit, is an insult,