FEMS History The history of organized firefighting efforts in the Nation's Capitol follows a path quite similar to other cities in post-colonial America. The first city fire law of record was passed on January 13, 1803, and stated that any owner of a dwelling or storehouse must provide as many leather buckets as there were stories to said building. Proprietors who failed to do so were fined one dollar for each missing bucket. In fact, if the owner failed to provide the buckets, the occupant was authorized to procure them under the same penalty for neglect and could recover the sum from the landlord. In 1804, the Mayor was authorized to procure "one substantial engine" to be kept near the Central Market and later $300 was appropriated out of treasury funds for two engines to be placed near the Eastern and Western Markets. Later that year the city was divided into wards and citizens of the Fourth Ward organized one of the federal city's first fire companies, the Columbia. The Anacostia Fire Company was also formed that same year and was to remain in existence until the forming of the paid department. As the century progressed, more fire companies were organized in the city. Washington saw its share of serious blazes to be fought by the newly formed volunteer units, including the 1836 fire that swept the General Post Office, US Patent Office, and Washington Post Office. Like volunteers in other communities, rivalries were keen between DC's fire companies. Territories were well marked and fights between members of rival companies were not infrequent. One such battle took place directly in front of the White House during President Tyler's administration. Vanity also played its part. President Franklin Pierce was inaugurated in 1853, and made the grave mistake of refusing to attend a party thrown by DC's vollies. The miffed volunteers refused to march in his inaugural parade. The first recorded line of duty death occurred in 1856 when Mr. Benjamin Grenup, a member of the Columbia Engine Company, fell from and was run over by his engine company while responding to a blaze. By 1856, regulations and bylaws were established in hopes of limiting the problems associated with the volunteer's rivalries. These did not prove totally successful and with a thriving city and growing population, the inevitable was due. In 1864, an act to organize a paid fire department was approved. Page 1 of 3      1  2  3