Wayne

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THERE WERE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE HORSES TO BE ONLY DRIVEN AT A FAST TROT,

BUT IN MANY CASES THIS RULE WAS BROKEN AND THE HORSES WOULD BE DRIVEN AT A GALLOP

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THERE WAS ONLY THREE SNAPS TO HITCH UP A HORSE

THERE WERE TWO SNAPS ON THE REINS TO THE HORSE'S BIT.

THERE WAS ONE SNAP ON THE HINGED HORSE COLLAR

NOTE THE USUAL HORSE COLLAR IS NOT HINGED.

IT IS ONE SOLID PIECE AND GOES OVER THE HORSES HEAD.

A FIRE HORSES COLLAR WAS HINGED TO MAKE FOR A FASTER HITCH UP

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE DUMMY BOX

I'M NOT POSITIVE BUT HERE IS WHAT I REMEMBER

THE RUNNING CARDS THAT HAD ACTUAL FIRE BOXES ON THE STREET CORNERS. HAD A NUMBER

AND LOCATION PRINTED ON THEM.

SOME RUNNING CARDS ALSO HAD A NUMBER AND LOCATION BUT HAD THE WORD (DUMMY)

PRINTED ON TOP.

ON THESE THERE WAS NO ACTUAL BOX AT THAT LOCATION.

IT WAS USED TO GIVE CENTRAL OFFICE THE ABILITY TO SEND OUT A NUMBER AND LOCATION UPON

RECEIVING A CALL FOR A FIRE..

IT CUT DOWN ON THE EXPENSE OF INSTALLING MORE BOXES THROUGH OUT THE CITY

IN SOME CITIES THEY ARE CALLED PHANTOM BOXES

DID YOU KNOW

THE START OF THE BUNKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED WHEN THE EARLY VOLUNTEERS WOULD

RENT BACK ROOMS IN STORES NEAR THEIR FIRE HOUSE ON THE WEEKENDS FOR A FASTER

RESPONSE.

IT APPEARS THAT THEY WOULD BREAK FROM THEIR REGULAR JOBS FOR A FIRE DURING THE WEEK

BUT THEN GO HOME AT NIGHT.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT POMPIER LADDERS BESIDES BEING KNOWN

AS SCALING LADDERS WERE ALSO KNOWN

AS HOELL LIFESAVING APPLIANCES

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT MOST OF THE FIRE HORSES THAT WERE OF THE PERCHERON BREED FOR THE MANY

FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CASTRATED STALLIONS ( GELDINGS )

REGULAR STALLIONS WERE TOO HARD TO CONTROL.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT ALL ENGINE HOUSE POLES HAD TWO RUBBER MATS UNDER THEM EXCEPT

ONE,

THEY HAD THREE MATS UNDER EACH POLE

WHAT HOUSE WAS IT , WHAT WAS IT ALSO CALLED AND WHY THREE MATS?

HEADQUARTERS

THE BIG HOUSE

THE POLES BEING LONGER, THEY

WANTED A THICKER CUSHION.

DID YOU KNOW

I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEY EQUATED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE MILITARY.

FIRE MILITARY

CHIEF ENGINEER................ LATER CHANGED TO CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT.. COLONEL

ASSISTANT ENGINEER........ LATER CHANGED TO CHIEF OF BATTALION .....LIEUTENANT COLONEL

DISTRICT ENGINEER.............................................................................................. MAJOR

FOREMAN................................................................................................................. CAPTAIN

ASSISTANT FOREMAN............................................................................................. LIEUTENANT

ENGINEER OF STEAMERS....................................................................................... SERGEANT

FIREMEN................................................................................................................... PRIVATE

HOSEMEN & LADDERMEN..................................................................................... CADET

DO YOU REMEMBER

TRYING TO OPEN A WINDOW IN SOME OF THE OLDER HOUSES ON FIRE RATHER THEN BREAK IT.
SOME OF THOSE OLD HOUSES HAD SO MANY YEARS OF PAINT THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THEM TO

VENTILATE.

YOU WERE FORCED TO BREAK THEM.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME FIRE HOUSES INSTEAD OF HAVING FIRE POLES HAD FIRE CHUTES. THEY WERE LIKE A ENCLOSED SLIDE.

SOME MICHIGAN SCHOOLS HAD THEM FOR CHILDREN TO SLIDE FROM THE SECOND FLOORS IN CASE OF A FIRE.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

CALLING CENTRAL AND SAYING

ENGINE # # IN & OFF

MEANING

ENGINE # # IN QUARTERS & OFF THE AIR

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT WERE THE TWO MOST COMMON THINGS THAT WERE MADE TO

PUT COMPANIES IN AND OUT OF SERVICE ON THE RUNNING BOARD?

THESE WERE MADE SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GET UP FROM YOUR CHAIR.

COME ON OLD RETIREE

TAKE A SPOONFUL OF GERITOL AND THINK

A GOLF CLUB WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF
&
A OLD POOL CUE

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT YOU SAID WHEN, EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE THE REGISTER JUST PUNCHED ONE HOLE IN THE TAPE AND THEN

STOPPED.

COME ON OLD TIMER.....................THINK

HINT B-0-T-W

"BIRDS ON THE WIRE"

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT YOU WOULD DO SOMETIMES WITH THE INNER CARDBOARD TUBE FROM THE REGISTER TAPE BEFORE

THROWING IT AWAY.

YOU WOULD PEEL IT INTO A LONG CARDBOARD STRIP

A GUY THING , KIND OF LIKE WHITTLING A PIECE OF WOOD. JUST SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR HANDS.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT UNLIKE THE NEW FIRE COATS THAT HAVE A MASK POCKET IN THEM, ON OUR OLD COATS

YOU HAD TO UNFASTEN THE TWO TOP SNAPS ON YOUR FIRE COAT AND STUFF YOUR MASK IN THERE..

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ANOTHER NAME FOR THE OLD SUSPENDERS OF LONG AGO WAS GALLOWSER

THE BACK LEATHER PIECE WAS IN THE SHAPE OF A

SHIELD

STAR

EAGLES HEAD

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME BUILDINGS THAT WERE NEXT TO THE ONES ON FIRE HAD THEIR ROOFS COVERED WITH WET BLANKETS,

CARPETS, MATS OR ANY OTHER WET COVERING TO PROTECT IT.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT BACK IN THE 60s THERE WAS A SHORT BOARD ( ABOUT ONE FOOT LONG) THAT WAS STRAPPED TO THE

FRONT SUCTION .IT WAS SLID TO THE POINT WHERE THE SUCTION WOULD LAY ON THE GROUND. RATHER THEN THE

SUCTION RUBBING ON THE GROUND IT WOULD REST ON THIS BOARD. I IMAGINE THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT ON THE

EARLY RIGS THAT HAD PISTON PUMPS RATHER THEN CENTRIFUGAL ONES. WITH PISTON PUMPS THE RIGS SHOOK

MORE AND THERE WAS A BETTER CHANCE OF THE SUCTION WEARING A HOLE IN ITSELF.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE THE RIGS HAD AIR HOOKUPS TO PUMP OUT A HYDRANT THERE WERE 2 HYDRANT RIGS

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HYDRANT SEASON EACH BATTALION GOT TO USE THE RIG FOR ONE DAY.

