"Incendiary fires during 1800 aroused the inhabitants of the then village of about eight hundred people to the necessity of protection against fires.

They found themselves ill equipped to contend with this peril, and still further fires having occurred, the citizens in 1801 held a meeting to discuss the possibility of procuring a fire engine. This movement came to nothing, unless it was to start an agitation which later might bring results.

But when the town was chartered in 1802, another public meeting for fire protection was called. This was held July 14^th in the newly erected courthouse, at Walnut and Fifth Streets. The citizens recommended that the council spend twelve dollars for six fire-ladders and twelve dollars for six fire-hooks. This was the first fire equipment of Cincinnati, and it served the village until 1808.

The Spy, December 19^th, 1801, published the summons to the public to meet to consider the purchase of a fire engine.

In 1802, it was enacted that "Every freeholder and every person being a householder and paying an annual rent as high as thirty-six dollars must be provided with a black-jack and leather bucket of a capacity of two and one-half gallons and contribute the use of it and his own physical exertions whenever he should hear a cry of fire. Every male between sixteen and fifty years of age had to serve. Such was the first step for fire protection in that Cincinnati that was to produce the first fire engine to be operated by steam - a blessing that the entire world now appreciates."

Cincinnati was then a very compact settlement, on account of fear of the Indians. The water supply was small. The region round about was full of dry and dead wood.

The fires that were declared to be incendiary were blamed upon the soldiers of the garrison. No one knows the truth of this matter, but it was asserted that after the garrison was transplanted to the other side of the river there were fewer fires.

In 1808 a fire engine was procured, doubtless a very poor one, such as was used in those days. This might be hauled either by horses or by men. The general fashion was to have a long rope attached to the pole, so that a company of men and boys might haul it from place to place.

Mr. L'Hommedieu, in his recollections, going back to 1810, does not speak of this engine.

He states that "every one able to labor was required to be on hand with his long leather fire bucket, and form in line to the river, to pass buckets with water to the fire. Every householder was required to keep one of these hung up, marked and ready for instant use."

Dr. Drake in 1815 declared the fire protection inefficient, and said the ordinance in regard to fire buckets was generally disregarded. He declared that the order requiring every male citizen between fifteen and fifty years of age to answer the cry of fire was a "Provision finely calculated, if enforced, to augment the rabble which infest such places." He said bonfires and all othe burnings in the village were "expressly but not successfully forbidden."

The ordinances also required that when a fire broke out each drayman in the place must provide at least two barrels of water.

A newspaper in commenting upon Dr. Drake's book issued in 1816 said, " in the event of a fire on the hill there is no resource but to tug away at the windlass or wait the arrival of the draymen from the river."

The Union Fire Company was formed in 1808. Nearly all the men and grown boys in the village were members of this association. But this organization soon went to pieces. From 1813 to 1815 it did not hold a meeting.

July, 1808 there was organized the Cincinnati Fire Bucket Company. For its work it had a huge willow basket set on a four-wheeled truck, and within this receptacle the fire buckets were placed.

It was required that every householder have two of these buckets and that they should be kept on his premises in such position that they could readily be found and used.

This company occupied quarters on Fourth Street, opposite the St. Paul building.

There is now preserved in the quarters of the fire department the fire drum, which was used from 1808 until 1824 to notify the people of the breaking out of fires. The drum heads are five feet and four inches in diameter. This drum was placed on the roof of a low frame building, used as a carpenter shop, so that it could be reached by any one to announce a fire. The roof could be gained by means of a ladder at the rear.

The successor of this drum, as the city grew beyond the scope of its sound, was the bell of the First Presbyterian Church. This was used as a fire alarm until 1845.

The Washington Company, Number one was organized in 1810.

In 1813 the council authorized the purchase of a fire engine, which was procured in 1816. This engine was bought by General John S. Gano. Relief Fire Company, Number two, took charge of it.

