1886:

In George Schetky’s clothing store, a meeting is held to organize a volunteer fire brigade for Vancouver – less than a month before the city burns to the ground.

“In April 1886, the city of Vancouver was incorporated and except for the small fire company manned by the men at the Hasting’s [sic] Mill, the townsite’s fire protection consisted of citizens with buckets, picks, and shovels,” Alex Matches will explain, in his book It Began With A Ronald, a history of the Vancouver Fire Department. “To correct this situation, a meeting was held on May 28 at George Schletsky’s [sic] clothing store to organize ‘Volunteer Hose Company No. 1′. Shortly after, a hook and ladder company was formed and by June 2 the fire brigade was properly organized with Sam Pedgriff elected chief.”

However, as Matches will note, at this point, the brigade had little besides buckets, shovels, and enthusiasm – a lack of civic funds meant the fledgling company couldn’t even afford a fire engine.

“A fire brigade without at least one fire engine was an absurdity,” Matches will comment. “The city council, embarrassed by the lack of funds, was still discussing the purchase of an engine when fire all but destroyed the new city on Sunday, June 13, 1886.”

Following the Great Fire of 1886, the townsite of Granville will commit to the purchase of its first piece of firefighting equipment: a “Ronald” fire engine, complete with four reels, and 2,500 feet of hose. The brigade will have a chance to use the engine less than two months later, and, by the end of the 20^th century, the Vancouver Fire Department will employ more than 800 people, serving the city from 18 firehalls.

 

IMAGE: Hose Reel Team #1, circa 1880s. Image courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library.