IF YOU WENT IN WITH ANOTHER COMPANY YOU COULD USE IT TWO DAYS

THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO FIRE PREVENTION AS INSPECTORS CARS WHEN NOT USED FOR

HYDRANTS

IT HAD AN ELECTRIC AIR COMPRESSOR IN THE TRUNK.

THE GUYS WOULD PUMP HYDRANTS FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN.

BACK THEN THE WHIPPER SNAPPERS" WOULD PUMP OUT THE HYDRANTS AFTER A FIRE YEAR ROUND.

BEING A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" DURING THAT ERA I NEVER SAW THEM, I HAD TO GET

THIS INFORMATION FROM ONE OF OUR RETIREES

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BESIDES THE EARLY HOSE BEING MADE OUT OF LEATHER, THEY ALSO TRIED

CANVAS THAT WAS CEMENT AND/OR PAINT COVERED .

THE FIRST HOSE HAD SEWN SEAMS AND LEAKED VERY BADLY. THEY ALSO SPLIT ON THE HIGHER

PRESSURES

LATER THE SEAMS WERE RIVETED AND THIS WORKED MUCH BETTER

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT THE TRIANGULAR FUNNEL ON THE OLD DRY

FOAM GENERATOR

WAS CALLED

"HOPPER"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS STORIES OF THE RETIRED FIREHORSE NOW PULLING A

MILK, JUNK, FRUIT & VEGETABLE , . WAGON AND IN PASSING A FIRE HOUSE AND HEARING THE ALARM

GO OFF AND SEEING THE NEWER FIREHORSES RESPONDING. THEY WOULD NOW ALSO

RESPOND WITH OR WITHOUT THEIR NEW OWNERS,. PROBABLY JUST LIKE SOME OF YOU OLD FARTS WHILE SHOPPING IN A

STORE AND HEARING A BELL AND FOR ONE SPLIT SECOND YOU ARE READY TO RESPOND. GET OVER IT OLD TIMER

YOU ARE RETIRED, GO GET A FREE LUNCH AT THE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER AND STOP SHOPPING.

DO YOU REMEMBER

"NITTY GRITTY GLOVES"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMPING STATION PUMPED RIVER WATER WHICH IS CONTAMINATED.

THEREFORE ALL LINE HAD TO BE FLUSHED AND WASHED BEFORE BEING HUNG UP.

A ROSS VALVE WAS PUT ON THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRANTS TO HOOK UP THE LINE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BEFORE DETROIT'S LARGE STEEL TRIANGLE FIRE ALARM

( 2 TON, 8 FT. HIGH MADE FROM 4 IN. STEEL BAR ) WAS RETIRED TO GREENFIELD VILLAGE, IT FIRST WENT TO

BELLE ISLE AS A CURFEW BELL. IT WAS TO ALERT PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE ISLAND AS THE OLD BRIDGE WAS TO OPEN

FOR THE NIGHT.

DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THAT WHEN A FIREMAN STOOD WATCH IN THE TOP OF THE WATCH TOWER ANOTHER FIREMAN STOOD

WATCH AT THE WATCH DESK. IF THE TOWERMAN SPOTTED A FIRE HE YELLED DOWN TO THE OTHER MAN THROUGH A

SPEAKING TUBE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE WAS AN 1851 ORDER IN ONE DEPARTMENT THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE COMPANY CAUGHT

PLAYING CARDS IN THE FIREHOUSE THE FIRST TIME SHALL BE FINED $ 1.00, AND THE SECOND TIME SHALL BE

TERMINATED.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY..............AND DON'T GET CAUGHT PLAYING CARDS IN THE FIREHOUSE.
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ON SOME DEPARTMENTS THEY HAD THE LIFE NET FOLDED IN HALF AND HAD IT

STANDING ON THE FLAT EDGE ON THE RUNNING BOARD.

WE HAD OURS FOLDED IN QUARTERS AND STORED IN ONE OF THE TRUCKS COMPARTMENTS

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN THE HOSE REEL WAS UNDER THE REAR PLATFORM ON SOME RIGS AND DUE TO THE SALT AND STREET WATER THE

TAKE-UP SWITCHES AND REELS GOT RUSTED OUT. THEN WE LOADED THE RED LINE IN THE CENTER ISLE.

REMEMBER SAYING #@$%^&*&^%$#%$ AND THEN WHEN WE TRIPPED ON THE LINE WE SAID

#$@%$^&*&^%^%$#$%^%$#

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN 1938 DETROIT'S, LADDER 2

CARRIED A

"POMPIER LADDER".

"NOTE"

LADDER 2 ORIGINATED IN 1871 AT EAST LARNED & BEAUBIEN IN THE OLD SCOTT ARMORY

THEN IN 1875 WENT TO HASTINGS & CONGRESS TO BE HOUSED WITH ENGINE 2

THEN IN 1893 WENT TO EAST LARNED AND & HASTINGS TO BE HOUSED WITH WATER TOWER 1

THEN IN 1951 LADDER 2 WAS DISBANDED

DO YOU KNOW

THAT AFTER EACH RUN THE DRIVER HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE

HORSES SHOES HADN'T LOOSENED

DO YOU KNOW

THAT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF ENGINE COMPANIES IN DETROIT CARRIED THREE LENGTHS OF 1" & 1/2 " IN THEIR

FIRST LINE AND TWO LENGTHS IN THEIR SECOND , ENGINE 5

( CASS CORRIDOR)

CARRIED FIVE LENGTHS OF 1" & 1/2" IN THEIR FIRST LINE AND FOUR LENGTHS IN THEIR SECOND.

REMEMBER HOW SOME GUYS WANTED THEIR FIRST BUNDLE TO BE JUST ONE LENGTH WHILE OTHERS WANTED

ONE AND A HALF LENGTHS .

REMEMBER WHEN THE SECOND LINE ( TWO LENGTHS ) WAS DRY IT WASN'T TOO BAD TO CARRY BUT WHEN IT WAS WET

IT WAS A STRUGGLE ESPECIALLY DURING THE STEEL TANK ERA .

