Today’s random object was a firefighter, which hit close to home. My dad was a firefighter. My daughter’s boyfriend is also one. Firefighting has always been part of the background noise of my life, and today, it became the subject of the sketchbook.
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The first official firefighting crew on record came from Rome under Emperor Augustus. They were called the Vigiles, which I jokingly renamed the “fire vigilantes.” These were freedmen, former slaves who couldn’t easily return home, housed around the city to watch for fires. When a blaze broke out, they ran on foot with buckets, wet blankets, and axes, ready to fight flames with muscle and grit. That system disappeared with Rome, and centuries passed before it rose again.
Then came 1666. London’s Great Fire burned much of the city and forced everyone to rethink how to stop fires before they started. Every home had been expected to keep buckets handy, but after that catastrophe, dedicated fire brigades became the new norm. Building codes changed too, brick and stone replaced timber, and after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, American cities followed suit. Meanwhile, Londoners are still baffled that we keep building with wood, but when you live in a place so spread out and as full of timber as the U.S., old habits burn slowly.
Modern firefighting has become a full profession with rigorous training and physical demands. The New York Fire Academy and London’s Fire Service College both trace their roots to the 19th century. Some, like my dad, came up in smaller volunteer crews, no college, no competitions, just a love for helping neighbors.
Today’s firefighters, paid or volunteer, carry a heavy load both literally and figuratively. They face roughly 350,000 home fires in the U.S. every year, most from cooking or wiring mishaps. Detroit leads the country in accidental fires, while Chicago and L.A. have the most arson. Whatever the cause, the result is the same, firefighters charging toward danger to keep the rest of us safe.
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Also, if you, or a teacher friend, would like a 20-30 minute lesson plan about firefighters, feel free too download and share this one:
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