THE SHAMROCK

Submitted by Craig Hall

Irish-American firefighters began affixing images of the shamrock to their apparatus and their person not only as a display of Irish-American pride, but also as an inconspicuous message to their fellow Irishmen advertising that the fire service is a place that can’t discriminate against them. 

            Today, by tradition, most truck companies have a shamrock somewhere in their logo, on their apparatus, or on their helmet.  Irish-American firefighters usually display a shamrock somewhere on their gear, as well, to channel the “luck of the Irish”.

Why are Fire Trucks Red?

submitted by Jeremy Jones

The most widely-accepted reason that fire engines are painted red dates back to the 1800s -- a time when there was a lot of competition between the fire brigades of neighboring cities and towns. The firefighters of each brigade took great pride in their pump. Each brigade wanted their rig stand out by being the cleanest, 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 the pump.

Other sources cite the tradition of painting fire engines red going back to the early 1920's. 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, just as you have many more choices of colors available to you for your vehicle, so do the fire engine manufacturers, and it is not uncommon to see white, yellow, blue, orange, green, or even black fire engines, in addition to red. And while some studies hint that colors such as lime-green may be more visible to the public 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.

Most recent fire engines purchased have shifted to the Chicago-famed, black over red paint scheme. The first closed-cab chief's cars in Chicago had black canvas tops which would not take paint. Someone among the brass liked the appearance, so as new closed-cab apparatus came onto the roster, the cabs of the fire engines were painted black.

You may also notice the green light on fire engines in northern states. This is also a traditional Chicago-style fire engine feature. Commissioner Albert Goodrich of the Chicago Fire Department (1927 - 1931) had a nautical background. He applied the marine scheme (red light on port, green light on starboard) to fire apparatus, and the idea became a tradition of the Chicago Fire Department. It is also used to mark the bay doors at most Chicago fire stations

Organization of the Fire Service and Rank Insignia  
 

submitted by Jeremy Jones

Some terminology and the rank structure in the fire service is generally accepted as something that came from the Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, U. S. fire departments were often run something like a business. Many early fire brigades were private organizations who were paid by insurance companies. There were chiefs, bosses, leaders and foremen and such. During the Civil War entire fire departments joined up as a unit. They became units like Infantry Companies etc. The leaders were given rank and that rank or title survived the war. After the war some men were known as Captain for the rest of their lives and when they were replaced, the department got a new Captain for that company. There were also other influences on the rank structure of fire departments. Credit for the first "professional" fire brigade is given to Napoleon Bonaparte. As French emperor, he ordered that a division of the French army known as Sapeurs-Pompiers be used to protect Paris with 30 powerful manual fire pumps by 1800. We can presume that this organization had ranks. In fact many military words, such as those for rank, come directly from Old French. (i.e. "Lieutenant" & "Captain") The very first, recorded, full time, fire brigade was in first or second century Rome. This consisted of approximately 7000 "Vigiles".  
 
In the early days, of North American fire departments, orders were given to the troops, by officers, through the use of a large brass device that resembles a megaphone. These were very ornate brass horns. They were commonly called Bugles or speaking trumpets.  
 
The person with the bugle hanging from his neck or shoulder was easily identified as the person in charge. Officers became identified with this objects so a small pin in the shape of a bugle became a type of rank insignia for officers. The more bugles on his collar the higher the rank. An expression still used today.

• Firefighter - (FF) -Basic worker. Usually 1 -3 in most companies. (Note: "Firefighter" is the generic term for all members of a fire department but it is also a rank within the organization.) Insignia: None
• Engineer - In most departments this is the person who drives the vehicle and operates the pump or aerial. He is a specialist who knows everything about that piece of apparatus.
• Lieutenant - (Lt.) - This is the officer over a single company. Depending upon the city he may be on an engine, truck, rescue company or whatever. There might be more than one assigned to a station. Insignia: One Bugle
• Captain - (Capt.) - This officer commands a single company but also is the ranking officer at a station that may have several companies. He may have one or more lieutenants working at the station with him. This officer is often the initial command at emergencies and can be called upon to fill in for the Chief during his or her absence. A captain may also be over a special section or function. Examples are: Dispatch, Training, EMS etc. Insignia: Two Bugles
• Assistant Chief (AC) - Operational supervisor over companies. Often the highest ranking officer on duty on a 24 hours basis. Insignia: Four Bugles
• Chief - The boss. Insignia: Five Bugles

BAGPIPE TRADITON AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNERALS

submitted by Jeremy Jones

The tradition of bagpipes played at fire department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred fifty years.  When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, 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 departments.  Factories and shops had signs reading “NINA”-No Irish Need Apply.  The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted –jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both – firefighters and police officers.  It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire.  The Irish firefighters funerals were typical of all Irish funerals – the pipes were played.  It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of pipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

            Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be.  Before too long, families and friends of non Irish firefighters began asking for the pipes to play for these fallen heroes.  The pipes add a special air and dignity to the solemn occasion.

            Associated with cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, pipe bands representing both fire and police often have more than 60 uniformed members.  They are also traditionally known as Emerald Societies after Ireland – the Emerald Isle.  Many bands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear the simpler Irish uniform.  All members wear the kilt and tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irish single color kilt. 

            Today, the tradition is universal and not just for Irish or Scottish.  The pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero’s funeral.