From its inception in Colonial times to the modern challenges of today, the Reading Fire Department has battled natural disasters, airplane crashes, and block burners threatening the Pretzel City. The fire department has faithfully served the city of Reading since 1771, having been established soon after Benjamin Franklin organized the nations first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia. At one time the Reading Fire Department even boasted the largest all-volunteer fire department in the nation, consisting of more than 10,000 volunteer members operating from 14 fire stations throughout the city. Using the archives of the Reading Fire Department, the Reading Eagle, and the Historical Society of Berks County, Reading Firefighting documents the history and traditions of this dedicated fire department.
From the inception of the Friendship Hose Company No. 1 of Orwigsburg in 1820 to the organization of the West Penn Fire Company No. 1 in 1999, more than 130 volunteer fire companies have served Schuylkill County. This proud tradition of volunteer service for the protection of fellow man continues strong to this day as scores of volunteer firefighters continue to serve their communities. Using the archives of the Schuylkill County Historical Society, Schuylkill Historical Fire Society, and many fire companies and individuals, Schuylkill County Firefighting captures in its images the daunting challenges faced by generations of Schuylkill firefighters. Block-burning conflagrations, deadly explosions, and traumatic rescues reveal the heroic battles faced over the years by these dedicated public servants.
In 1829, the Humane Hose Company and the Schuylkill Hydraulians Engine Company organized in the booming town of Pottsville, a mining center in Pennsylvania's anthracite coal region. Fire protection was urgently needed for this growing community. New fire companies such as the Good Intent, the Rough and Ready, and the Good Will formed, as well as junior fire companies, including the Rangers and the Young America. In a patriotic response to President Lincoln's call to arms, two Pottsville fire companies disbanded, committing themselves to the Union; they became members of the legendary "First Defenders" of the Civil War. The twentieth century brought new challenges of motorization, dieselization, and ever-stricter training standards. Pottsville Firefighting celebrates one hundred seventy-five years of firefighting in Pottsville.
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