This page contains a chronological listing of information on Boston Fire Department activity, across all types of categories, from 1870 to 1879. The listings contained within this page will be updated on a continual basis, as new information becomes available. Information on some ‘Fires’ and ‘Line of Duty Deaths’ will be found in the Chronology. Use the link to Fires and Line of Duty Deaths to see more complete listings.
YEAR | DATE | Activity |
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1870 | January 1 | John S. Damrell, Chief Engineer |
1870 | January 3 | The Town of Dorchester was annexed to the City of Boston. Fire companies in Dorchester were organized as:
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1870 | September 25 | Engine Company 7 moved from 41 Purchase Street, Downtown, to 7 East Street, Downtown. |
1870 | Engine Company 4 moved from Scollay’s Building to J.B. Smith’s stable on Bulfinch Street. | |
1871 | May 1 | Extinguisher Wagon 1 placed in service at 16 North Grove Street, West End. |
1871 | Engine Company 15 moved from Ladder 5’s quarters at 456 West Fourth Street, South Boston, to a new firehouse at 109 Dorchester Avenue, South Boston. | |
1872 | April 1 | Extinguisher Wagon 2 placed in service at the quarters of Ladder Company 3 on Harrison Avenue, South End. |
1872 | April 13 | Ladder Company 4 received a new Hunneman ladder truck equipped with 16 ladders of varying sizes. |
1872 | August 24 | Extinguisher Wagon 3 placed in service at the firehouse of Engine 9, 60 Paris Street, East Boston. |
1872 | September 17 | Hose Company 11 was organized at Engine 9’s firehouse, 60 Paris Street, East Boston. (No further record of this company is available.) |
1872 | November 9-10 | The Great Boston Fire occurred in the downtown area during which 799 buildings were destroyed and $75 million dollars in damage was suffered. The fire from Box 52, Summer & Bedford Streets, summoned help from great distances, including New Haven, CT and Portsmouth, NH. Foreman William Farry and Assistant Foreman Daniel Cochrane of Ladder Company 4 died in the Line of Duty at this fire. |
1872 | Engine Company 4 and Extinguisher Wagon 1 occupied a new firehouse at 5 Bulfinch Street, Downtown. | |
1873 | January 1 | The first fireboat, ‘William M. Flanders’ was placed in service at Central Wharf. (The company was not assigned a company number.) The fireboat was named for a member of the Boston Common Council. |
1873 | February 9 | The first chemical engine company, Chemical Engine Company 1, was organized at 5 Bulfinch Street, Downtown. |
1873 | April 7 | Engine Company 23 was organized at 84 Northampton Street, South End. Hose Company 4 was disbanded. |
1873 | April 23 | Engine Company 23 received a ‘crane-neck’ Hunneman 500gpm steam engine, CN #724. |
1873 | June 17 | Hose Company 12 was organized at 863 East Fourth Street, South Boston. |
1873 | September 1 | Engine Company 25 and Ladder Company 8 were organized at Washington Square (later called Fort Hill Square). Hose Company 1 at 133 Salem Street, North End, was disbanded. |
1873 | October 13 | An order creating the Board of Fire Commissioners was issued, to take effect November 20, 1873. |
1873 | October 14 | Engine Company 22 was organized on Parker Street (now Hemenway Street), near Westland Avenue, in a rented building. |
1873 | November 12 | The first meeting of the 3-member Board of Fire Commissioners was held. The Board consisted of: Alfred P. Rockwell, David Chamberlain and Timothy T. Sawyer. Alfred P. Rockwell was the first chairman. |
1873 | November 20 | The Board of Fire Commissioners officially took control of the Fire Department from the Chief Engineer. |
1873 | December 10 | Engine Company 24 organized at 424 Warren Street, Roxbury. |
1873 | December 31 | John S. Damrell resigned as Chief Engineer. |
1873 | Engine Company 12 moved from Dudley and Warren Streets to a new firehouse at 198 Dudley Street. Ladder Company 4 moved from 20 Eustis Street to a new firehouse at 407 Dudley Street. Fire company names was discontinued. Companies were to be identified by company number only. | |
1873 | The use of company names was discontinued. Fire companies were to be identified by company only, which continues to the present day. | |
1874 | January 1 | William A. Green was appointed Chief Engineer. |
1874 | January 5 | The City of Charlestown and the Towns of West Roxbury and Brighton were annexed to the City of Boston. Fire companies from Charlestown, Brighton and West Roxbury were organized as follows:
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1874 | April 7 | The Board of Fire Commissioners (BFC) issued General Order No. 1. It stated that the Rules and Regulations adopted by the BFC on March 2, 1874 will go into effect April 7, 1874. All department members will receive a copy of the Rules and Regulations. Districts were delineated and the Chief Engineer was William Green and the Superintendent of Fire Alarms was John F. Kennard. |
1874 | April 25 | Chemical Engine Company 2 was organized at 25 Church Street, South End. Hose Company 8 and Extinguisher Wagon 2 were disbanded. |
1874 | May 7 | Engine Company 26 was organized in a two-story brick building at 18 Mason Street, Downtown, formerly the Normal School. |
1874 | July 27 | Chemical Engine Company 3 was organized at 352 Longwood Avenue, Fenway. |
1874 | September 25 | Chemical Engine Company 4 was placed in service at 4246 Washington Street, Roslindale. |
1874 | November 21 | Chemical Engine Company 5 was organized at Walnut Park, Roxbury. |
1974 | December 16 | The fire alarm circuits from Charlestown and West Roxbury were connected to gongs in the office of the Board of Fire Commissioners so they would be a aware alarm in those districts. |
1875 | January 20 | Chemical Engine Company 4 was organized at (4246) Washington and Poplar Streets, Roslindale. |
1875 | April 1 | A new firehouse at 440 Harrison Avenue, South End. Engine Company 3 moved in from 1171 Washington Street and Ladder Company 3 moved in from Harrison Avenue and Wareham Street. |
1875 | May 7 | Hose Company 2 at 85 Hudson Street was disbanded. Hose Company 3 at 16 North Grove Street was designated Hose Company 8 to avoid conflict with Hose Company 3 in Charlestown. |
1875 | August | Engine Company 22 moved from Parker Street to 132 Dartmouth Street, Back Bay. |
1875 | Hose Company 7 moved from 185 Cabot Street to 1046 Tremont Street, Roxbury. | |
1876 | March 28 | The ‘Scott-Uda’ Aerial Ladder 1 was placed in service at Fort Hill Square, under the charge of Ladder Company 8, without a regular company of men assigned. |
1876 | May 1 | Chemical Engine Company 6 was organized on South Harvard Street (now Harvard Avenue). |
1876 | June 1 | Chemical Engine Company 5 moved from Walnut Park to 3089 Washington Street, Egleston Square. |
1876 | September 21 | Chemical Engine Company 7 was organized on Mt. Vernon Street, near Centre Street, West Roxbury, replacing the last ‘hand’ engine in service in the city. |
1877 | February 17 | The Bangor Ladder Company of Bangor, Maine, was awarded a contract for seven 65ft ladders. |
1877 | April 2 | An order was issued that department horses must be exercised daily to prevent horses becoming lame due to standing in their stalls. The requirement was waived if the fire company had responded to an alarm within the last 24 hours. |
1878 | April 9 | The Boston Veteran’s Firemen’s Association was reorganized. |
1879 | Ladder Company 4 moved from 407 Dudley Street, Roxbury, to 20 Eustis Street, Roxbury. | |