Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network
History of Fire Horses
At first horses were stabled near the stations. When the alarm sounded, it took valuable time to unlock the barn, fetch the steeds and harness them to the engine. Before long, the horses lived at the station and the reluctance to accept them was replaced by a deep affection for the noble animals.
The stalls were positioned behind or next to the rigs. In 1871, a quick hitch was developed. Two years later, Charles E. Berry, a Massachusetts firefighter, created a hanging harness with quick-locking hames. His invention was so popular he left the fire department and sold his patented Berry Hames and Collars nationwide. Not every horse could serve as a fire horse. The animals needed to be strong, swift, agile, obedient and fearless. At the scene, they needed to stand patiently while embers and flames surrounded them. They needed to remain calm while the firefighters fought the blaze. This was the case in all weather conditions and in the midst of a multitude of distractions.
The fire departments carefully selected their horses. Veterinarians for the departments evaluated each animal. Both stallions and mares were eligible to serve.
In Detroit, weight requirements were issued for the animals. Those pulling hose wagons must weigh 1,100 pounds, to haul a steamer 1,400 pounds, and to cart a hook and ladder 1,700 pounds. Stations also tried to create matched teams of two and three horses when possible. Some cities had training stables but most provided on-the-job training. Departments added horse ambulances and horseshoeing wagons to their city’s rigs. A horse might work at a station for four to ten years.
In the fall of 1872, a form of distemper, called epizootic spread among the horses. Within a period of twenty-four hours, 300 horses died in Buffalo. The epidemic spread rapidly to many cities. The cities relied heavily on horses for transportation and became paralyzed. Fire became a major concern. It was late October in Boston. Out of a total of 75-90 horses, four had died and 22 were unfit for duty. Until the epidemic ended, firefighters with the aid of citizen volunteers often found it necessary to drag the equipment to fires manually.
It was a sad day at the fire station when a horse was declared unfit for duty. Many retired fire horses continued to work for the city in less strenuous positions. Some were put out to pasture. Occasionally the noble beasts were put up for public auction. The gallant steeds might be purchased by junk drivers and delivery men. At times, the fire horses would forget their new roles and charge down the streets hauling a wagon after hearing a fire gong.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Luke Summers on -
Well here in my home town of Douglas Wyoming we had a fire horse that also doubled at the delivery horse for the local grocery store. Upon hearing the bell on top of city hall he would make a mad dash to the station. This all happening while he still had the delivery cart attatched to him. There are many stories of groceries being strewn about the streets with the delivery boy running behind cussing him in Swedish. He would then wait at the station for members to show up, unhook him from the delivery cart and attatch him to the hose wagon.
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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on -
IT must have added quite a bit to the ruckuss in general with members running to the station as well..lol ...Its also well documented in larger citys often "fire horses" who were retired By the Vet staff from Running fires , often would take off with they're milk wagon, or trasnports wagon, buckboard, when the horse heard the rigs taking in a run... It must have been kinda funny seeinga hose wagon. a hose wagon, a steamer , a steamer, a tiller , a chiefs buggy come running by each clanging thundering hooves steam whistles on the steamers tooting and along comes the Milk wagon at full gallop, Bottles clanging and bouncing around breaking and falling off as they go, Followed by the milkman on foot chasing the rig with his bottle rack in hand cursing the horse ....lol
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Permalink Reply by Jason Koontz on -
I wish there were still a few of those wagons around. They must have been beautiful, the wagons rolling down the street, preceeded by the gorgeous team of horses. Don't get me wrong, today's engines look wonderful. But somehow I don't think they'd hold a candle to those teams and wagons.
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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on
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although Not in the way Your discussing, Jason, at least we do have some folks in this world that look to preserve some of the past..and own or work to keep spme of these steamers, or hand tubs, antique Motorized and that also includes guys like Merrit That chose to start this forum.. And remember as Beautiful as they were , remember the streets were full of land mines, The houses full of flys and Odors.....Rookie had to muck the stalls, shovel coal as well as all night watchs as well as house duties....lol YOu have to remember the "bad"parts too...
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Permalink Reply by Chief Ron King on -
Great story! We have two fire wagons at our Dept. I always wondered about the horses that pulled them. Those were the days!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio on -
At times, the fire horses would forget their new roles and charge down the streets hauling a wagon after hearing a fire gong.
Now that's funny!
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