Why Should Today’s Firefighters Care About the History of the Fire Service?

By Garry Briese

Understanding the history of the fire service is not just about nostalgia; it is a critical professional tool for safety, identity, and operational evolution. While technology rapidly changes the job, history provides the “why” behind what firefighters do every day. 

1. Safety and Tactical Evolution

Modern safety standards are frequently “written in blood,” born from past tragedies that reshaped how buildings are constructed and how crews operate. 

2.  Preventing the Repeat of Past Mistakes

Historical tragedies like the Iroquois Theatre Fire (1903) and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) directly led to today’s requirements for outward-opening exit doors, panic bars, and fire-resistant materials.

3. Professional Identity and Solidarity

History creates a sense of belonging to a “brotherhood and sisterhood” that spans centuries, helping firefighters maintain high morale and a shared sense of mission. 

4. Meaningful Traditions

Knowing why symbols like the Maltese Cross are part of the fire service or why specific tasks like “pushing a new engine into the fire station” build connections and respect for the robust history of the fire service

6. A Compass for the Future

Watch this YouTube video by Rich Laskey about the history of the fire service