![]() The rounded bottom allowed the buckets to automatically tip to the side and start filling when placed in the water. Fire buckets differ from normal pails because they feature a bubble on the bottom. To be a member, the man had to own his personal fire bucket. If three or more objected to the replacement, they were excluded. When vacancies occurred, the group elected the replacement member. Although formed as a response for fire protection, the group was more like a social club. ![]() One line passed buckets full of water to the fire while the second line passed empty buckets back to be filled. The brigade was a 30 member team the formed two lines of men and buckets. This fire caused a public outcry that lead to the formation of a bucket brigade. Shoe Store was torn down to stop the fire from spreading further. Since there was not a water system at that time, it quickly spread to the Union Hotel, the Watson, Staley & Company store, a saloon, a residence, two warehouses, and several other small buildings. The fire originated in the Northwest corner of the square in a two story building the Clark's Store and the Union Press newspaper office. It also marked the first of four major fires that occurred on the public square. ![]() This marked the beginning of the horse drawn wagons. By 1867, the hose and ladder carts became too heavy to be pulled by the men. The fire company added two wheeled hose carts to compliment the original ladder cart. The men were highly respected by the community and in return, they took deep pride in the service they provided.Īs the City grew, more volunteers and better equipment were needed. Fires were fought in whatever clothes the men were wearing at the time. The seventeen members served as volunteers without pay, uniforms, or firefighting gear. The company consisted of seventeen members, a hand full of painters' ladders, and a two-wheeled cart that was pulled by two of the members. On August 9, 1847, the City Council and the Fire Commission drew up an ordinance to form the first recorded Ladder Company to cover the City of Springfield. Springfield's earliest days as a community included a volunteer fire department organized in the 1940's, beginning a rich history of service, compassion and valor.
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