Union Fire Company, sometimes called Franklin’s Bucket Brigade, was a volunteer fire department formed in Philadelphia in 1736 with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. It was the very first firefighting organization in Philadelphia, although it was followed within the year by the establishment of the Fellowship Fire Company.
The fire company was formed on 7 December 1736 after a series of publications in the Pennsylvania Gazette by Franklin and others pointing out the need for more effective handling of fires in Philadelphia and remained active until approximately 1820. Although modeled after the Mutual Fire Societies of Franklin’s native Boston, the Union Fire Company protected all members of the community rather than only the members of the company.
Junto members discussed ideas on how to organize volunteers. The first brigade was formed by 26 volunteers. Each member brought 6 buckets to carry water and 2 linen bags to rescue property. Members had different roles such as water management, property protection, training and fire prevention. Volunteers kept signing up and soon they had enough people to form additional brigades. Fire companies started forming and the results were immediate. In a time when fires consumed entire blocks of buildings the city of Philadelphia had not lost more than one or two houses at a time.
Fire engines, ladders, and other equipment were financed by fines paid by members for absence at monthly meetings. The current Philadelphia Fire Department traces its roots to Franklin’s company.
Franklin created the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss of Fire. The insurance company offered 7-year policies to cover the cost of damage to burned buildings. Today it exists as Philadelphia Contributionship and it is the nation’s oldest successful property insurance company.
According to benjamin-franklin-history.org; en.wikipedia. Source of photo: internet
