| April 2008 |
With war on the horizon in Europe and only a small standing Army, Congress enacted the draft and
federalized the National Guard. With thousands of men being drafted, sixteen training camps for the
National Army and a like amount for the National Guard were constructed. In addition, other facilities,
depots, airfields and staging areas would be needed. Modernization of existing Army forts would also
take place. With construction underway, the Quartermaster Corps soon realized the great danger from
fire in the hundreds of wooden buildings and made provisions for camp fire departments. Fire stations
were constructed in troop housing areas, warehouse storage areas and at the camp hospital. The
stations were one story, had single or double bays with living quarters for the firefighters located to the
rear of the building.
The Army established two types of military fire fighting companies to provide fire protection at its
installations during the war. " Fire Truck and Hose Companies" were formed at National Army and
National Guard cantonments and other important facilities. The soldiers of these companies had but
one duty, to man the fire stations and fire apparatus at the cantonments. "Guard and Fire Companies"
were established at smaller Army installations, depots and storage areas. These units provided both
fire protection and security at the facility.
At most camps, a civilian fire department was formed to provide fire protection during the construction
of the installation. Fire apparatus used by this department was often purchased from nearby fire
departments or apparatus that had already been delivered to the camp by the QMC. Once the fire
stations were built and the camp fire department organized, the civilian department was disbanded. In
many cases, the civilian fire chief during construction was offered a commission in the Army to stay on
and head the operation of the camp fire department. At Camp Upton, NY, a battalion chief, loaned by
the city of New York, was commissioned and made camp fire chief. He directed a force of forty-two
soldiers, all former New York City firefighters.
federalized the National Guard. With thousands of men being drafted, sixteen training camps for the
National Army and a like amount for the National Guard were constructed. In addition, other facilities,
depots, airfields and staging areas would be needed. Modernization of existing Army forts would also
take place. With construction underway, the Quartermaster Corps soon realized the great danger from
fire in the hundreds of wooden buildings and made provisions for camp fire departments. Fire stations
were constructed in troop housing areas, warehouse storage areas and at the camp hospital. The
stations were one story, had single or double bays with living quarters for the firefighters located to the
rear of the building.
The Army established two types of military fire fighting companies to provide fire protection at its
installations during the war. " Fire Truck and Hose Companies" were formed at National Army and
National Guard cantonments and other important facilities. The soldiers of these companies had but
one duty, to man the fire stations and fire apparatus at the cantonments. "Guard and Fire Companies"
were established at smaller Army installations, depots and storage areas. These units provided both
fire protection and security at the facility.
At most camps, a civilian fire department was formed to provide fire protection during the construction
of the installation. Fire apparatus used by this department was often purchased from nearby fire
departments or apparatus that had already been delivered to the camp by the QMC. Once the fire
stations were built and the camp fire department organized, the civilian department was disbanded. In
many cases, the civilian fire chief during construction was offered a commission in the Army to stay on
and head the operation of the camp fire department. At Camp Upton, NY, a battalion chief, loaned by
the city of New York, was commissioned and made camp fire chief. He directed a force of forty-two
soldiers, all former New York City firefighters.
Organization of the camp fire department started with the appointment of a Fire Marshal by the Camp Commander.
Fire Marshals held the rank of Captain or 1st Lieutenant. Officers with some background in firefighting were often
chosen to head the camp fire department. Firefighters were drafted from units within the camp and assigned to the
department. As with Fire Marshals, doughboys with experience in big city fire departments were chosen to help fill the
ranks. A Sergeant First Class was in charge of each fire station with a Private First Class acting as driver of the
equipment. Army privates made up the force of firefighters.
Fire Marshals held the rank of Captain or 1st Lieutenant. Officers with some background in firefighting were often
chosen to head the camp fire department. Firefighters were drafted from units within the camp and assigned to the
department. As with Fire Marshals, doughboys with experience in big city fire departments were chosen to help fill the
ranks. A Sergeant First Class was in charge of each fire station with a Private First Class acting as driver of the
equipment. Army privates made up the force of firefighters.
The Quartermaster Corps was in charge of purchasing fire apparatus used by the US Army during WWI. Equipment
was produced by several manufactures. American LaFrance delivered over 200 fire engines of several types and Howe
produced over 160 fire trucks built on the Ford Model T chassis. Ahrens-Fox delivered some 18 rigs for the war effort
and Seagrave produced 12. White and Brockway also delivered rigs to the Army. Some fire equipment used by camp
fire departments was homebuilt. Fort Meade had on it's roster an Indian motorcycle with sidecar. During the war some
camps had horse drawn fire equipment on their rosters.
was produced by several manufactures. American LaFrance delivered over 200 fire engines of several types and Howe
produced over 160 fire trucks built on the Ford Model T chassis. Ahrens-Fox delivered some 18 rigs for the war effort
and Seagrave produced 12. White and Brockway also delivered rigs to the Army. Some fire equipment used by camp
fire departments was homebuilt. Fort Meade had on it's roster an Indian motorcycle with sidecar. During the war some
camps had horse drawn fire equipment on their rosters.
Many of the American LaFrance and Ford-Howe fire trucks saw service in France during the war. These rigs were
manned by Doughboy firefighters which were deployed from stateside camps. The Army also used fire engines that
were procured from French fire departments.