DO YOU REMEMBER

GETTING DETAILED TO THE OLD FIREBOAT TO HELP CHANGE THEIR 3" LINE AND USING A

CROW BAR TO PACK IT

IN ON EDGE

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT ANOTHER NAME FOR THE AERIAL

LADDER WAS

THE STICK

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT POPPED WHEN THE RIG'S BRAKES SYSTEM LOST AIR?

HINT IT WAS THAT BLACK KNOB THAT YOU PULLED JUST BEFORE GETTING OUT OF THE RIG

THINK OLD TIMER

THE MAXI BRAKE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SALVAGE BAGS WERE ALSO KNOWN AS FIRE BAGS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE "INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY" EQUIPPED THEIR "BIG CHIEF" MODEL WITH A SIDECAR.

IT WAS THEN STOCKED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, VARIOUS TOOLS AND HOSE TO BE USED AS AN

"INDIAN FIRE PATROL"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE OLD LEATHER HOSE WAS KEPT ON REELS OR CARRIED ROLLED UP . IF IT WAS FOLDED , AS

IN A REGULAR FLAT LAY, IT WOULD HAVE A TENDENCY TO CRACK AT THE FOLDS.

ALSO IT WAS ADVISED , PERIODICALLY, TO UNWIND IT FROM THE REEL AND TURN IT OVER AND

REWIND IT OPPOSITE TO THE WAY IT WAS FIRST WOUND.

THIS WOULD AVOID THE HOSE FROM HAVING A PERMANENT CURVE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE MID 1880s DETROIT'S VOLUNTEER FIREMEN WENT ON STRIKE OVER NOT BEING ABLE TO

RUN THEIR HAND PUMPERS ON THE WOODEN WALKWAYS RATHER THEN THE DEPLORABLE STREETS.

IT WAS BOTH A MATTER OF PRIDE AND MONEY TO HAVE "FIRST WATER" . THE BAD STREETS SLOWED

THEM DOWN.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN DETROIT THAT THE WORD "RESCUE" WAS USED WITH THE WORD "SQUAD" AS IN

"RESCUE SQUAD"

WELL IN 1870 IT WAS ALSO USED IN "RESCUE HOOK &

LADDER 1"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT JACKS ARE ALSO KNOW AS

OUTRIGGERS
&
STABILIZERS

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME FIRE BUCKETS WERE MADE WITH SLIGHTLY ROUNDED BOTTOMS OR EVEN

POINTED BOTTOMS

( THESE WERE HUNG FROM HOOKS)

THIS WAS TO TRY TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING USED FOR ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD BUCKETS IN

MOPPING, WASHING WINDOWS, ETC.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN YOU DIDN'T WEAR YOUR MASK MUCH, DUE TO BOTH TRADITION AND IT WAS EASIER TO SEE AND WORK

WITHOUT IT, AND YOU "ATE SMOKE"

FOR DAYS AFTERWARD YOU SPIT UP AND BLEW THROUGH YOUR NOSE ALL KINDS OF

"BLACK STUFF" .

SOME OF OUR HANDKERCHIEFS NEVER COULD GET CLEAN.

...............REMEMBER THOSE GOOD OLD

DAYS..................
....................................

"YEAH RIGHT"........................................

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BACK WHEN THE TOWNS PROVIDED LADDERS TO BE PLACED AROUND THE COMMUNITY IN CASE

OF FIRE, YOU WOULD BE FINED IF YOU "BORROWED" ONE FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU KNOW

THAT , WAY BACK THEN, YOU HAD TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE FIRE TO

"PULL SOMEONE'S HOUSE DOWN FOR A FIRE BREAK.

THE FIREMEN JUST COULDN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN.

IT APPEARS THAT IF YOUR HOUSE WAS "PULLED DOWN" YOU MIGHT BE COMPENSATED.

NONE OF WHAT I READ WAS REAL CLEAR ON THIS.

IT ALSO SEEMS THAT BEFORE PULLING A PERSONS HOUSE DOWN THE WINDOWS WERE REMOVED

TO BE SALVAGED BESIDES THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

DO YOU KNOW

PULLDOWN HOOKS

WERE ALSO KNOWN AS:

IRON CROOKS

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IT WAS A HABIT DURING COLONIAL TIMES TO GO TO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND BORROW A

BURNING COAL TO START YOUR FIRE. THIS PRACTICE WAS OUTLAWED AS THERE WAS THE DANGER OF

DROPPING THIS COAL ON THE GROUND OR IN YOUR HOUSE BEFORE PUTTING IT IN YOUR

FIREPLACE OR OVEN.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY ARSONIST HAD

"BOTH THEIR EARS CUT OFF"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES THEY HAD THEIR OWN CHIMNEY SWEEPS

WHILE OTHERS HIRED PRIVATE ONES.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT A GOOD IDEA HAD BAD REPERCUSSIONS

SOME CITY'S LEADER IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET THE VOLUNTEERS TO RESPOND FASTER TO A FIRE OFFERED

A MONETARY REWARD TO THE FIRST COMPANY TO APPLY WATER ON THE FIRE. AT FIRST IT DID

SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA AS NOW THE FIREMEN WOULD RACE RATHER THEN JUST PULL THEIR HAND

PUMPER AT A GOOD PACE.. BUT THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT NOW THERE WOULD BE A

FIERCE RIVALRY TO BE FIRST AND ALSO EVERYONE WANTED THE:

$$$$$ "MONEY"____

$$$$$_________

THIS PROVOKED SOME PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS THAT DAMAGED THE

FIREMENS REPUTATIONS

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BEFORE THE USE OF HOSE, WHEN THE HAND TUBS JUST PUMPED WATER THROUGH THEIR

NOZZLES (MONITORS) MANY WERE BURNT UP OR WERE DAMAGED FROM FALLING WALLS

AS THEY HAD TO GET CLOSE TO THE FIRE TO DO ANY GOOD.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE OLD LEATHER HOSE WEIGHED ABOUT DOUBLE THE WEIGHT OF OUR HOSE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT INSURE A PLACE THAT HAD

TREES NEXT TO IT.

THE THINKING WAS THAT TREES ATTRACTED LIGHTNING AND ALSO SPREAD THE FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE IS A MENTION IN SOME BOOKS OF A RELAYING OF WATER, INVOLVING

30 ENGINES, PUMPING FROM A WATER SOURCE TO THE FIRE, A DISTANCE OF

1 & 1/2 MILES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF HAND PUMPERS

HAND PUMPERS WITH THE PUMPING HANDLES ON THE ENDS

THESE ARE CALLED

THE PHILADELPHIA STYLE

HAND PUMPERS WITH THE PUMPING HANDLES ON THE SIDES

THESE ARE CALLED

THE NEW YORK STYLE

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES

THE OLD PRIMARY WATER MAINS WERE WHITE OAK .AND THE

HOLES WERE DRILLED 4 1/2 " TO 6" IN DIA.

