Throughout its history, firefighting traditions have never been abandoned over the centuries. Firefighters feel this connection to the past very deeply and strive to carry on these traditions in their careers. As an example, every department uses the Maltese Cross in some way or other, either in the design of their department insignia or badge. The origins of the Maltese Cross date back to the time of the Crusades. Most fire companies have a logo or slogan that defines the heritage of the fire company. These logos are an important part of the fire company and they distinguish it from other fire companies. The logos contribute to the morale and camaraderie found in the best fire companies and can be found on the firehouse itself (inside and outside), the rig, and on patches. Firefighters are fiercely proud of these logos.

The Dalmatian, a unique part of firefighting traditions dates back to when horses were used to pull steamers and hose wagons. The Dalmatian dogs were used to keep the horses calm at fires, by running around the horses and scaring away other animals that would bother the horses. These Dalmatians bonded with the firefighters and horses alike. There is no need for a Dalmatian with today’s fire apparatus, yet we still see them in many firehouses.

Each October 9th, the people of Chicago commemorate "The Great Chicago Fire" of 1871 with parades and ceremonies. In 1911, The Fire Marshals Association of North America officially declared that date as Fire Prevention Day. Ontario became the first jurisdiction to observe Fire Prevention Week during the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. This practice continues to this day in communities throughout North America as a constant reminder that prevention is the ultimate cure.

The most widely-accepted reason that fire engines are painted red dates back to the 1800s, a time when there was much competition between the fire brigades of neighboring cities and towns. The firefighters of each brigade took great pride in their fire pumps. Each brigade wanted their rig to stand out by being the cleanest, by having the most brass, or being a regal color. Because red was the most expensive color, that's what color most crews chose to paint their pumps.

Other firefighting traditions cite painting fire engines red going back to the early 1920s. Henry Ford wanted to make cars as inexpensively as possible and only offered cars in one color: black. With all of these black vehicles on the road, the fire service began painting their vehicles red in an effort to stand out.

Today, fire engine manufacturers offer their equipment in a variety of colors and it is not uncommon to see white, yellow, blue, orange, green, or even black fire engines, in addition to red. While some studies hint that colors such as lime-green may be more visible than traditional red, the vast majority of fire departments continue to use red fire engines, a color instantly recognized by everyone as that of a fire engine.

Until the 1980s it was common for firefighters to wear black helmets. Only chiefs had a different color, which was white. Officers had an emblem on their black helmets. Now, new helmet designs offer a choice of colors. Captains often have red helmets and Chiefs usually white. A national consensus is emerging but some departments apparently are clinging to their own traditions. A helmet is a very personal thing to a firefighter, and career firefighters are allowed to keep the helmet issued to them by the department upon retirement.

The term "Jake" is affectionate New England slang for a Firefighter. This word was first used as a reference to firemen in the early 20th century in the Greater Boston area, but its origins are officially unknown. While it is now a widely accepted term in the fire service, it is almost exclusively used in New England, and almost exclusively used to bestow great praise and the highest levels of respect. To be called a "Good Jake" is the highest form of praise a Boston area firefighter can possibly receive from a peer.

Long before telephones, radios, and the Internet was invented, fire departments used the telegraph to communicate. They used special codes to receive fire alarms from those once-familiar red fire alarm boxes which stood on practically every street corner of America. When a firefighter was killed, or "fell", in the line of duty, the fire alarm office would tap out a special signal. This would be tapped out as five measured dashes - then a pause - then five measured dashes - then a pause - then five more measured dashes.

This came to be called the "Tolling of the Bell" and was broadcast over the telegraph fire alarm circuits to all station houses in the vicinity. This was done for the purpose of notification and as a sign of honor and respect for all firefighters who had made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. Such symbolism has been a time-honored fire service tradition and is repeated at each service of a fallen firefighter.

The firefighting tradition of bagpipes played at fire department and police department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred fifty years. When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to the United States, they brought many of their traditions with them. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals, and ceilis (dances). It wasn’t until the great potato famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States that the tradition of the pipes really took hold in the fire department. Today, the tradition is universal and not just for the Irish or Scottish. The pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero’s funeral.

For more information on Firefighting Traditions, visit:

• New York City Fire Museum in New York:   www.nycfiremuseum.org
• Pennsylvania National Fire Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:   www.pnfm.org 

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