Volunteer Collection
Buffalo has a long history of firefighting from the meager beginnings of bucket brigades to the present day employment of hundreds of paid firefighters in and around the Buffalo area. One could say that the history of the Buffalo Fire Department began during the War of 1812 when British troops set fire to the village of Buffalo, burning all but one house to the ground. The burning of Buffalo spearheaded the movement towards organized firefighting and after the village was rebuilt, homeowners were required to purchase leather buckets with which to fight fires in the home.
The first organized fire company was established in 1817 but relied solely on the use of leather buckets and a 'bucket brigade' to fight fires. It was not until 1824 when the first hand-drawn two piston engine was purchased for Cataract Engine No. 1. For the first time, ordinary and distinguished citizens of Buffalo joined together to fight the destructive nature of fire. The first formal volunteer fire departments were established in 1831 when the city purchased two hand pumpers equipped with 200 feet of leather hose for Cataract Engine No. 1 and a new company named Eagle Engine No.2.
By 1850 eleven hand engine, twelve hose, and two hook and ladder companies had been established and citizens were actively petitioning to the City Council to organize more. Harnessing the power of steam would eventually change both the way volunteer fire fighters fought fire and the structure of the Buffalo volunteer fire companies. After several years of petitions against the purchase of less reliable and less affordable steam-powered fire apparatus, the City of Buffalo recognized the practical application of steam and purchased their first steam powered apparatus in December, 1859. Up until the purchase of the steam powered fire apparatus, members of Buffalo fire companies fought fires on a strictly volunteer basis. Because of the weight and complexity of maneuvering steam powered fire apparatus, the City of Buffalo purchased horses and hired the first paid members of the Buffalo Fire Department engineer Richard Denison, driver Sidney Chapin, and fireman Nathaniel Negus.
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