THAT THE OLD SECONDARY WATER MAINS HAD HOLES THAT

WERE DRILLED 3 " TO 4" IN DIA.

IN OTHER COMMUNITIES
THE PRIMARY HAD 3" TO 4" DIA. HOLES
THE SECONDARY HAD ONLY 1 & 1/2 " DIA. HOLES

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ANOTHER REASON THAT FIRE SPREAD FASTER DURING THE EARLY TIMES IS

BARRELS OF GUNPOWDER WERE KEPT IN MANY HOMES. NATURALLY THEY EXPLODED IN A

HOUSE FIRE SENDING FLAMING DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE FIRST HANDPUMPERS LACKED THE DESIGN TO PUMP A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF

WATER. THE WATER WOULD "SPURT" WITH THE UP AND DOWN PUMPING.

LATER WITH A NEWER PUMP DESIGN THEY WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE A CONTINUOUS STREAM

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE ARE SOME MENTIONS OF VARIOUS TOWNS ON FIRE THAT WERE COMPLETE

CONFLAGRATIONS. THE MEN AND THEIR HAND PUMPERS WERE AT THE RIVERS EDGE.

RATHER THEN

HAVE THEIR PUMPER BURN UP, THEY PUSHED IT INTO THE RIVER TO BE BROUGHT UP AFTER THE FIRE WAS BURN OUT

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE BEGINNING BEFORE HAND TUBS ,

THE FOUR ITEMS THAT THEY USED AT FIRES WERE:

HOOKS

POLES

LADDERS

BUCKETS

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE EARLY 1800s SOME DEPARTMENTS HAD A "WASHING CONTEST"

THIS WAS WHERE TWO OPPOSING PUMPERS SET UP WITH THEIR MEN AT THE BRAKES (PUMPING HANDLES) ONE MAN

FROM EACH COMPANY HAD THE NOZZLE AND THEY FACED ONE ANOTHER FROM ABOUT 20 TO 30 FEET. THE CREWS

PUMPED AS THE TWO MEN PLAYED AWAY AT EACH OTHER TO DRIVE ONE ANOTHER BACK. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK

YOU HAD TO DRIVE HIM TO WIN THE CONTEST.

I GUESS THAT'S WHERE OUR "ENGINE HOUSE WATER FIGHTS" CAME FROM

THEY ALSO HAD PUMPING CONTEST BETWEEN COMPANIES AS TO WHO COULD PUMP A STREAM THE HIGHEST WITH

THEIR HAND PUMPER. THEY WOULD AIM AT THE HIGHEST STEEPLE IN TOWN OR THEIR LIBERTY POLE.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY................
.AND REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE A WATER FIGHT, THE WATCH ROOM IS OFF LIMITS.
WAYNE
.

DO YOU KNOW.

THAT THERE WAS AN EARLY RIG THAT WAS A

LARGE SYRINGE ON WHEELS.

IT DIDN'T PROVE TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE EARLY FIREMEN'S JOB WAS MORE OF

CONTAINMENT

RATHER THEN

EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE EARLY VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO PULL SOME OF THE LIGHTER STEAMERS

UNLIKE THE HEAVIER ONES THAT HAD TO BE PULLED BY HORSES.

LATER ON DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF TOWNS THE DISTANCES BECAME TOO GREAT

FOR THE VOLUNTEER TO EVEN PULL THE LIGHTER STEAMERS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IF THE HAND PUMPER WAS ON MUDDY GROUND THE CONSTANT

UP AND DOWN PRESSURE OF THE MEN PUMPING WOULD AT TIMES

SLOWLY SINK THE PUMPER WHEELS IN THE MUD RIGHT DOWN TO THE AXLES.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE HAND PUMPING OF THE END STYLE (PHILADELPHIA STYLE)

PRODUCED LESS ROCKING THEN THE SIDE STYLE (NEW YORK STYLE)

ALSO THE PUMPING ON THE ENDS PROVIDED MORE ROOM ON THE SIDES FOR THE BUCKET BRIGADE

TO EMPTY THEIR WATER BUCKETS.

DO YOU KNOW

THE REASON FOR THE LONG NOZZLE ON THE HAND PUMPER WAS THAT IT LESSENED THE PRESSURE ON

THE OLD LEATHER HOSE , THEREBY LESSENING THE CHANCES OF A BURST LINE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BEFORE VOLUNTEERS AND A COMMUNITY LEADER THAT HAD THE POWER TO ORDER A

HOUSE "HOOKED DOWN" TO PROVIDE A FIREBREAK THE TOWN ASKED THE PEOPLE THAT HAD

HOMES IN THE FIRES PATH TO VOLUNTARILY PULL THEIR OWN HOUSES DOWN.. NATURALLY

NOBODY WANTED TO PULL THEIR HOUSE DOWN AS THEY WOULD LOSE EVERYTHING THEY

HAD. BESIDE THEY FIGURED MAYBE THE FIRE WOULD STOP BEFORE IT GOT TO THEIRS.

DO YOU KNOW

SMALL HOSE REELS WERE CALLED SPIDERS

LARGE HOSE REELS WERE CALLED CRABS

DO YOU KNOW

THAT A "TOP OF THE LINE" STEAMER WOULD MORE THEN MATCH

TODAYS 1250 GPM PUMPER

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU KNOW

AS THEY RETIRED THE HORSES SOME OF THE FIREMEN ALSO RETIRED

RATHER THEN TRY TO ADJUST TO THE NEW

"MASHEENS"

DO YOU KNOW

HOW TO START ONE OF THE EARLY GASOLINE ENGINES:

PULL OUT THE COMPRESSION-RELEASE HANDLE ON THE DASH

RETARD THE SPARK LEVER TO THE MID-POSITION ON THE QUADRANT

PULL THE STEERING-MAST CONTROLS UP TO PROVIDE A RICHER MIXTURE FOR STARTING

TURN THE MAGNETO SWITCH

TURN THE ENGINE OVER WITH A QUICK"UPWARD" PULL ON THE STARTING CRANK

PUSH IN THE COMPRESSION RELEASE HANDLE AS SOON AS THE ENGINE HAS STARTED.

NOTE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PULL UP ON THE CRANK AND ALSO TO KEEP YOUR THUMB UNDER THE

CRANK HANDLE.

