History of the City of Hartford Fire Department

  The first mention of a Fire Department is in 1789 when the City's population was 4,000. (the Hartford Courant Sunday February 18, 1962).  In celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War, in 1783, the roof of the State House was set on fire.  Although the structure was saved, it led to the construction, in 1796, of the brick structure now known as the "Old State House."  The first ordinance governing fire safety, in Hartford, was passed in 1788.  This ordinance outlawed bonfires in Hartford's streets. 

   July 19,1790, firemen where to be paid one shilling and six pence per day, not exceeding eight days in the year which
was repealed April 21, 1795. A paid department in Hartford nearly a century ago!


The first hook and ladder company was organized in 1812.

In 1816 the Silas Sack and Bucket Company was organized.  The buckets were employed in bringing water to the fire point.  Sacks were used  to carry silverware and other valuables from a building to safety. The first hose company was organized in 1821.      

In 1851 the names of the companies were as follows:

1. Protection
2. Neptune
3  Phoenix
4. Damper
5. Deluge
6. Bravo
7. Eagle

There were also the Aetna Hose#1, Pioneer Hose#2 and the Silas Sack and Buck Company.

The first mention of a firehouse built on Pearl Street is in 1845 at 12 Pearl Street in the rear. It was set on fire April 23rd 1852.

   The Hartford Fire Department officially dates its organization to 1864 when The Board of Fire Commissioners was founded and established control over all appointments in the Department; however, fire fighting and the recognition of the importance
of providing fire safety to our citizens dates to colonial Hartford.

    Prior to 1864 Hartford's fire protection was volunteer.  The volunteer Fire Service was served by merchants and all citizens.  These neighbors would, upon need, drop what ever they were doing and run to fight a fire and aid their fellow citizens.

Residents pulled the "engines" and hose carts.  Often as many as forty persons were needed to pull one apparatus.

    The City's early fire fighters were sponsored by Hartford's Insurance Industry.  These companies paid special premiums to the first and second fire engines arriving at a fire.  In addition the "City" paid a dollar to any person who rang a church bell for a fire.              

   In 1876 the Hartford Fire Department became the first to own a steam-driven, self propelled fire Engine.  "Blak(sic) Seven" weighed between five and six tons, cost $5,000 dollars and pumped 700 gallons per minute.  It served the city for almost 40 years.

  During this time period all fire companies were assigned names in addition to there numbers. The names and the company numbers list were as follows:

Engine Company 1 was Charter Oak
Engine Company 2 was Hope
Engine Company 3 was Phoenix
Engine Company 4 was Annihilator
Engine Company 5 was Lawrence
Engine Company 6 was Colt
Engine Company 7 was Blake


The Hose Companies were named:
1. Alert
2. Stillman

The Ladder Company was named Hayden

Click here for a complete history of the fire company locations: 

Hartford, at the turn of the last century, had a diverse population.  The first African-American member of the Hartford Fire Department was William Henry Jacklyn.  On December 6, 1898 Firefighter Jacklyn began his service as a substitute.  He served in this capacity until 1903.  In this year he joined Engine Company 7, Main and Sanford Streets, as a full volunteer.
He continued his service until his retirement in 1914.  Firefighter Jacklyn resided at 14 Warren St.  The next African-American Firefighters began their careers with the Hartford Fire Department on October 4, 1948. 

The first Hispanic member of the Hartford Fire Department was Victor Solis. On February 3, 1969 Firefighter Solis began his service. He served in this capacity until March 3, 1976. The next Hispanic Firefighters began their careers with the Hartford Fire Department on June 18, 1980

The Hartford Fire Department began a radical reorganization; in 1907 it began to motorize its companies and in 1908 the Department became permanently paid.

 The Firefighters Drill school was established in 1909.  Chemical equipment was added to  the arsenal of fire fighting tools and the central alarm system began.  

The Hartford Fire Department adopted the two -platoon system on October 1, 1918 eliminating the 24 hour duty requirement.  The last two Hartford Fire Horses were retired, from Engine Company 4 located on Ann Street,  in 1920.   The fire horses were replaced with a new combination hose and chemical engine.  This apparatus was able to reach speeds of over 30 miles per hour.

A new, to Hartford, fire response procedure became operational in 1934.  This fire suppression response placed two Engines (pumpers) in the same Fire House.  Both Engines respond to the same fire and work in tandem.  The procedure was first adopted in Engine Company 4, located at 275 Pearl St.

On March 19th 1935 Hartford was devastated by flooding caused by the Spring "freshet" and heavy rains.  Hartford is a riverside city and Spring flooding in low lying areas was common. Hartford's entire "Downtown" area flooded and serious damage was sustained by the Hartford Fire Department's infrastructure.  Engine Company 6 suffered structural damage resulting in the building's condemnation.  The High Water mark inundated the apparatus floor at Engine 4; Ladder Company 1.  This Fire property is still an active and integral part of this Department, now serving as Hartford Fire Headquarters (275 Pearl St.)  Although the building avoided structural damage, the apparatus and firefighters were relocated.  The endemic Spring floods, coupled with major flooding caused by hurricanes, resulted in the construction of one of the most intricate flood prevention systems in the United States.

The "Depression" adversely effected Hartford and the Hartford Fire Department as it did the entire country.  The economic conditions of the 1930's caused the Hartford Fire Department to seek cost saving measures and  at the same time assure the City and its residents a superior Fire Department.

Chief John C. Moran guided the Department through the most difficult period of the Depression retiring officially on June 1, 1937.  Chief Moran sought to employ "standardization" in the acquisition of apparatus and equipment, use of mutual aid and changes in staffing/shift patterns and the use of retired fire fighters in his efforts to control costs and field the highest tier in fire protection and prevention services.  

