Early
Beginnings
In
1754 Halifax's first organized firefighting
group was formed under the name of the
Union Fire Club. This group was entirely
volunteer and consisted of several hundred men
who formed themselves into a number of clubs.
These clubs included, The Union Protection, Hand
in Hand, Sun Fire, Phoenix and Heart in Hand. The clubs functioned in cooperation with
military and naval forces under the direction of
fire wardens.
Firefighting
equipment in 1754 was primitive. It consisted of
water buckets, ladders, axes, saws and engines
which had to be pumped by hand. Although
equipment was simple the following rules were
imperative:
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1.
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That
every member shall be provided with two
leather buckets marked with their names
on one side and the Senior Fire Club on
the other, and two bags each, made of
four yards of canvas. The said buckets
shall be hung up with the bags in some
convenient place of each member's house
so as to be ready on all emergencies.
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2. |
That
said bags and buckets shall not be
employed on any other occasion than that
of fire, and that every member who shall
have his buckets out of the way.
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3.
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That
upon the call of fire, the members of
the Union Engine Company shall
immediately respond to the place where
such fire is, with their buckets and
bags, the buckets to be delivered to be
used as the occasion requires. |
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Halifax's
fire clubs were highly competitive with the object of the
competition to be the first group to the fire.
The Union Fire Club had a social side as
well. The various clubs often dined together and
a grand ball was held each year to for all to
attend.
Firefighting was a serious business for the
Union Fire Club. As the fire bells sounded
in Halifax during all hours of the day, the
volunteer firefighters rushed to the engine
houses to run with the hose reels, or if too far
away, they ran to the scene of the fire, often
in their best clothes. In the dead of night the
volunteer firefighters would be awaken my a
military policemen, or night watchman rapping on
the doors with a call of fire. Every member had
to be present at each call of fire, and in the
case of absence, they were fined unless a valid
reason was given. |
Union
Engine Company Badge
Mayflower
Club - Hose 5
Circa 1850
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