A RECOIL COULD BREAK YOUR THUMB AND / OR ARM IF YOU PUSHED DOWN INSTEAD OF PULLING UP.

NOTE: ... FOR THE HORSES YOU JUST

SAID ..."GITTY-UP".

DO YOU KNOW

THE THREE BASIC TYPES OF PUMPS

CENTRIFUGAL

PISTON

ROTARY

DO YOU KNOW

THAT DURING "WORLD WAR 1"

THAT ANY FIRE RIGS BUILT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHROME ON THEM AS THE METAL

USED IN

CHROME WAS ONLY USED FOR THE "WAR EFFORT"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME STEAMERS HAD A HAND OPERATED AUXILIARY PUMP

TO BE USED BY THE ENGINEER UNTIL THE STEAM WAS RAISED

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE RURAL AREAS THEY HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF HORSES THAT WERE USED FOR THEIR EVERYDAY WORKING

OF THE LAND.

SOME OF THESE HORSES WERE PUT ON AN INCLINED RAMP OR A CIRCULAR TREADMILL AND HOOKED UP TO A

PUMP TO PUT OUT A FIRE. THERE ARE EVEN STORIES OF USING OXEN.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE WAS A BETTER CHANCE OF A BUILDING ON FIRE COLLAPSING ON A HAND PUMPER

THEN A STEAMER WHEN BOTH WERE AT THE SAME FIRE. THE REASON IS A HANDPUMPER HAD TO LOCATE CLOSER TO

THE BUILDING AS THEY COULDN'T PUMP THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AS A STEAMER. THE STEAMER COULD LOCATE

FARTHER AWAY.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THEY HAD A GASOLINE PUMPING ENGINE WHERE THE GASOLINE JUST OPERATED THE

PUMP AND NOT THE DRIVE TRAIN. THIS ENGINE WAS STILL PULLED BY MEN OR HORSES.

DO YOU REMEMBER

SAYING:

ENGINE # # INVESTIGATING

SMOKE SHOWING

ENGINE # # STRETCHING

IT'S FULLY INVOLVED

IT'S GOING THROUGHOUT

STRETCHIN AND LOVIN IT

( NOT ON THE AIR, JUST TO THE "GUYS")

(FOLLOWED BY)

"IT'S A GOOD HOUSE NOW"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS CALL THE

PIPE / NOZZLE
A
NOB / KNOB

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE NAME OF "BULLDOG" FOR THE "MACK TRUCK" CAME FROM THE

"WORLD WAR 1" ERA.

THE SOLDIERS NAMED THE TRUCKS FOR ITS PUG NOSE FRONT, RESEMBLING A BULLDOG.

MANY OF THE TRUCKS BEING SURPLUS AFTER THE WAR WERE CONVERTED TO FIRE TRUCKS

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE OLD ANDIRONS IN FRONT OF ENGINE 34s FIREPLACE BACK IN THE 60s THAT WERE

MINIATURE "FIRE HYDRANTS"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE MEN HOLDING ON THE TONGUE OF A HAND PUMPER, WHEN PULLING IT, WERE CALLED

"STEERSMEN"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BESIDES HAVING HAND PUMPERS THAT YOU PUMPED UP & DOWN, THEY ALSO HAD OTHER TYPES.

THERE WAS A "COFFEE GRINDER" WHICH WAS A ROTARY STYLE THAT WAS OPERATED BY TWO CRANKS,

ONE ON EACH SIDE.

THERE WAS A "CIDER MILL" , WHICH WAS ALSO A ROTARY STYLE WITH THE FIREMEN PUSHING THE BARS

BY WALKING AROUND THE ENGINE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT A

"TILLERMAN"

IS ALSO CALLED A

"BRAKEMAN"

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT "SLUSHING" IS

"GREASING THE OLD LEATHER HOSE"

DO YOU KNOW

THEY HAD TWO OLD EXPRESSIONS

RUN WITH THE ENGINES
OR
RUN MID DER MASHEENS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE OLD PULLDOWN HOOKS THAT THEY USED TO PULL DOWN BUILDINGS
HAD TWO CHAINS AND ROPES ATTACHED.

THIS WAS FOR MORE MAN OR HORSE POWER TO PULL DOWN A BUILDING.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BEFORE BUCKET BRIGADES

EACH PERSON JUST FILLED THEIR OWN PERSONAL BUCKET

AND THREW IT ON THE FIRE, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THEN THEY CAME UP WITH A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM.

THE BUCKET BRIGADE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE IS A STORY WHERE THERE WAS TWO MUCH FRATERNIZING BETWEEN THE LINES OF MALES ON THE
BUCKET BRIGADE FILLING THE BUCKETS AND THE FEMALES RETURNING THE EMPTY BUCKETS.
THE PERSON IN CHARGE ORDERED THE TWO LINES TO WORK BACK TO BACK.

YOU GUYS KNOW IT HAD TO BE THE "OFU" I GUESS EVERY GENERATION HAD AN "OFU"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IT APPEARS YOU HAD TO EITHER SIGN UP TO BE A MILITIAMAN OR A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN.
THE MILITIAMAN'S TOUR WAS FOR 5 YEARS
THE VOLUNTEERS WAS FOR 3 YEARS

DO YOU REMEMBER

HAVING ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU HAD ONE FIRE AFTER ANOTHER WITH NO SLEEP IN 24 HOURS.

YOU JUST GOT HOME , CLEANED UP AND EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD NO SLEEP YOU STILL HAD WORK TO DO AROUND THE

HOUSE.

A NEIGHBOR SPOTS YOU AND SAYS " I SEE YOU'RE OFF AGAIN, WHAT A GRAVY JOB YOU HAVE".

YOU WANTED TO SAY:

"F#@K Y#U M%$#@R F$#@%R

BUT YOU JUST SMILED AND SAID "YEAH,.................... I'M OFF

TODAY"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ONE COMPANY HAD A TRAP DOOR THAT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE DRIVERS BED AND WAS

JUST ABOVE HIS RIGS SEAT.

THERE WAS A POLE RAILING SYSTEM ENABLING HIM TO GO THROUGH THE TRAP DOOR AND BY THE

POLE AND RAILING SLIDE TO THE DRIVERS SEAT

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN NEW YORK IN 1865, TWO FIREMEN HAD TO GO ON A "FOOT PATROL"

IN THEIR FIRST ALARM DISTRICT.