As a means of reporting fires at stateside camps, telephone call boxes were mounted on telephone poles throughout
the camp. These phones were tied directly to the Headquarters fire station where a watch was maintained 24 hours a
day. Automatic alarms from warehouse sprinkler systems also fed into fire headquarters. Many camps also
maintained an alarm system between fire stations for prompt dispatch of equipment.
When the war ended, the military firefighting companies were demobilized and the operation of the camp fire
departments came under the control of the Post Engineer at each facility. Civilian firefighters took the place of the
military personnel at many camps while others maintained combined crews of civilian and military. Some camps, such
as Camp Meade maintained military firefighters until the start of World War II.
manned by Doughboy firefighters which were deployed from stateside camps. The Army also used fire engines that
were procured from French fire departments.
As a means of reporting fires at stateside camps, telephone call boxes were mounted on telephone poles throughout
the camp. These phones were tied directly to the Headquarters fire station where a watch was maintained 24 hours a
day. Automatic alarms from warehouse sprinkler systems also fed into fire headquarters. Many camps also
maintained an alarm system between fire stations for prompt dispatch of equipment.
When the war ended, the military firefighting companies were demobilized and the operation of the camp fire
departments came under the control of the Post Engineer at each facility. Civilian firefighters took the place of the
military personnel at many camps while others maintained combined crews of civilian and military. Some camps, such
as Camp Meade maintained military firefighters until the start of World War II.
Click Photo To Enlarge Image
| Camp Pike, AK 1918 Ahrens-Fox 750 gpm AF Reg # 758 |
| Army Firefighters at Camp Custer WW I |
| One of the 1918 AmLaFr Type 40 pumpers delivered to the Army. This unit served in France during the war |
| Camp Lee, VA 1819 Ford-Howe at Base Hospital |
| Camp Mills, NY 1918 Dodge-Pirsch Chem Car & 1918 AmLaFr |
| Camp Custer, MI 1918 AmLaFr Type 75 pumper |
| Camp Funston, KS |
| 1918 Dodge-Pirsch Chemical Car used by the US Army during WWI |
| Camp Devens, Mass 1918 AmLaFr & 1918 Seagrave |
Two modified 1918 Dodge-Pirsch Chem Cars, Camp Holabird, MD |
| Camp Lewis, WA 1917 Ford-Howe & 1918 AmLaFr |
| Camp Funston, KS 1917 Ford-Howe pumpers |
| WW I view of the Base Hospital fire station. Camp Custer |
| 1917 Ford-Howe Fort Ben Harrison, IN |
| 1917 Ford-Howe, Camp Grant, IL |
| Fort Meyer, VA, 1918 AmLaFr |
| 1918 Ahrens-Fox 750 gpm Model K-4. One of 14 units used by the Army |
| A pair of 1917 Ford-Howes Camp Custer, MI |
| 1918 AmLaFr, Fort Sheridan |
| Fort Sheridan, IL WW I |
| 1917 Ford-Howes, Camp Lee, VA |
| 1918 AmLaFr Type 40, Camp Custer |
| New and old together Camp Custer |
| 1918 AmLaFr Type 75, Base Hospitall Camp Merritt, NJ |
| Equipment lineup at Rock Island Arsenal 1919 |
| 1918 Ahrens-Fox and Dodge-Pirsch chemical wagon, Camp Sherman |
| Camp Knox 1919 1918 Ahrens-Fox & 1917 South Bend pumper |
| 1918 AmLaFr Type 40 Reg 2377 Rig served at Camp Perry, OH Rig owned by John Lytle |
| 1917 Ford-Howe US Army, Tours, France Sept 1919 |
| 1918 Ahrens-Fox from Camp Taylor, KY Sent in by Steve Hagy |
| Comments and Suggestions Are always Welcomed milfireguy@comcast.net |
| Pirsch hose wagon Rock Island Arsenal 1919 |
| 1918 Seagrave pumper from the Carlisle Barracks, PA |
Fort Sheridan fire station circa 1895
Fort Harrison fire station circa 1895
In the 1890s the Army QMC designed and built modern fire stations at existing Forts
1917 Ford-Howes at Camp Funston, KS
1917 Ford-Howe, Camp Upton, NY
Fire Trucks at War
1917 American LaFrance, Camp Dix, NJ
| 1917 Ford-Howes from Camp Lee, VA |
| Watervliet Arsenal, NY 1918 AmLaFr Type 75 Reg 2068, Ford Chemical Car and AmLaFr Service Truck Type 33-4 Reg 2461 |
| 1917 Ford-Howe, Fire Station # 3 Camp Lee, VA |
| Members of Guard & Fire Company # 341, Marsh Run Storage Depot, New Cumberland, PA, with their 1918 American LaFrance |
World War I
________________________________________________
| The above photos were sent in by Jim Mauch and show the military firefighters and equipment at Camp Taylor, Fire Truck and Hose Company # 309. Jim's grandfather, Levi Ferguson was a member of the fire department at Camp Taylor and can be seen at the wheel of the 1917 Ford-Howe pictured directly above. That photo was taken in Nov 1917. Thank you Jim for sending in the photos. |
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