Fire Facts and Lore FAQs
* What is the History of National Fire Prevention Week?
* What have been the themes to Fire Prevention Week over the years?
* Who was St. Florian?
* Why is the The Maltese Cross the Symbol for the Fire Service?
* What are the words to the Fireman's Prayer?
* What are the words to the Fireman's Wife's Prayer?
* Why are dalmations considered firehouse dogs?
* What is The Fire Triangle?
* Frequently Asked Firsts
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the history of National Fire Prevention Week?
The history of National Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great
Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 9, 1871. This tragic conflagration
killed some 300 people, left 100,000 homeless, and destroyed more than
17,000 structures. The origin of the fire has generated speculation since
its occurrence, with fact and fiction becoming blurred over the years. One
popular legend has it that Mrs. Catherine O'Leary was milking her cow when
the animal kicked over a lamp, setting the O'Leary's barn on fire and
starting the spectacular blaze. How ever the massive fire began, it swiftly
took its toll, burning more than 2000 acres in 27 hours. The City of
Chicago quickly rebuilt, however, and within a couple of years residents
began celebrating their successful restoration by memorializing the
anniversary of the fire with festivities.
Intending to observe the fire's anniversary with a more serious
commemoration, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA), the
oldest membership section of the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA), decided that the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should
be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public
informed about the importance of fire prevention. So on October 9, 1911,
FMANA sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first national Fire Prevention
Day proclamation. For more than 70 years, the nonprofit NFPA has officially
sponsored and selected the theme for the national commemoration of Fire
Prevention Week, honoring the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire and
using the event to increase awareness of the dangers of fire. And every
year since 1925, the President of the United States has signed a
proclamation pronouncing the Sunday-through-Saturday period in which
October 9 falls a national observance.
When President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire
Prevention Week, October 4-10, 1925, he noted that in the previous year
some 15,000 lives were lost to fire in the United States. Calling the loss
"startling," President Coolidge's proclamation stated, "This waste results
from conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater
part of it could and ought to be prevented... It is highly desirable that
every effort be made to reform the conditions which have made possible so
vast a destruction of the national wealth."
NFPA continues today to make National Fire Prevention Week a priority and
counts on the participation and effort of tens of thousands of fire and
safety professionals, American Red Cross volunteers, and individuals
working to reduce the risk of fire and the toll its takes on our society.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who was St. Florian?
Florian was born about 250 A.D. in Cetium (now in Austria). He joined the
Roman army and advanced in the ranks. However, the Emperor Diocletian was
shocked to learn that Florian did not carry out his orders to persecute all
Christians in the area, and, thus, 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." Apprehensive to his words, instead of burning Florian, they
drowned him. His body was recovered and buried.
About 600 years later, sometime between 900-955, a monastery was erected
near Florian's tomb, and subsequently the village of St. Florian grew up
around it.
St. Florian was adopted as patron saint of Poland after Pope Lucius III
consented to the request of King Casimir to send relics of Florian to that
country. Soon after, a person was saved from a fire by invoking St.
Florian's name. Since then, Florian has been invoked against fire and has
generally been regarded in most countries as the patron saint of the fire
service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is the the Maltese Cross the symbol for the fire service?
The insignia of the fire service is the Cross Pattee-Nowy, otherwise known
as the Maltese Cross. The cross represents the fire service ideals of
saving lives and extinguishing fires.
The fire service borrows the emblem of the cross from the Knights of St.
John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitallers), a charitable, non-military
organization that existed during the 11th and 12th centuries that helped
the sick and poor in setting up hospices and hospitals. Later, they
assisted the Knights of the Crusades through their goodwill and also
through military assistance in an effort to the Island of Malta, the island
for which the Maltese Cross was named.
The need for an identifiable emblem for the knights had become crucial.
Because of the extensive armor which covered their entire bodies and faces,
the knights were unable to distinguish friend from foe in battle. They
chose the cross of Calvery as their symbol, since they fought their battles
as a holy cause. The cross was later called the "Maltese Cross" and
represented the principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry,
generosity to friend and foe, protection of the weak, and dexterity in
service.
During the Crusades, many knights became fire fighters out of necessity.
Their enemies had resorted to throwing glass bombs containing naptha and
sailing their war vessels containg naptha, rosin, sulphur, and flaming oil
into the vessels of the knights. Many knights were called to perform heroic
deeds by rescuing fellow knights and extinguishing fires. In
acknowledgement of these feats, the cross worn by these knights was
decorated and inscribed. This was considered a most honorable acclaim.
Top of Page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are the words to the Fireman's Prayer?
When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage;
Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.
Author Unknown
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are the words to the Fireman's Wife's Prayer?
The table's set, the meal's prepared, our guests will soon arrive.
My husband once more disappears with a hope of keeping a child alive.
While waiting at home alone, our plans having gone awry
My first impulse is merely to sit right down and cry.
But soon again I realize the importance of my life
When I agreed to take on the duties of being a fireman's wife.
While there are many drawbacks, I'll take them in my stride,
Knowing "My Daddy saved a life" our children can say with pride.
The gusting winds and raging flames may be his final fate.
But with God's help I can remain my fireman's faithful mate.
Author Unknown
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are dalmations considered firehouse dogs?
Dalmations have shared the barns and the hunt courses with horses for
centuries, so when fire-apparatus was horse-drawn, nearly every firehouse
had its resident dalmation to help direct the horses, keep the horses
company, and guard the firehouse.
The horses are gone from fire stations today, but the Dalmations aren't!
Firehouse dogs nearly always were called "Sparky" so Sparky was the obvious
name for NFPA's fire prevention symbol.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is The Fire Triangle?
In order to have a fire, there must be three elements:
o Fuel -- something which will burn
o Heat -- enough to make the fuel burn
o Air -- more specifically, oxygen
Usually these three elements are expressed as a triangle, called The Fire
Triangle.
All three elements must be present at the same time to have a fire. Fire
will burn until one or more of the elements is removed, then will go out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequently Asked Firsts
First Volunteer Fire Company in America
In 1736 in Philadelphia, PA, Benjamin Franklin formed the first volunteer
fire company, called the Union Fire Company. Franklin served on it as
America's first volunteer fire chief.
First Paid Fire Department in America
A large fire in Boston in 1679, led to the organization of the first paid
fire department in North America, if not the world. Boston selectman
imported a fire engine from England and employed a fire chief, Thomas
Atkins, and 12 fire fighters to operate it.
First Firehouse Pole
David B. Kenyon, Captain of Engine Company No. 21 of the Chicago Fire
Department, was the inventor of the sliding pole in 1878. Information from:
A Synoptical History of the Chicago Fire Department... , published by the
Benevolent Association of the Paid Fire Department of Chicago, Chicago,
1908.
First Automatic Sprinkler
The idea of automatic sprinkler protection dates back to about 1860. The
first automatic sprinkler system patented in the United States was
developed by Philip W. Pratt in 1872 in Abington, MA. From 1852 to 1885,
perforated pipe systems were used extensively in textile mills throughout
New England, and from 1874 to 1878 Henry S. Parmalee of New Haven,
Connecticut, continued design improvements on his invention: the first
practical automatic sprinkler head.
First Fire Alarm Telegraph
The fire alarm telegraph was invented by William F. Channing of Boston, MA,
and Moses G. Farmer of Salem, MA, in 1847. After many attempts, Channing
was successful in getting the city of Boston to agree to test the device.
Channing, working with Farmer, tested the system, solved the problems, and
installed the first municipal fire alarm system using a telegraph in
Boston, MA, in 1852.