(AND YOU OLD RETIREES COMPLAINED ABOUT STANDING AFTERNOON WATCH)

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ON SOME OF THE HAND PUMPERS AND HOSE REELS ALL THE

"BRASS WORKS"
WERE
"SILVERPLATED"

TO STAND OUT FROM THE OTHER COMPANIES.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE FIRST
FIREHOUSES
WERE MORE LIKE
"SHEDS"
THEN HOUSES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY STEAMERS WERE SO LARGE AND HEAVY THAT IT TOOK FOUR

HORSES

TO PULL THEM.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE VERY EARLY JOURNALS, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THE ALARMS WERE ENTERED IN
RED INK

WHILE OTHER INFORMATION WAS ENTERED IN DARK INK.

"OURS WERE JUST THE OPPOSITE".

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT IF CENTRAL KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE FIRST THEY WOULD SAY

ENGINE # # YOUR FIRE IS AT.................

IF IT WAS A TOSSUP AS TO WHO WAS GOING TO BE FIRST CENTRAL WOULD SAY................

COMPANIES RESPONDING, YOUR FIRE

IS AT.......................

DO YOU REMEMBER

I VAGUELY RECALL THAT ON SOME OF THE HIGH FALSE ALARM BOXES A PURPLE DYE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE

PAINTED ON THE PULL HANDLE TO IDENTIFY THE PERSON THAT PULLED THE BOX. A LIGHT WOULD BE SHINED

ON THE PERSONS HAND, IF HE GOT CAUGHT .

THE PURPLE DYE WOULD THEN SHOW UP. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS PRACTICE LASTED OR

IF IT WAS JUST A PLAN TO DO IT.

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT A SPLASH PLATE IS?

IT'S THE PART OF A SPRINKLER HEAD THAT DIVERTS THE WATER FROM THE PIPING TO THE ROOM IN A

SPRAYING PATTERN.

YOU REMEMBER OLD TIMER ALL THOSE SPRINKLERS HEADS IN THAT WOODEN BOX THAT WAS ALWAYS

FALLING APART AND ALL THE FANCY 'SPLASH PLATES THE SPRINKLER HEADS HAD,

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD FIRE CADETS.

I THINK IT WAS BACK IN THE YEARS 1970 OR 1971 . I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG THE PERIOD LASTED.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT AT TIMES THE FOREMAN CALLED CADENCE TO THE MEN PUMPING THE "BRAKES"

FROM ATOP THE PUMPER

DO YOU REALIZE

THAT IN THE WINTERTIME, BACK BEFORE HYDRANTS , THE FIREMEN HAD TO CHOP A HOLE IN THE

RIVERS ICE BEFORE PUTTING THEIR SUCTION IN.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES IF THE FIREMEN WERE FIRST, PULLING THEIR HANDPUMPER DOWN THE STREET, AND WAS

FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER COMPANY TRYING TO PASS THEM, THEY WOULD RUN A ZIG ZAG COURSE TO PREVENT

THIS.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS COULD LEAD TO FIGHTS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ANOTHER REASON TO BE A VOLUNTEER IS IF YOU WERE LOW ON THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC LADDER YOU GOT TO

BE AN EQUAL AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS.

THIS COULD PROVIDE FOR A STEP UP IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT STOPPED THE AERIAL LADDER FROM RETRACTING WHEN YOU THREW THAT LEVER ON THE RIGHT.

YOU THREW IT JUST BEFORE YOU WENT UP.

HINT

THE SAME NAME AS A HOUSE PET.

MANS BEST FRIEND

NO, NOT PUSSY CAT............. THOUGH I DO ADMIT THAT PART OF YOUR ANSWER IS ALSO MANS BEST FRIEND.

DOGS, OLD-TIMER, THE ANSWER IS DOGS.

SORRY ABOUT THE SLIGHTLY "OFF COLORED" "PUN" FROM ABOVE.....I JUST COULDN'T RESIST IT.
SORRY AGAIN

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS CALL "DECKIES"

"JOHNNIES"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BETWEEN 1929 AND 1945 MANY OF DETROIT'S RIGS HAD A

REVOLVING THREE RED LIGHT FIXTURE

ON THEM.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE NAME OF THESE LIGHTS?

"BUCKEYE ROTO-RAY"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT A BIG DANGER IN PULLING THE ROPES AND THE TONGUE OF A LARGE HAND PUMPER WAS THE CONDITIONS OF

THE STREETS.

THESE STREETS WEREN'T SMOOTH ASPHALT / CEMENT LIKE OURS. THEY WERE COBBLESTONE, BRICK, DIRT,

MUD.

YOU WOULD HAVE 20 MEN RUNNING AND PULLING THE RIGS BY THE ROPES AND THE TONGUE, DOWN UNLIT OR

PARTIALLY LIT STREETS.

THE ONLOOKERS WOULD BE CHEERING THEM ON AS MANY HAD THEIR FAVORITE VOLUNTEER COMPANY.

THERE WERE PROBABLY OTHER COMPANIES RIGHT BEHIND THEM , TRYING TO PASS THEM .

ALL RESPONDING COMPANY'S WANTING TO BE FIRST WATER. YOU ADD THE NATURE OF A FIREMAN'S

SENSE OF PRIDE AND RIVALRY AND YOU CAN SEE HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE.

IF YOU TRIPPED AND FELL THE PUMPER RAN OVER YOU. THE ONLY BRAKING SYSTEM I CAN FIND IS FOR THE FRONT MEN TO

GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN AND THE BACK MEN TO PULL ON THE ROPES THAT THEY HAD IN BACK TO STOP THE RIG.

BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW INEFFECTIVE THIS WAS IN STOPPING A HEAVY HAND PUMPER

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME OF THE EARLY COMMUNITIES

THE OFFICERS WORE "WHITE BELTS"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT WHILE MANY STORIES STATED THAT THE BUCKETS, THAT WERE KEPT IN

FRONT OF A PERSONS HOUSE, WERE FILLED WITH WATER,

SOME MENTION WAS THAT SOME WERE ALSO FILLED WITH SAND.

THIS SAND WAS THROWN ON THE FIRE AND THEN FILLED WITH WATER IN THE BUCKET BRIGADE.