February 12^th, 1815, a fire took place at the Davis Embree brewery, and this event awakened the public mind to the need of better preparation to fight fires. "Liberty Hall" said; "On this subject a reform is indeed indispensable. Another and better engine should be procured, rival companies should be organized, and their officers invested with power to press into active service or disperse the mob of knaves, fools and gentlemen who generally press round our fires and look up with the smiling and idiot gaze which they would bestow on a flight of rockets."

Mr. Embree, however, published his thanks to all who had helped bring the fire under control, and declared that "on this occasion they evinced conduct which would do credit to the best organized fire companies."

In the directory of 1819, we read: "There are two engines owned by the corporation, but strange as it may appear, neither of them are kept in proper repair. A most unpardonable apathy on this subject pervades our citizens generally. Almost destitute of ladders, fire-hooks, buckets (or even water in most parts of the city,) should the fiery element assail us in a dry and windy season, the denouement of the awful tragedy would be a general devastation of our now flourishing city. The most practicable means ought immediately to be taken for creating a supply of water, the number of engines increased and put in working condition, and every other apparatus procured which can be of service in restricting the ravages of this powerful destroyer. Otherwise the "good easy man," who retires to his couch meditating on the competency of his fortune, may stalk forth a beggar in morning."

A fire ordinance was passed October 2, 1819 in order to put the department on a better basis. The Cincinnati Fire Wardens Association was soon organized.

November 15^th, 1819 in order to put the department organized at the shop of Thomas Tucker on Main Street eighteeen members enlisted for service. This company's first engine was called "Constitution," water was supplied for it by a line of buckets reaching to a cistern or the river or some other source.

This company later added the engine "Liberty" and the hose-reel "Veteran." Still another engine, one called "Independence," was purchased in 1820 and replaced the old one.

The Independence Fire Company, No. 3, later bought ground on Fourth Street, between Walnut and Vine Streets, the site for many years of the Robert Clarke Company's bookstore, and there put an engine house.

Once, in 1822, the city's chief engineer issued an order to this fire company to take their engines to the river, but they declined, stating they were under no obligation to obey the city officers. The council declared the chief engineer had acted within his rights, but the fire company continued to insist on its independence.

In May 1820, Fire Engine Company, Number Four, began regular operations. Its engine, one with fire-buckets, was called the "Nereide." The quarters of this company were on Sycamore Street near Lower Market. This company changed its location in 1824 to Sycamore and Third Streets, and later to Hammond and Third Streets. The name of the company afterward became Eagle Fire Company, Number Four.

An organization was formed in 1820 known as the Protection Company, Number One, with the object of saving lives and property and guarding against robberies during the fires.

An ordinance was passed in 1821 giving fire wardens authority to operate in any wards of the city. The Same act ordered the fire marshal to see that fire buckets were at hand in all homes and other buildings. A fine of $3.50 was to be imposed on such as were found negligent in this respect.

July 5, 1821, an ordinance was passed authorizing the Council to appoint yearly three persons in each ward as fire wardens. These men were to carry speaking trumpets and wear badges indicating their office. They were given power to have lumber, fences and other inflammable materials removed where they appeared to be possible sources of danger. When three of these men were agreed as to the necessity of such a measure they could have any house or building removed. They were authorized to bid capable men to join the fire forces in an emergency, to carry water or to take any part in fighting the fire apart from exposure to real danger.

"Chief engineer" was the title given the head of this department. The department was further authorized to organize companies of volunteer firemen. Such companies could choose their own foreman and secretary. One man, in each company, was to see to it that the fire buckets were taken to fires, and he was responsible for their return, after being washed, to their proper places.

Each householder was ordered to keep at hand leather fire buckets and the number of these was to be according to the largeness or smallness of his dwelling. The regulations enjoined upon householders great care to avoid the perils of fires. A fine was imposed if a chimney caught on fire because of negligence in not having it cleaned. No one was permitted to set fire to his chimneys to clean them save in daylight, and then only when it was raining or snow lay on the roof. It was unlawful to set fire to shavings on the streets. It was forbidden to keep stacked grain within one hundred yards of any building in the city.

It was forbidden that any one should deep on hand more than a limited amount of gunpowder. Marshals and fire wardens had the right to search all houses to see if this regulation was being violated. No one was permitted to carry a light in a stable, unless it were enclosed in a lantern.