Presidents of the United States and persons seeking that office have often stopped in Hartford and on October 22, 1936 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited our City.  The Hartford Fire Department aided and assisted the Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police providing traffic control during the President's visit.

 

In 1867 the city purchased a 9,000 pound fire bell.  This bell, for three decades, called firefighters to alarm.

Retired Deputy Chief Daniel Nolan, wearing a High Eagle Helmet, taking a Hydrant using an "old Hartford Street set Hydrant Hookup"

"Jumbo" the largest engine of its day weighed in at 9 tons.  It was purchased in 1889 at a cost of $7,000.  This apparatus was a frequent subject for photographers and writers for many years.  This apparatus was rebuilt in 1908.  The internal combustion engine was on the horizon and would cause the revolutionary change to the Fire Service as it caused to all transportation in the twentieth  century.

The Hartford Fire Department marching past the Linden Building on Main Street.            The Pride of Hartford Crew in front of 60 Ann Street  John C. Moran at the throttle, Assistant Engineer Charles F. Grund in the rear. Tillerman Warren A. Bingham at the wheel.  The Tillerman steered the engine.     The engineer controlled the direction and the  brakeman as well.   The fireman kept the fire going in the boiler. Photo taken around1901.   First steam pumper with Henry J. Eaton The Hartford Fire Department continued to use hand pumping equipment until 1861.  The Phoenix No. 3 was the first steam engine purchased by the Department and within three years steam had completely replaced hand pumping.         G. Fox and Company had expanded to several building on Main Street by the time this fire consumed the landmark store on January 29, 1917. The store was rebuilt into the unified structure.  The building still stands with new purpose on Main Street.  To the far left are the Pilgard Building and the Baptist Church, both of which were unaffected by the fire.   Purchased  1912 - Augustus Loomis Chief of Department Combination internal Combustion Locomotion and steam driven water pumper Picture taken behind Hartford Fire Department Headquarters.  This apparatus is in the care of the Connecticut Historical Society.  It is under restoration and conservation, and is scheduled to be placed at the Old State House. Engine Company 2 on Main Street.  When this picture was taken this portion of Main Street was called "Windsor Avenue" Picture believed to date to the 1920's Training Exercise on the corner of Main and Church Streets Picture taken approximately 1890 to 1910                     The Veterans Fireman's Association line up for a photo in the front their building. The building once stood at the corner of Main and Arch Street where the main branch of the library now stands. ENGINE COMPANY 2  located on   MAIN AND BELDEN STREETS Engine Company 2, formally located on Pleasant St., opened at this location  on April 11, 1911. The motorized apparatus shown between the two horse drawn apparatus is probably one of three "Fire Wagons" purchased from the Pope Motor Car Company, located on Arch St. Hartford, Ct.  The "Fire Wagons" were delivered in August, 1912.  This photograph probably was taken, by very proud Firefighters, very close to the August 12 apparatus delivery date.  The State Savings Bank on Pearl Street, notice fire headquarters behind the Bank building.  The old fire bell is at the top of headquarters which once stood at 43 Pearl Street.   Hartford Fire Department Headquarters Building  Located behind the State Savings Bank.  The fire bell is now located on the east lawn of the The Connecticut Historical Society on Elizabeth Street.    ENGINE COMPANY  No.1, No.  197 Main Street ENGINE  COMPANY No. 2, No. 5 PLEASANT STREET ENGINE COMPANY. No.3,  No.124 FRONT STREET. Third Size Amoskeag Put in Service August, 1900 First-Class Double, Crane Neck, Clapp & Jones. Put in service September, 1880. (Self-Propeller) First-Class Amoskeag Engine, Extra Size. Put in service August , 1899 ENGINE COMPANY  No.4,  No.  60 ANN STREET. ENGINE COMPANY No. 5, No.  129 SIGOURNEY STREET.  ENGINE COMPANY No. 6, No. 98 HUYSHOPE AVENUE (Self-Propeller)  Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, First Class. Put in service August, 1901. Second-Class, Crane Neck, Amoskeag. Put in service January, 1872 Second-Class, Double, Amoskeag  Steam Fire Engine, Straight Frame. Put in service June, 1868 ENGINE COMPANY No. 7.  Corner of Windsor Ave. and Stanford St. ENGINE COMPANY No. 8. Corner of Park & Affleck Street DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AND CHEMICAL ENGINE COMPANY No. 9 No.  43 Pearl Street. First-Class clapp & Jones, (American Fire Co.) Steam Fire Engine. Put in service January , 1896  First-Class Clapp & Class (American Fire Engine Co.) Steam Fire Engine. Put in service January, 1896 Double 50-Gallon Tank Holloway Chemical Engine. Put in service  November , 1896 CHEMICAL ENGINE COMPANY No. 10,  No. 94 BOND STREET CHEMICAL ENGINE COMPANY No. 11,  No. 3 SISSON AVENUE ENGINE COMPANY No. 12, SMITH STREET Double 35-Gallon Tank Holloway Chemical Engine.  Put in service August, 1900. Double 35-Gallon Tank Holloway Chemical Engine.  Put in service August, 1900. Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine Second Class, put in service Dec., 1904. Hollway Combination Chemical Engine, Put in service Dec., 1904. ENGINE COMPANY No. 14,  BLUE HILLS  AVENUE CHEMICAL ENGINE COMPANY No. 15,  NEW BRITAIN AVENUE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANIES  Nos. 1 AND 2, NO. 275 Second size steam Fire Engine.  Put in service May, 1907   Double 35-Gallon Tank American LaFrance Combination chemical.  Put in service August, 1909. One First-Class Gleason  & Bailey Aerial Turn-table Truck, equipped. Put in service August, 1899. One First-Class Iron Trestle "Leverich" Truck, equipped. Put in service 1873