IT DOES MAKE SENSE AS IF IT WAS KEPT FILLED WITH WATER IT WOULD JUST GET STAGNATE AND BREED

MOSQUITOS AND OTHER BUGS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE WINTER TIME IN SOME OF THE VERY, VERY EARLY COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE

BUCKETS AND / OR A GOOD SOURCE OF WATER THE PEOPLE WOULD THROW SNOWBALLS AT THE

BUILDING ON FIRE. WHAT DID HAPPEN IS THAT, AT TIMES ,THEY GOT INTO AN OLD FASHION

SNOWBALL FIGHT . THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE BUILDING WAS KNOWN TO BE A TOTAL

LOSS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ACCORDING TO SOME BOOKS THE DALMATIAN BREED CAME FROM

DALMTIA, A REGION IN WEST YUGOSLAVIA

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ANOTHER NAME FOR THE "MALTESE CROSS" IS

"CROSS PATTEE-NOWY"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SALVAGE COMPANIES CARRIED "WOODEN SHOVELS" TO

SCOOP WATER

FROM SALVAGE COVERS. A "METAL SHOVEL" COULD POSSIBLY CUT THE COVERS

DO YOU KNOW

THE EXPRESSION

"WORK THE BRAKES"

MEANT TO BE ONE OF THE

"HAND PUMPERS AT THE FIRE"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE MANPOWER OF SOME OF THE EARLY VOLUNTEER COMPANIES WERE LIMITED TO THE BELOW

ENGINE AND LADDER COMPANIES
25 TO 80 MEN
&
HOSE COMPANIES
15 TO 25 MEN

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME VOLUNTEER COMPANIES YOU ELECTED YOUR CHIEF , ASSISTANT CHIEF,

OR WHAT EVER TITLE THE TOP MEN WERE CALLED.

THEY CAMPAIGNED JUST LIKE OTHER POSITIONS . THEY EVEN PUT ADS IN THEIR LOCAL PAPERS WITH THEIR

ENDORSEMENTS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT FIREMEN TURN THEIR HELMETS BACKWARDS TO SHIELD THEIR FACE FROM THE HEAT .

THERE IS ANOTHER REASON THIS WAS DONE.

BACK THEN IT WAS A SIGN OF PROTEST IN MARCHES AGAINST SOMETHING THAT THEIR

ADMINISTRATION DID AGAINST THEM.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IF YOU WERE DRAFTING FROM A CISTERN RATHER THEN A RIVER THERE WAS ALWAYS THE DANGER OF

SUCKING THE CISTERN DRY BEFORE THE FIRE WAS OUT

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN OUR EARLY RIGS THAT CARRIED WATER ONLY HAD 200 GALLONS OF WATER. YOU GAVE THE GUYS

INSTANT WATER AND HAD TO REALLY WORK FAST IN HOOKING UP TO A HYDRANT.

YOU HAD MORE BREATHING ROOM WHEN OUR RIGS CARRIED 600 GALLONS .

REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE DOWN TO 1/4 TANK YOU WOULD YELL TO THE GUYS TO WATCH THE WATER AS YOU WOULD

HAVE TO HAVE AN "EXTENDED SUCTION" IF THEY WERE GOING TO RUN OUT.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THERE ARE STORIES OF THE VERY EARLY FIREMEN HAVING A HOSE PLAYED ON THEM SO THEY COULD

GET CLOSER TO THE FIRE WITH THEIR OWN LINE.

SOME EVEN COVERED THEMSELVES WITH A WET BLANKET TO GET CLOSER.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT AT ENGINE 36,( HELEN AND MILLER) THEIR DOG ( I THINK HIS NAME WAS BARON) USED TO PLAY WITH

BOWLING BALLS. THE STORY WAS THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO SHUT THE APPARATUS DOORS WHEN THEY GOT A RUN AS

BARON LAID BY THE APRON AND NOBODY WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE STATION .

THE WORD WAS HE EVEN TOOK ON THE STREET DOGS THAT CROSSED HIS PATH...

DO YOU KNOW

WHY SALVAGE COVERS HAVE HOLES WITH EYELET'S IN THEM BESIDE BEING

USED TO HANG THEM FROM BEING WET.

BACK WHEN THEY HAD SALVAGE COMPANIES THE MEN HAD HOOKS THAT THEY POUNDED INTO A WALL. THE

SALVAGE COVERS WERE HUNG ON THESE HOOKS AND THEN DRAPED OVER FURNITURE, MERCHANDISE, ETC.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES EACH

COMPANY HAS A

""FLAG"" WITH THEIR COMPANY

NUMBER AND /OR

""LOGO"" TO BE USED AT PARADES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER

BEING SECOND ON A GARAGE. WHILE THE FIRST ENGINE WAS STRETCHING

YOU WOULD PULL DOWN THE ALLEY AND DUMP YOUR MONITOR

DO YOU REMEMBER

HOW AT TIMES EVERYTHING WENT LIKE CLOCKWORK

HOW AT OTHER TIMES DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABLE ASPECTS OF A FIRE SCENE IT WAS

ORGANIZED CHAOS

REMEMBER THE EXPRESSION

"CLUSTER F_ _K"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY CONFLAGRATIONS, THAT COMPLETELY WIPED OUT A COMMUNITY,

WERE CALLED A

"FIRE FIEND"

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT THE TERM "TO TURN TONGUE IN" MEANS.

THIS WAS WHEN, DUE TO A SERIOUS INFRACTION OF THE RULES, THE TONGUE OF A HAND PUMPER WAS

TURNED 180 DEGREES LAYING UNDER THE RIG RATHER THEN POINTING OUT..

THEY WERE THEN NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO A FIRE

DO YOU KNOW

ON "SOME" OF THE EARLY HAND DRAWN LADDER TRUCKS THEY HAD TWO

TONGUES,

ONE ON EACH END. THIS WAS TO ENABLE THE LONGER TRUCKS

TO BE MORE MANEUVERABLE ON THE NARROW STREETS.

THE BACK PIVOTAL TONGUE EVOLVED INTO

THE TILLER WHEEL.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME HAND PUMPERS WERE MOUNTED ON RUNNERS (SKIS) IN THE WINTER TO MAKE IT EASIER TO

PULL IN THE SNOW.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BESIDES HANDPUMPERS HAVING BRAKES TO PUMP THE WATER SOME ALSO HAD

FOOT TREADLES TO PUMP.

THE MEN STOOD ON TOP OF THE PUMPER HOLDING ONTO TWO RAILS AND

WORKED THE TREADLES WITH THEIR FEET.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

HOW MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE SLEEPING AND THE ALARM WENT OFF AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON YOU

WERE ABLE TO WAKE UP WITH NO PROBLEMS.

BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOUR BODY WOULD SEEM LIKE IT LITERALLY FLEW UP HORIZONTALLY

ABOUT ONE FOOT. YOUR HEART WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BEAT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR CHEST.

IT HAPPENED EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE IF YOU HAD ONE OR THIRTY YEARS ON THE JOB.

YOU REMEMBER OLD TIMER, DON'T YOU.

DO YOU REMEMBER

IN THE "OLD DAYS " IF A RUN CAME IN ( AND CENTRAL DIDN'T ALERT YOU AS YOU WERE TALKING ON THE

DEPARTMENT PHONE AND THEY CUT IN)

YOU COULD:

THROW THAT GONG SWITCH UP AND DOWN TO PRODUCE A BELL CLANGING

PRESS THE "ALERT" BUTTON WHICH WOULD TURN ON THE LIGHTS AND PRODUCE A LOUD RINGING.