These eminently sensible precautionary measures doubtless reduced greatly the number of fires, but it was not to be expected that these or any other rules could do away entirely with the perils of fire. In fact, a number of serious fires did occur at this period.

Conditions in respect to fire protection had bettered considerably by 1825. The department then "consisted of four engine companies, one hose company, one hook and ladder company, a bucket company and a protection society." Thomas Tucker was the chief engineer and Jeremiah Kiersted was his assistant. The Directory states, "There are one hundred and fifty-five firemen and sixteen fire wardens. The utensils of the fire department are in first rate repair and the companies well organized and ready on the first notice to do their duty."

Each engine company consisted of about twenty-five men, and the foreman of each was called captain. There were twenty-five men in the hose company, in charge of eighteen hundred feet of hose. The hook and ladder company consisted of thirty men. The special business of the bucket company was to look after and keep in order the fire buckets.

An observer in 1826 declared that the firemen "keep the engines in excellent order, and in cases of fire were prompt, active and persevering." The City Council had at this time completed five brick cisterns in different parts of the city, each containing five thousand gallons of water.

In 1826 Fire Company, No. 4, became the Eagle Fire Company, Number Four, as a regular addition to the department. Moses Lyon was foreman. Jeremiah Kiersted was chief engineer.

In 1829 Fire Company Number Five was organized. It occupied quarters on Vine and Canal Streets for a time, but later removed to Vine between Court and Canal. Its engines "Fame" and "Jefferson" were built in this city by Jeffrey Seymour. This company had in its membership three men who became mayor and a number of other leading citizens.

By 1829 the fire department had nine regular companies. Fire Warden Company, No. 1, John L. Avery, President, Moses Brooks, secretary, and twenty members. Fire Engine Company, No. 1, Hugh Galbreath, foreman, S. R. Teal, assistant with thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 2, A. G. Dodd, foreman, J. S. Ross assistant, with thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 3, William Brown foreman, thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 4, Thomas Barwise foreman, John Morris, assistant, thirty-five members. Hose Company No. 1, thirty-five members. Protection Society, Joseph Gest president, William Mills vice president, David Churchill secretary, Stephen Burrows treasurer, seven directors, fifty members with the privilege of extending membership to one hundred. This society was composed chiefly of leading citizens. Fire bucket company, A. M. Ferguson, foreman, Nathaniel Reeder, Assistant.

Two more cisterns, of capacity of five thousand gallons each, had now been constructed, making seven in all at this time. Water was piped to these from the water works. Of the two cisterns built in 1828, one was at the intersection of Main and Eighth Streets, and the other at Fourth and Sycamore Streets.

Zebulon Byington was chief engineer and Moses Coffin was his assistant.

On December 31, 1829, there was a serious fire, on Main Street below Third. The conflagration spread as far as Fourth Street. The cisterns proved inadequate and a bucket line of citizens was formed from the river. It was apparent to all that the fire protection arrangements of the city were entirely inadequate, and a public meting was called to consider further measures.

Another company, the Cincinnati Independent Fire Engine and Hose Company, popularly known as the "Silk Stocking Company," or the "Rovers," was organized February 22, 1830. By the co-operation of the City Council, the insurance companies and the people in general a liberal amount of money was raised for the equipment of this company. Two new engines and a hose reel were purchased in Philadelphia, for four thousand dollars. One was an eight-inch double-chamber engine of thirty-four men-power, discharging four and four-fifths gallons per stroke in two streams. The other was a suction engine, with double seven-inch chambers of thirty-men power, discharging four gallons at each stroke. There was a hose of fifteen hundred fet, eight and one-half inches in diameter, on a double hose-reel. A contract was made for a new engine house, to be constructed on Fourth Street near Broadway. The president of the company was George W. Neff; vice president, Joseph Pierce; secretary, Charles D. Dana; treasurer, Kirkbride Yardley.

In 1830 there was formed the Cincinnati Fire Association, composed of members of the several companies, with the object of regulating the department, taking care of the sick and disabled members and arbitrating differences. John L. Avery was president; John J. Stratton vice president; Joseph Landis secretary and William Scudder treasurer.

