How did fire brigade originate?

The first FIRE BRIGADE in Britain

The first FIRE BRIGADE in Britain was established by Nicholas Barbon to protect housed insured by his Phenix Fire Office. In 1684 he wrote that his firemen were like Old Disciplined Souldiers, that do greater things, then. Ten times that Number of Raw and Unexperienced men’. This is the earliest reference to the employment of firemen, and although little else is known about the Phenix fire-brigade, it was probably composed of Thames watermen, who would be called out in the event of fire, and paid according to the amount of time required to quench the blaze. In the following century the rate was generally is for the first hour, 6d for succeeding hours, and unlimited beer. Other inducements included a colourful costume of decorated tunic and breeches and exemption from impressment for the Navy. The last brigade maintained by an insurance company was the Norwich Union Fire-Brigade, Worcester, disbanded 1929.

The first Municipal Fire Brigade was founded in Edinburgh in 1700, when the Magistrates appointed ’12 men to be called by the name of Firemasters, and each Firemaster, to be empowered to name six assistants to himself to be ready at all times on the occasion of fire …’ The Firemasters carried batons and their assistants, who wore leather helmets with a pewter badge, were equipped with sledgehammers and handsaws.