BANG AN APPARATUS BELL IF IT WAS CLOSE.

ALL THE WHILE YELLING ONE OF THE BELOW

ENGINE GOES

TRUCK GOES

SQUAD GOES

CHIEF GOES

EVERYBODY

SOMETIMES AFTER YELLING EVERYBODY, YOU MIGHT ALSO YELL

"IT'S A GOOD HOUSE NOW.

THEN YOU WOULD YELL THE LOCATION

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE RULE WAS: IF THE GONG STRUCK TWO OR MORE TIMES EVERYONE HAD TO

"HIT THE FLOOR" ( RESPOND TO THE APPARATUS FLOOR)

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME EARLY ENGINES HAD "GONGS: INSTEAD OF "BELLS".

THERE WERE LOCATED AT THE FOOT LEVEL AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN OPERATED BY A PEDAL..

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME HAND PULLED LADDER TRUCKS WERE NOT ONLY PULLED BY THEIR

TONGUES AND ROPES ON THEIR FRONT BUT THEY ALSO HAD

ROPES OR LEATHER STRAPS ON THEIR SIDES TO AID IN PULLING.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE TWO WHEELED HOSE REEL WAS BOTH HAND PULLED OR CONNECTED TO A RIG BY

TAIL HOOKS.

A TWO WHEELED HOSE REEL WAS CALLED A:

JUMPER

LEADER CART

TENDER

DO YOU REMEMBER

OUR UNITS MOTTO

"STRETCHIN & LOVIN IT"

THE OFUs MOTTO

"STRETCHING & YAWNING"

DO YOU REMEMBER

AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" WHAT YOU HAD TO DO BEFORE DUMMYING UP ALL THE BEDS UNTIL THE OLDER

GUYS WERE READY TO MAKE THEIRS UP.
.
COME ON OLD TIMERS THIS WAS BEFORE WE HAD OUR OWN BLANKETS

. THE BLANKETS WERE ALL HOUSE BLANKETS.

THINK OLD TIMER

HINT:

PART OF YOUR NAME.

WE HAD TO "SHAKE OUT THE FARTS"

YOU "OLD FARTS" SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THAT.

DO YOU REMEMBER

TRYING TO WASH THOSE HOUSE BLANKETS

THEY ALL SHRUNK AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DRY CLEANED

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE LONG BAR SHUFFLEBOARD TABLE AT ENGINE 41, BACK IN 1963 /64.

IT WAS JUST INSIDE OF THE SIDE DOOR BY SQUAD 3. IT WAS USED MORE OF A FIRE CLOTHES STORAGE TABLE

THEN A GAME TABLE.

ONE OF THE GUYS BOUGHT IT FROM THE PAPER FUND IN 1964.
.

DO YOU REMEMBER

IN THE WINTER TIME PUTTING A PIECE OF CARDBOARD IN FRONT OF THE

RIGS RADIATORS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT MANY OF THE EARLY FIRE "CAP" MAKERS WERE SADDLERS BY

TRADE

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE TWO WAYS TO REMOVE THE RED PLASTIC THREAD PROTECTOR ON THE AIR BOTTLES.

(1) TWIST, PULL, TWIST, PULL, TWIST, TWIST, TWIST, PULL, PULL, TWIST, SWEAR.

(2) OPEN AIR AND BLAST IT OFF.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

HOW SOME FIREMEN (PROBABLY OFU GUYS) TRIED TO CHEAT BACK IN THE HAND TUB DAYS.

THE RULE WAS ,YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A MONETARY SUM FROM THE COMMUNITY OR INSURANCE COMPANY

IF YOU GOT FIRST WATER.

EVERYONE WAS SUPPOSED TO START OUT EVEN WITH AN EMPTY HAND TUB.

THEN THE BUCKET BRIGADE WOULD FILL THEIR TUBS WITH WATER,

THE MEN WOULD PUMP AND THE WATER WOULD BE PUT ON THE FIRE.

SOME GUYS, TO GAIN AN EDGE,

"KEPT WATER IN THEIR TUBS" "IN THE

FIREHOUSE".

THEN AS SOON AS THEY GOT TO THE FIRE THE MEN WOULD START PUMPING AND THEY GOT FIRST WATER.

EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS MORE

EFFICIENT IN PUTTING OUT A FIRE
IT WAS AGAINST THE RULES.

THE OTHER COMPANIES COMPLAINED.

THIS PRACTICE WAS FORBIDDEN

DO YOU KNOW

THAT SOME EARLY FIRE NOZZLES WERE

MADE OUT OF

LEATHER , WITH JUST THE TIPS BEING

MADE OF BRASS OR

BRONZE

DO YOU KNOW

THAT WHILE MOST LEATHER HOSE WAS MADE OUT OF "COWHIDE",

OUT WEST MANY WERE MADE WITH "BUFFALO HIDE".

DO YOU KNOW

THAT RUNNERS WERE YOUNG BOYS THAT HUNG AROUND THE FIRE HOUSE DOING ODDS AND ENDS FOR THE

EXCITEMENT OF BEING AROUND FIREMEN. MANY HOPED THAT WHEN THEY GOT OLDER THEY COULD BE A

VOLUNTEER. AT TIMES THEY HELPED IN PULLING THE PUMPER AND ALSO HELPED IN THE FIGHTS.

SOME OF THE NAMES FOR THESE RUNNERS WERE:

SUBSTITUTES

AIDS

BLOWERS

CRACKERS AND CHEESE BOYS

BENDERS-ON

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW
THAT IN l900,
DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT
HAD
476 PAID FIREMEN
1 FIRE BOAT,
423 FIRE ALARM BOXES,
3,609 FIRE HYDRANTS
&
76 HORSE DRAWN RIGS.

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT A HIGBEE CUT IS?

IT'S A CUT IN THE THREADS OF A FIRE HOSE COUPLING.

IT'S PURPOSE IS TO AVOID CROSS THREADING.

A NOTCH IN THE LUGS OF THE COUPLING IS CALLED A HIGBEE INDICATOR AND IS USED TO

FIND THE HIGBEE CUT.

DO YOU KNOW

THE WORDS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH "TAPS"

As soon as Taps was sounded in July 1862, words were put with the music.

The first were, “Go To Sleep, Go to Sleep.”

As the years went on many more versions were created.

There are no official words to the music but here are two popular verses:

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,
'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

ANOTHER VERSION

Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well,
safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky,
Gleaning bright
From afar,
Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

REMEMBER
WAYNE