This association inaugruarted a yearly procession of all the companies early in eacy May.

In 1830, the Eagle Company, Number Four, changed its named to Franklin Fire Engine and Hose Company, Number Four.

In August 1832, the Cincinnati Fire Guards were organized. Under this arrangement, the police ranged themselves in a line round the fire, restrained the crowds behind this boundary, looked after property, and were authorized to order onlookers to render assistance.

In 1832 the "Flat Iron" or "Checked Shirt" Company was formed. The nicknames were given because a considerable number of the members were mechanics and wore checked shirts. The incorporated name was the Cincinnati Fire Engine and Hose Company, Number Two. Bellamy Storer and S. W. Davis announced the formation of this company in February, at a public meeting; also that apparatus had been bought. The engines were the "Deluge" and the "Cataract," and the hose carriage was called the "Pioneer". An engine house for this company was built at the corner of Symmes and Lawrence Streets.

In 1834, the directory stated "much attention has been bestowed by the city council upon this important department. There are belonging to it fifteen engines and ten thousand, one hundred and fifty feet of hose. It is divided into brigades, each of which has two engines, a hose company, and one hundred and fifty members in it. There are belonging to this department fifteen engines, seven hose-reels, one hundred and eighty-six buckets, and seven brigades, besides an engine belonging to the boys."

The Vigilant Fire Engine and Bucket Company, with seventy-five members, was chiefly composed of boys and youths. Benjamin Brice was president; Henry Pierce, vice president; James Galbreath, secretary; William Coppin, treasurer; Samuel James, foreman and engineer; Miller Ayres foreman of the bucket company.

In 1836 the department was organized into eight brigades. Each of these had two engines and a hose company. These were manned by one hundred and fifty firemen. For each brigade there was a chief, with assistants, secretary and treasurer. These brigades were called Washington Fire Engine Company, No. 1, manning the Pat Lyon and Ohio engines and the Ranger hose carriage; Relief Fire Engine No. 2 with the Relief and Cincinnati engines and Reliance hose carriage; Independence Fire Company No. 3, Constitution and Liberty engines and veteran hose; Franklin Fire Company No. 4, Neptune and Atlantic Engines and Nymph hose; Brigade Fire Company, No. 5. Fame engine and Canal hose; Cincinnati Independence Fire Company, No. 1, Waterwitch and Pilot engines and Red Rover hose; Cincinnati Independent Fire Company, No. 2. Cataract and Deluge engines and Pioneer hose; Independent No. 3, Buckeye Company, with Buckeye and Niagara engines and Diligent hose. There were also the Fire Warden Company No. 1, composed of six members from each ward; the Cincinnati Fire Guards No. 1; Protection Society No. 1; Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1.

There were in 1836 twenty-seven fire cisterns, and fifty-five cast iron plugs.

The Fire Department Insurance Company was incorporated April, 1837, with capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. It existed for the benefit of the department firemen; shares were sold only to firemen and no one could hold more than fifty shares, value ten dollars. The several companies could as corporations hold an unlimited amount of stock. For relief of sick or injured firemen, ten percent of dividends were set apart. Marine insurance was later added to fire risks.
About this period, another company, the Buckeye Independent, No. 3, was formed.

The fire department in 1840-1841 was made up of eleven companies. These were, Washington, Number One, two engines and one hundred and four members, with the hose men; Relief, with ninety-six members; Independence, eighty-eight; Franklin, seventy-four; Fame, seventy-four; Independent, one hundred and twenty-nine; Fire Engine and Hose Independent, No. Two, eighty-one; Cincinnati Fire Guards, sixty-six; the Hook and Ladder Company, forty-two. There were four hundred and seventy-one members of the Protection Society. The company of Fire Wardens No. 1 had thirty-two members. There were now thirty-four cisterns and thirty-five fire plugs."

About 1300 in all … To see 1841 listing of Cincinnati Firemen from Charles Cist's book Cincinnati in 1841. View them Alphabetically or by Company.