Firefighting

Paper Summary:

This paper details how firefighting has changed in America since the first settlements nearly four hundred years ago. The paper explains that, while the goal of firefighting has remained the same, the scope of firefighting has changed drastically and now includes fire prevention, public education, rescue calls and safety inspections. The paper also looks at the progression of paid fire departments and volunteer departments and examines how both types of departments have evolved over time.

From the Paper:

"Fire codes of various degrees have been in this country since the early days of the settlement of Massachusetts, when it was determined that "no man shall build his chimney with wood, nor cover his house with thatch." As more materials, conditions, and building materials began to be recognized as fire hazards, more fire laws were adopted. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a proliferation of fires in cities, as manufacturing facilities became more common and housed flammable materials. Fire codes became more popular and widespread. In this area the adoption of fire codes did not depend upon whether the units called to fires were volunteer or paid forces. In September of 1887 the county seat burned with nearly half of the town's structures destroyed or damaged. Although prior to this some initiatives had begun to establish fire protection ordinances, this fire was the impetus for a county wide move to establish a uniform fire code both for building construction and fire protection of existing buildings. Over the next several decades, portions of the fire code were adopted and enforced. By the time the county hired paid firefighters in the early 1960s, the code was quite extensive and encompassed all of the major areas of concern. Both departments adhere to the safety requirements of the fire code and conduct safety inspections based upon its requirements."

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• Term Paper # 112694 : "Modern Firefighting Equipment"

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