Fire Traditions

When we hear the word tradition it brings to mind many things. Arguably, probably every one of us is touched by at least one tradition. Many are family oriented, such as how we celebrate a Holiday, the annual family reunion cookout, or how we are taught to treat others – these are all examples of traditions. In the fire service we have many traditions as well. From the first moment a new cadet (rookie or "probie") is taken into the department “family” they are introduced to fire service traditions.

 Volunteerism

The man who established the first volunteer fire department also invented bifocals, wrote and printed Poor Richard’s Almanac, studied electricity and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. His name was Benjamin Franklin. The first volunteer fire department began in Philadelphia in 1736.

Franklin often wrote about the dangers of fire and the need for organized fire protection. He was dissatisfied with Boston’s Mutual Fire Societies (also known as "Fire Clubs") because the "Fire Clubs" existed solely for the protection of its members, not the community at large. Franklin wanted organizations that would battle all fires, regardless of whose property was burning.

After an extensive fire in Philadelphia in 1736, Franklin established the first all-volunteer fire brigade which was known as The Union Fire company which was comprised of 30 volunteers. As the idea of volunteer fire brigades gained popularity, additional companies were formed in Philadelphia. Each of the companies paid for their own equipment and located it throughout town at strategic places.

Other famous Americans who served as volunteer firefighters include:George WashingtonThomas JeffersonSamuel AdamsJohn Hancock,Paul RevereAlexander HamiltonJohn JayJohn BarryAaron Burr,Benedict ArnoldJames Buchanan and Millard Fillmore.

Volunteer firefighters played and continue to play an invaluable role in protecting lives and property.

The Maltese Cross

The Maltese cross is known around the world as a symbol of the fire service. It is often seen painted on fire trucks, on the clothing of firefighters, depicted on firefighters badges, and is quite often the chosen design of firefighter tattoos.

The Maltese cross has its origins going back to the era of the Crusades and is named after the island of Malta which came to be the home of the Knights of St. John. The Knights of St. John existed during the 11th and 12 centuries. To help identify friend from foe during the fighting, they needed a symbol that could be used to quickly and easily identify themselves. They chose the Cross of Calvary (which would later be known as the Maltese cross) as their symbol because the Crusades were battles fought for a holy cause. During these battles, the enemies of the knights commonly used fire as a weapon. It was not uncommon for a Knight to have to risk his own life to extinguish a fire or rescue a comrade. Because of their ability to fight fires, and the pride and honor they took in the care of their sick and injured, the Maltese cross evolved into a fitting symbol of the modern fire service.  The cross has since come to represent the principles of charityloyalty,gallantrygenerosity to friend and foe, dexterity of service, and protectionof the weak.

The Dalmation Dog

One of the most beloved symbols of the fire service is the Dalmatian dog. The origins of the breed are shrouded in mystery. Experts are unsure really how old the breed is.

It is known that the Dalmatian, because of its poor hunting abilities, was relegated to the stable area of fine homes. It was in these stables that the Dalmatian became acquainted with the horses. Dalmatians were adopted by the fire service in the days of the horse-drawn fire wagons because they were agile and not afraid of the horses. The Dalmatian, with its superior agility and endurance could run out in front of the horses and clear the streets for the approaching fire wagon. When the horses were replaced by gasoline-driven fire engines, many fire departments kept their Dalmatians. In some areas you can still see the Dalmatian standing proudly on top of the fire engine as it races to another emergency.

Arson Dogs

In the 1980s, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the way in reintroducing dogs to active roles in the fire service by training the first accelerant-detecting canine.  A yellow Laborador named Nellie was the first dog trained as part of a pilot program in 1984. Nellie's performance was validated by the American Academy of Forensic Scienses.  In 1986, ATF established the National Canine Accelerant Detection Program.  Mattie, the first "operational" canine was deployed that September.  Both dogs were acquired from guide dog programs.

Canines can pinpoint traces that escape electronic detection.  Mechanical hydrocarbon detectors are sensitive to gasoline components in parts per million (ppm).  The smallest amount detectable by dogs is .01 micro liters, or 1,000th of a drop, of 50% evaporated gasoline, 100% of the time.  Also, a canine can differentiate between products of combustions and similar chemical gases found at fire scenes from true accelerants, which mechanical detectors cannot.*

Canines are more adaptable and more accurate than mechanical equipment.  This accuracy can help pinpoint the location of accelerants in a shorter time, thereby reducing the field time of investigators searching and processing a fire scene.  The use of canines can reduce the number of samples that need to be collected and tested.  It is also documented that samples submitted from canine teams for laboratory analysis result in a positive test for ignitable liquids over 90% of the time, compared to 30% for the investigators alone.