employment history - Firehouse Forums - Firefighting Discussion
Alot of departments (Fire and non-fire) are being REAL careful about answer information. 1, they cannot be sure it is really someone looking to hire you vs, someone you know stirring the pot or maybe trying to get harmful information on you (divorce investigator or such), and 2. if they give opinion that causes you NOT to be hired, they risk ...

Leather helmet history - Firehouse
The leather helmet as it is known today came from a very modest and non-fire related beginning. Although the year the traditional fire helmet was invented is mired in speculation and debate, it is generally agreed upon as sometime between 1821 and 1836. The gentleman credited with its founding was named Henry T. Gratacap.

The historical custom of,"pushing the new apparatus in to the fire ...
The boiler was emptied and the fire was allowed to go out for the wetdown ceremonies, so it could not move under it's own power. Most moaned when they were asked to push it, after all it was very heavy, but when the Chief said it would be a show of unity - well everyone, even firefighters from the rival company, joined in to push it into the ...

History of Open-Cab Apparatus? - Firehouse Forums
My copy of This Was Trucking - A Pictorial History of the First Quarter Century of the Trucking Industry by Robert A. Karolevitze (1966) shows quite a few cabs and canopies on trucks of all types in those early decades. Some cabs were fully enclosed, with doors made of cloth or heavier material (wood, metal). Fire apparatus, though, had neither.

History lesson needed - Firehouse Forums - Firefighting Discussion
*Tolling of the Bell History Long before the Internet was invented, or telephones and radios were used across our great nation, fire departments used the telegraph to communicate - using special codes to receive fire alarms from those once-familiar red fire alarm boxes which stood on practically every street corner of America.

History of station red lights? - Firehouse Forums
In Cincinnati, the red lights outside the fire houses were a result of the death of a firefighter, John Bickers, Ladder 9. He was killed on September 10, 1967 while helping direct traffic in front of Engine 23's quarters at Madison and Hackberry. He was struck by a drunk driver and knocked 90 feet.

Firefighting History Timeline, 1608-1909 - Input Wanted
It occurred on the evening of October 8, 1871 and is still listed as the worst recorded forest fire in North American history. It raged through Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, destroying millions of dollars worth of property and timberland, and taking between 1,200 and 2,400 lives. It covered 2,400 square miles or about 1.5 million ...

Origin of term "Jakes"? - Firehouse
Here in L.A. (that's Lower Alabama), I've become the fire service history and trivia resource. Now, I have a question I can't begin to answer. A colleague from the Pensacola, FL F.D. is curious as to the origin of the honorable title of "Jake", usually given and associated with the firefighters of the Boston F.D., and surrounding New England area.

History lesson needed-FF Scramble - Firehouse Forums
Later, some fire companies refused to adopt the the Maltese Cross because of the turmoil between Catholics and Protestants. These companies adopted the shield instead, just as most of the shire reeves, who were also known as "sheriffs". The "crutch" with the ball was actually about 10' long and used to break windows from below.

Worried about the PHQ (Personal History Questionnaire)
Hello everyone, Im 21, and I just took the written test for San Jose Fire Dept here in CA, the test also included a PHQ, I have never done anything serious, but there are a few things I was worried about disclosing, despite everyone telling me to lie, I couldnt ignore that little voice in my head telling me to be honest.