#Fire department

[whydidisavethistomyphone]

[empirearchives]

Paris Fire Brigade — The fire department of the city of Paris

The Paris Fire Brigade was created by Napoleon on 18 September 1811 after a devastating fire in Paris in 1810. The brigade remains the same firefighting service of Paris to this day.

Illustrations created by Aaron Martinet between 1807 and 1814. Top: Imperial Guard, Engineer Sapper. Bottom: Imperial Guard, Officer of Engineer Sappers. These were the military positions which were transitioned into the fire department.

The deadly fire at the Austrian embassy ball in July 1810, during the festivities for his marriage to Marie Louise, reminded the Emperor of the importance of a well-functioning fire service in the capital.

Despite the courage and dedication of the gardes pompes [firefighters of the old organization], who are sometimes falsely accused of numerous shortcomings, the firefighting service revealed its weaknesses: delays, insufficient and unreliable equipment, poorly trained personnel and incompetent managers. The staff present at the embassy on the day of the tragedy were cleared of all suspicion by an investigation led by the Count of Montalivet. On the other hand, the leaders of the old organization were dismissed, and the corps des gardes pompes was abolished.

After this catastrophe, the Emperor reorganized this public service by creating the first military corps of firefighters, made up of the engineers from the Imperial Guard who were dedicated to defending the imperial chateaux against fire.

At the behest of Emperor Napoleon I, the creation of the Paris fire department [bataillon de sapeurs pompiers de Paris] by imperial decree on 18 September 1811 was an original and innovative step, marking the transition from a civil and municipal organization to a military body. The choice of such an atypical status for a public service echoes the creation, eleven years earlier, of the Paris Police Prefecture, an equally singular legal administrative body.

From its creation, this military corps was placed under the authority of the Paris Police Prefecture, who was responsible for the security of the capital. After a long process, this military status and subordination to a prefect became the logical consequence of the spirit of the decree of 12 messidor year 8.

When the battalion was formed in 1811, the Paris fire department took on a new mission: fighting fires, the importance and development of which they were still unaware of.

Four companies were then created to respond to fires. Relying on a typically military functional triptych (extensive training of men, systematic technological research and implementation of efficient operational procedures), the battalion quickly made its new environment its own, and by the end of the second half of the 19th century, had become a model for the organization of public fire-fighting services and a national, even international reference.

Several fire chiefs succeeded one another until 1814. At that date, command was entrusted to battalion commander Plazanet. He provided the battalion with an instruction manual, made it compulsory for sappers to be stationed in barracks, and introduced gymnastics to train efficient and daring rescuers.

Source: Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris — Le Bataillon

Picture source: Napoleon's Army: 1807-1814 as Depicted in the Prints of Aaron Martinet, By Guy C. Dempsey, Jr., (Section: Support Troops)

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was about 5 years old and I was running down a hospital hallway that was also an airport with my father who was wearing surgeon scrubs. I believe we where being chased but I don’t know by who or by what. I then woke up in a police car that was inside a 1950s style car store. The car store also so happened to use to be the Fire Department and the fact the fire department got converted into a car dealership made me really sad. Next thing I know, I’m in my parents bedroom and a person who I think is my uncle was laying on the bed.

[aesthetic--mood]

Chicago Fire Aesthetic

[dk-thrive]

Fire! Not on Stamford Fire Department's Watch. 6:50 to 7am. 23° F. Historical Holly House. Cove Island Park, Stamford, CT. January 18, 2024 (@dkct25)

[the-green-buck]

Hamilton Fire Department

Gage Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. August 2024. Photo by the green buck.

[aunti-christ-ine]

[cosmicpsychosis]

I am obsessed with this volunteer add at the local fire department

[stuffaboutminneapolis]

Engine Company 3 (1916) via Hennepin County Library

[corvidist]

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts

And I looked, and behold a pale horse

[thesimofmanu]

Hi everyone! my next one will be a Fire station! Cannot believe I managed to finish a firetruck that I'm happy with, hope you like it, though this would be could for a fire station, I will put up some cars as deco next to the lot for making it look more like a large fire station

[forthepleasureofmylife]

New York City

Photo: Dieter Krehbiel

[vfdinthewild]

I found a half-used disposable camera from 2006 in my closet and got it developed. Big appreciation to past me, living her best teenage life, for taking this picture.

[Image description: a grainy, green-cast photo of a fire engine cab, a firefighter’s arm half slung out the window. The truck door says “Maple Ridge V.F.D.” end image description.]

[htfphoto]

lafd station 12.

highland park, los angeles, ca.

my instant gram.

[hclib]

Fire Department Homemade Sprinkler

Firefighters at Station 11 in Northeast Minneapolis built this soaking sprinkler to help neighborhood kids beat the heat in the summer of 1935. The sprinkler was attached to a fire hydrant near 3rd Ave. and 6th St. SE and turned on by firefighters (William Fust is pictured here) on hot days. On August 10, 1935, when these photos were taken, the mercury made it up to 89 degrees Fahrenheit.

[dougielombax]

Can firefighters arrest arsonists?

I’m genuinely curious.